Local resident, David Moore is considering starting a community group called the ‘Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed’ based in Ross.

This is to try to fill a need which he sees in the community for helping to maintain the health and well being of senior men.

Mr Moore told the Ross Gazette: “It is well known that when men retire from work, a void is left in their lives. Many men are able to fill this void if they are fit and able but others find the loss of male company and something to do on retirement extremely challenging.

“Many find that the days are long and there is no reason to get out of bed in the morning. They become withdrawn and lonely.”

To help alleviate this problem there is an organisation called The Men’s Sheds Association, their website is www.menssheds.org.uk where more information can be found. There are numerous “Sheds” throughout the country and there are video clips on You Tube where you can see how other sheds in Britain are operating.

The purpose of this organisation is to assist and guide would be “shedders” to organise themselves to set up a Shed for the benefit of senior men in their local community. Once this has been done any senior man, able bodied or otherwise can go to the Shed and work on projects, either for themselves or the community, making and designing projects.

The “Shed” is not meant to deprive local tradesmen of their livelihood but to enable people to get together in a social environment, support each other and learn or teach new skills. The possibilities are endless.

In order to gauge response to this idea and to see if it is worthwhile, Mr Moore is asking would be “Shedders”, those men who are retired and over 55 years of age, or anyone who feels that can contribute or assist in this project, to contact him, in the first instance by email. His address is [email protected] where you can leave a few details and he will then get back to you.

He told the Ross Gazette that he is expecting the project to take quite a while to organise and get off the ground.

The first thing that is required is to find suitable accommodation. This would have to be free, at a peppercorn rent, in exchange for caretaking or a donation. Mr Moore added that any assistance to find accommodation would be very much appreciated.