April Newsletter 2026 part one

1. Welcome to April’s newsletter. You may have read recently about the annual argument of should our clocks go back or forward. A radical suggestion is to be debated in Parliament. The proposal is to convert to ‘decimal time’ i.e.. Twenty hours per day. Those supporting it say it will provide more daylight time than before without putting the clocks forward and back each year. This would also ensure that workers had shorter working days enabling a more work/family balance. The spokesman stated that there were many knock-on effects to be ironed out first. For example, instead of 8,760 hours in a year there would now be 7,300, but by dividing this by 20 to give us 365 and then divide again by 12 to give us 30. This would then make each month equal with 30 days and no requirement for a leap year. The spokesman also added that with all clocks and watches currently displaying twelve hours, each household will have a leaflet to explain the conversion, similar to when the country decimalised currency in 1971. I have read that it is hoped that this will come in to effect by the end of this government. The WMS committee will discuss this at the next meeting to workout implications on opening times etc. The secretary will then put out an email explaining any developments or decisions. If any member has views on this proposal, please contact the Secretary so we can include them in the meeting.

2. You may have seen new notices displayed around the workshops. Our newly established H&S team of John Bowden, Colin Donnelly and Paul Hale have worked hard to bring our H&S policies and procedures up to date. Each piece of equipment will now require a safety induction before clearance to operate. This will be entered into a registry to record who has taken an induction. This must include those who have been operating equipment before this new base line. Thankfully we have very few incidents, but everyone is just one distraction away from a major accident. Don’t let it be you! We are fortunate to have Peter Sanders as our sparky and with John Skerritt, Derek Rustell and many others we have most of the expertise available. H&S is everybody’s responsibility. If you see a dangerous practise by a member or a piece of equipment that looks dangerous, please don’t ignore it REPORT IT. You’re not ratting on your fellow member you are preventing him from possibly injuring himself.

3. You may have noticed that work has commenced on improving the drainage outside our fenced area. Work started mid-March and by the time of issue the work should be complete. This will hopefully stop the tsunami of water and mud coming into our compound. That’s the theory anyway….

4. On Monday 23rd March ten members, including wives, joined a tour of the Kings Theatre Portsmouth. We visited the areas of the theatre not normally open to the public and along with the guides history of the theatre we heard about the social attitudes to both class and women of the Edwardian age. The theatre opened in 1907. The guide showed the front five rows of seats in the stalls, available to men only. This was so the men or ‘Stage Door Johnnies’ as they were known, had a chance to see up the actress’s skirts! The tour was finished with tea and coffee in the Stalls Bar with the guide giving an account of the Kings Theatre ghost. By the way, the guide was Dave Allport, our secretary who is also a Kings Theatre volunteer costumed tour guide.

5. Paul Hale is making a second order for WMS logo’ed clothing. The list is available in the galley. If you would like to order one please place your name on the list with details of design and size. Monies with order to be placed in the safe please. These are of good quality and very reasonably priced.