News - Aug 2019

With the sun shining from a brilliant blue sky, the crowds poured in -Twickenham? Headingley?. No, the Men's Shed Summer BBQ at Greystone's House! Many thanks to everyone who helped make it such a great day and especially to Jerry and Margaret Russel, Margaret French and Nick Mowl. We had super selection of raffle prizes including a lignum vitae bowling ball (quickly snapped up) a designer coat rack by Brian Vaughan and a pair of John Blakeman's turned pens. hat well known double act of Margaret & Margaret got us to part with £70 for raffle tickets and after costs (attendance fees and purchases) we also generated a small surplus on the ticket price which means we can get the wood turning lathe fully kitted out and ready to turn.

Workshop re-opens September 3rd

It's time to start thinking about autumn projects down in the shed and (I'll just whisper this) getting started on those family Christmas presents before it's too late! As the number of members using the workshop continues to increase, we will need to think about spreading out over more days starting with Wednesday mornings.

Anyone for Wednesdays? Don't leave Mac all on his own!

Wood turning

With your permission, I am planning to purchase a few turning blanks for the lathe from our funds so that we can start turning bowls, platters etc. The idea is that members will pay for the blanks they use at cost price so that we are able to replace them on a rolling basis. Let me have your thoughts on this.

Pen turning

John Blakeman has offered to run a series of one on one pen turning sessions either at Greystone's or at his home workshop. Participants will learn how to prepare the pen blank, turn and polish the pen body and assemble the pen. The sessions will be £5 per person to cover the cost of the pen kit etc., and you get a unique pen to go home with.

Milling Machine

Just a reminder that the mini-milling machine is currently set up in Les Mercer's home workshop. By prior arrangement with Les, members are welcome to use the machine however they will need to be proficient in it's use and/or receive training first.

September Room 1 General Meeting

Our first meeting of the Autumn season will be on September 3rd starting at the usual time of 2.00 pm. Please come along and share your thoughts on our activities and the general direction of the "Shed".

Christchurch Men's Shed AGM

The date for our 2019 AGM has been fixed for Tuesday 5th November.. More details and formal notification to follow.. Meantime, please make a note in your diary

Conversation overheard in the workshop (individuals name redacted for his own safety)

"When I lived and worked on the farm, I was really into tractors. Now I have retired, I find I have lost interest. Does this make me an extractor fan?"

Donation of tools etc

We will need to arrange a work party in September to collect the next lot of equipment donated by Gerald Scanlon. There is a load of wood, some more tools and a stand for the Elektra Bekum lathe we picked up back in July. Once this lot is out of the way, we can think about tackling the Little John metal working lathe.

So what else have we got to look forward to in September?

According to Flanders & Swann....

Bleak September's mist and mud

Is enough to chill the blood

Best get down the shed while we still can!

See you all soon,

John Pegram