July Newsletter 2025 Part One

1. Welcome to July’s newsletter. In this edition we have some spectacular aerial photos of our Shed during and after the roof replacement and site improvements. We have come so far since that initial E/AGM at the proposed new site in Forest End Waterlooville in March 2024. We have really worked as a team over the past challenging months, drawing on everyone’s expertise, from the legal aspects of a new lease to expenditure budgeting, fund raising and material ordering to the most important part of the jigsaw, members and their rolled-up sleeves. This small army cracked on with the monumental task of replacing ceilings, updating electrics, the exterior lean too and the galley refurbishment. The ‘Shed’ now is well-prepared for the next decade, leaving a legacy for future WMS Shedders. We still have challenging projects ahead for our ‘Shed’, but we can all be rightly proud of what has been achieved so far.

2. Our membership interests are wide and diverse, and we are lucky to have a member who is a keen gardener. Bob Dickens has taken on the ‘Shed’ garden. He has done a great job to enhancing the area around the recreation area with boxes and planters full of plants. Am sure we all appreciate the work that has gone into this. We will now be able to enjoy our mid-morning teas & coffee’s and the monthly BBQ’S amongst a blaze of colour. Thanks Bob, great display.

3. We were all aware of the work on the roof replacement, but apart from a couple of photos I managed to take from the top of a ladder, we didn’t get a real chance to see the progress and what it looked like on completion. We have been fortunate in having someone who was able to control a photographic drone. These are some of the great photos he was able to process for us.

4. On Wednesday 4th June, Pete Sanders, Dave Sy, John Bowden, Peter Katis and Dave Allport joined Denmead residents for the formal handing over ceremony of the Greening Denmead Book Exchange. The ceremony even had the traditional cutting of the ribband to officially declare it open. A couple of short speeches from the resident’s chairlady with a response from a WMS member was followed by a nice selection of home-made cakes, which, as any WMS member will know, are always well received. We were even given the remaining cakes to take back to the Shed. The Exchange now looks great in its prominent position, and will serve the community for some time, I’m sure. As we stood there, books were already being placed on the shelves, which was a great start. Well done to everyone, especially Dave Sy, John Skerratt, and Paul Katis, for their effort on this high-quality piece of furniture.

5. At our June BBQ we were pleased to host Mrs Laura Bevis, HBC Community Officer and Armed Forces Covenant lead. Laura was invited to see the tremendous work that has so far been achieved, taking a guided tour by Pete Sanders and Dave Allport before enjoying a burger and sausage in a bun, in the sunshine in our recreation area and chatting to members. We are very grateful for her support and advice on fund raising and contacts we can pursue.