April 2025 Newsletter Part one

1. Welcome to April’s newsletter. WMS is really moving forward now with the improvements/updates. The Committee are working hard to achieve a Shed we can all be proud of. A number of projects are now at various stages. You will have noticed that the initial work has started on the recreation lean too thanks to John Skerratt and a team of willing members. If all goes to plan we should be feeling the benefit of the shelter during the coming months. Also, early costing’s and option decisions are on-going for the building cladding, which will help retain any heat we have inside, and the consequent reduction of energy costs. We are also obtaining estimates for the positioning of a boundary fence at the front of the building, which will provide a further exterior working area and also improve security for the building. The Committee are looking at all options at the moment, including, reducing expenditure by fixing the fence in place ourselves and obtaining associated material costs. If we can keep up the membership momentum for self-help we can achieve this. Talking of membership, we have now reached over fifty members which is testament to the reputation we are getting. Where is the finance for these projects coming from, you may ask? We are actively looking for grants from various organisations. For example we now have received £200:00 by members holding HBC lottery tickets. Remember the more tickets we hold the larger the grant. HBC have been very pro active and supporting for the various building improvements we have undertaken, for which we are very grateful. A big thank you must also go to Pete Sanders who has spent a great deal of time working through the projects we have on-going with HBC. So you can see the Committee have been very busy on a number of fronts to ensure we have a Shed that is worthy of our members. The 2025 WMS social programme is also shaping up too with our first Fish/Chip talk evening later this month. Further details later in the newsletter.

2. Unique item of interest. There are many of us members who have strong links with the sea, so this is a chance to see something rather unusual. A unique Solent movement is planned at the beginning next month. On the first day of April, weather permitting, but with spare days planned, Spitbank Fort will be removed from its foundations and towed in to Portsmouth and berthed off Whale Island to refurbish, repoint and paint the stonework before being returned to its Solent foundations again. It is expected to last two months, which will ensure this historical fort remains a lasting feature in the history of Portsmouth. This will be the first time that a Solent Fort would have been moved since 1861 when it was build as part of Lord Palmeston’s plans for the protection of Portsmouth Harbour. Prime positions to witness this event will be Southsea seafront and the Round Tower. Timings yet to be confirmed but it will feature on Portsmouth Harbour daily movements website. Please check before travelling for an update. It will certainly be worth it!

3. Social Event:-

11th April 2025

Cowplain Activity Centre 1830 onwards

A talk by Richard Veitch entitled ‘Up The Kalahari’ .Fish & Chip suppers can be ordered via the list in the galley. Monies and orders to Paul Turner no than Monday 7th April.

Another event taking place locally. On Saturday 26th April the Emsworth Concert Band will give a concert at Oaklands Catholic School. The concert will begin at 7:30pm and includes music from stage and screen plus a tribut to the 80th Aniversary of VE Day. Tickets are £15 which includes refreshments and are available from Eventbrite or from Bookends in Emsworth