News January 2022 - Part 1
Christchurch Men's Shed
Sunday, 30 January 2022
With covid running scared, we now have more important things to consider such as agreeing on a uniform for the start of the new term at the School....anyone like to suggest a (latin) motto for our cap badge?
L-Day is coming - just watch this space!
The school team has made good progress on the renovation of the lower hall. The old ceiling tiles have been removed ready for the new insulated ceiling to be installed in early February and the scrap metal (radiators, pipework, etc) has been skipped ready to be turned into Eurofighters.
Jerry Russell has put a lot of effort into fundraising, preparing and submitting bids so hopefully once the lease is in place we will be able to press on with building the workshop.
There is likely to be a gap between completing the lease and obtaining funding although our 2022 membership fees due March / April will help somewhat in that respect.
We were delighted to receive a cheque from the Highcliffe branch of the Co-op and they have confirmed that we will remain one of the groups they support as part of their Local Community Funding in Q1 2022 - so if you shop at the Co-op in Highcliffe, please ask for a Co-op membership card and nominate Christchurch Men's Shed. We have invited the local Co-op Pioneers to visit the School house and see what we are doing to help build a community hub there.
Alongside the work in the lower hall, the School team have found time to erect the sign outside the School House, install bike racks and refurbish a number of benches for the Parish Council, one of which has been taken to the Castle with assistance from Stewarts Garden Centre for a tree planting ceremony.
And Bill was awarded the Silver Hammer for perseverance in the face of adversity - you will have to ask him!
Meanwhile back at Greystones, we have not been idle either.
I restored a keepsake box in return for a donation to CMS funds and more recently completed my Mk II Chisel Rack accompanied by the usual tirade of abuse on our Facebook page about the (un)suitability of the design.
(a reminder that the Christchurch Men's Shed Facebook page is a closed group for our members - search for the page and send a request to join - then you can add to the abuse )
The design for the MkIII rack is still at the conceptualisation stage!
Jeff Perkins and Rob Heels have been giving the wood lathes a good work out.
Jeff has turned some super pens and Rob made the mistake of showing his Xmas tree to the family who promptly put in an order for several gross.
Rob then accepted the "skew chisel snowman challenge" whereby the said snowman is turned only using a skew chisel - impressive or what!
Chris Biggs has been working on a light box for his art work and Peter Dann is restoring a garden table top.
PAT Testing
We have been sorting through our stash of tools at Greystones, selecting items that will be going to the new workshop at the School.
As luck would have it, HCA were PAT testing their electrical equipment and we managed to get all of the static machines at Greystones and a good number of our power tools tested at the same time.
Once we move to the School, we will need to maintain an inventory of our equipment and a record of PAT testing.
Metal Working Supplies
For anyone who prefers metalwork to woodwork, Andy Skarstein recommends Ringwood Metal Centre - they can supply small amounts of metal for projects or undertake precision engineering work.
Ringwood Metal, Unit 2 Millstream Trading Estate, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 3SA
Contact Information
Robin Heels (Secretary)
- 07547922246
Find Christchurch Men's Shed
Greystones House, Waterford Road, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 5JL
Additional Information
Located in the Lower Hall of The Old School. The Old School is near Highcliffe Medical Centre and opposite Highcliffe Play Park by the pedestrian light controlled crossing.