June 2024 Newsletter Part one

1. As I sit in my conservatory to put fingers to my keyboard, I find it hard to believe that we are already six months in to the year, in other words half a year has become history already.

2. Recently, Jennie, our daughter and I paid a visit to the Weald & Downland Country Museum. We go regularly and really recommend a visit if you haven’t been before, as it’s so peaceful, informative and quite often there are demonstrations of traditional crafts and cooking. During this visit we were able to see the ‘set’ of ‘The Repair Shop’, which is filmed on site. Am sure many of us have our particular interests and I suspect many follow Will Kirk’s skills with the restoration of the wooden artefacts brought in for repair/restoration. In the series of photos you can see his workbench behind that of the teddy bear repair team of Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell. The whole workshop looks a great deal smaller than on the television.

2. Any frequent visitor to the Shed would have noticed some serious shipbuilding going on between Tony Farnes and John Skerratt. These little ships were perfect in every detail and were completed recently. After a full MCA (Maritime Coastguard Agency) inspection, well Tony and John doing final checks! they were ready for sea trials.

3. We have been invited to join The Big Green Week in Waterlooville 10th June. It will take the form of a drop in session at the former Game shop on Waterlooville high street. We intend to put up a display of what we do and examples of the various projects we undertake. We also intend to provide information and application forms for prospective members. We are looking for volunteers to man the stall on the day. I have split the day up in to three periods that hopefully we can fulfil 1000 – 1200, 1200 – 1400 and 1400 – 1600 or any combination. If you can help out it would be much appreciated, as it’s a win win for WMS, both with local community and the HBC who we are working with concerning the potential relocation. Let me know if you can join on the day. Thanks in anticipation. really look splendid cutting through the water on their maiden voyages. Nice one Tony and John.4. WMS have also been offered space for two gazebos at this year’s Waterlooville Summer Fayre Sunday 23rd June. It is planned to have a display of projects that members have taken on and achieved whilst being members and information about the WMS for potential new members. It has also been suggested that a members ‘Hour for the Shed’ would help provide examples of the wide range of skills we have in the group. If you have anything that you would like to submit please let me know. We will also be looking for members to man the stall, again please let me know if you can give a couple of hours or more on the day. The fayre takes place on Jubilee Park off Milton Road 1000 – 1600. Again we are looking for members to man the stall. As a suggestion, splitting the day in to three sessions 1000 – 1200, 1200 – 1400 and 1400 - 1600