Ex-trucker’s open shed brings people together
FOR one Swansea pensioner, solitude is nothing new – having spent his working life hauling loads as a lorry driver up and down the country.
But on retirement, 75-year-old Peter Harris is now heading in a different direction. He is the driving force behind Swansea’s newest Men’s Shed, a health and well-being movement aimed at alleviating loneliness that has travelled around the world since its inception in Australia.
The Shed at the Pavilion, as it has been named, is based in the Birchgrove area of the city, and hosts a weekly meeting for men and women, usually in their 50s and over, to enjoy woodwork and crafts or just have a cup of tea and a chat. It is hoped meetings can increase to three times a week, with organisers actively looking to recruit new members.
Explaining its inception, Mr Harris said: “A Men’s Shed is an organisation which started in Australia back in the mid-nineties.
“It’s gone all over the world. They were originally set up to combat loneliness and aid mental health problems in people of a certain age – men and women – who have retired or are unemployed and haven’t got a focus in life. The plan has been in my mind for about five years and then I retired from being a truck driver a couple of years ago and thought, this is what I want to do.
“I built myself a shed in my back garden, and filled it up with tools. Of course, being a truck driver you are on your own all day but after six months of being on my own all day in the shed I thought, ‘I want more than this.’
“So then the Men’s Shed started to come to fruition. I joined Men’s Shed Cymru, which is the organisation for Men’s Sheds in Wales, and got a lot of input from them.”
Mr Harris, with the help of Alyson Anthony and Matthew Jones, found that the old OAP pavilion in Birchgrove was empty, and decided it was the perfect location for the new venture.
The lease for the building was signed in February, and work has been done to paint and “fix up” the facility, although the help of an electrician is still needed.
He said: “We only meet on Tuesdays, from noon to 3pm or 4pm, at this moment in time, but we’re planning to do at least three days a week.
“We’ve got a membership of
around 25 to 30 at the moment, with just as many men as women. “Predominantly, they’re 50-plus and I think the oldest member is 84. Because a lot of our members are ladies, instead of calling it the Men’s Shed, we’ve just called it The Shed at the Pavilion.
“We want people to come and join us and do what they want to do – it’s better than sitting down watching television all afternoon.
“We wanted to create something that everybody can have an interest in. What we’ve done is to say, anybody who wants to come here – it’s not only woodworking and that sort
of thing.
“All are welcome. We always say, a Men’s Shed is a place where you have friends who you are yet to meet. I think that is so important. We are looking for new members, being an embryonic organisation, so we need people to come and say hello.
“We encourage people of all ages to join with us and it is great if you have a talent or skill to share with others that would be beneficial to other members who are looking for new skills.
“Any ideas or activities people would like to see, and are not available in the area, are also welcome. Every member is important to us and we would encourage them to come and see us, and have a cup of tea and a chat.”
Pat Farnworth lost her husband six years ago, and found herself not going out after that. But the new group has given her a new reason to get out again.
She said: “I lost my confidence, I would say. I saw this advertised and I still didn’t do anything. And then my daughter said to me, ‘Mam, it’s time you started going out. Go and sign up.’
“I did. I’ve never looked back, it’s friendly. Everybody makes you feel welcome. I’ve made some new friends. And that’s what I needed. I would say to anyone who is thinking of joining, come and join us. We’re a friendly group. We talk about loads of different things. No religion. No politics. So no hassle there.”
Another member is Ryland Doyle. He said: “I think the idea behind Men’s Sheds is great. There are clearly issues with men’s mental health that don’t get talked about – and if this can be a facility where people can come and meet and chat and have a cup of tea, it will hopefully help people avoid some of the more serious things that happen. It’s not just for men. Sometimes there are more women here than men. And that’s the way it should be. It’s open to anybody and everybody.”
Mike Garner, collaborative lead of the Cwmtawe local cluster, a group of three GP practices working with community nursing, dentists, opticians, community pharmacies, the voluntary sector and the local authority, welcomed the new Men’s Shed following a similar venture in Clydach a few years ago.
He said: “The Men’s Shed initiative has proven itself to be a brilliant way to bring men and women together, providing opportunities to talk, share interests and develop friendships. In today’s world, social isolation continues to be a huge problem and we should not underestimate the importance of feeling connected, having a purpose and a sense of belonging.
“I am delighted to hear that this movement is expanding to other areas across the cluster footprint and I fully support Peter with the Men’s Shed in Birchgrove.
“If someone wants to join they can go to our Facebook page, Llansamlet Men’s Shed, or they can give me a call on 07305636801.”
Because a lot of our members are ladies, instead of calling it the Men’s Shed, we’ve just called it The Shed at the Pavilion
Peter Harris
I’ve made some new friends. And that’s what I needed. I would say to anyone who is thinking of joining, come and join us Pat Farnworth