Summer 2023
A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life
A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life
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WELLBEING<br />
Wealden<br />
Men’s Shed<br />
(Cranbrook)<br />
The Wealden Men’s<br />
Shed opened on<br />
21 March last year<br />
and has grown<br />
consistently since<br />
then. We often get asked ‘what<br />
exactly is it and what do you do?’<br />
A ‘men’s shed’ is like your own<br />
garden shed – a place to pursue<br />
practical interests at leisure, to<br />
practice skills and enjoy making<br />
and mending. The difference is<br />
that pottering in your shed at<br />
home is often solitary in nature<br />
while the Men’s Shed is about<br />
building social connections and<br />
friendships, sharing skills and<br />
knowledge and lots of laughter!<br />
And, of course, at the same time<br />
it’s a boost to your mental and<br />
physical wellbeing.<br />
The term ‘shed’ is used loosely,<br />
as many of the UK shed are<br />
based in village halls, disused<br />
warehouses, empty offices, a<br />
barge on the Thames or even, in<br />
one case, a disused mortuary!<br />
Each ‘shed’ is run by a small<br />
committee who decides how they<br />
wish to run and what they would<br />
like to do and achieve. Some have<br />
workshops, some are just social<br />
groups and some have both.<br />
Some meet daily, weekly or once<br />
a month. Some admit women<br />
and a few are women only. That<br />
Stanley<br />
Painting & Decorating<br />
Internal & External<br />
Residential<br />
Offices<br />
Commercial<br />
Listed Buildings<br />
Quality Assured<br />
01580 892255<br />
07788 588905<br />
info@stanleypainting.co.uk<br />
Est. 1992<br />
is what makes each of the 500+<br />
‘sheds’ in the UK totally unique<br />
from each other.<br />
The Wealden Men’s Shed is<br />
open to men over the age of 18.<br />
Currently we have 40+ members<br />
from all over the Weald and<br />
membership is free.<br />
ACTIVITIES<br />
Currently we run a very good<br />
social group in Cranbrook on a<br />
Monday morning from 10 until<br />
about 12.30, either in the Coach<br />
House at Cranbrook School or<br />
in the George Hotel when the<br />
Coach House is unavailable. You<br />
can simply chat over a cuppa<br />
or bring in your own projects<br />
to work on or help others with<br />
theirs! Pool, dart and table<br />
tennis can be played too.<br />
We run events such as talks,<br />
short learning courses and<br />
attend fetes to promote the<br />
shed and to raise funds. We<br />
have lunches out and encourage<br />
members to join in with local<br />
events and activities.<br />
We also work in the<br />
community by:<br />
• helping out in the<br />
Community Kitchen<br />
• doing small DIY jobs for those<br />
people who struggle to do this<br />
• running a repair shed<br />
recycling/mending broken<br />
items for local residents<br />
• visiting Hartley Care Home<br />
to play dominoes and cards<br />
with residents who live with<br />
dementia.<br />
PLANS FOR <strong>2023</strong><br />
• We are looking forward to<br />
the opening of our own<br />
workshop, storage space<br />
and outside working area at<br />
Cranbrook Rugby Club.<br />
• Upskilling sixth formers at<br />
Cranbrook School by running<br />
short lunchtime classes in<br />
basic car maintenance and<br />
DIY.<br />
• Holding a talk on prostate<br />
cancer and running a short<br />
first aid course.<br />
MEMBERSHIP<br />
If you are interested in seeing<br />
what we do and perhaps joining,<br />
then why not pop in and meet<br />
us on a Monday or give the<br />
membership secretary, Paul<br />
Chapman, a ring on 07702<br />
842585. New members are<br />
always welcome. We are a<br />
friendly bunch and there is<br />
always someone to meet and<br />
greet you.<br />
Liz McLaren, WMS secretary<br />
18 The Cake • <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2023</strong>
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