A Personal Story: Rod Ainsworth - Scottish Men's Sheds Association

When the SMSA received a letter from Rodney (Rod) Ainsworth, 80 years young from Lossiemouth Men’s Shed, expressing how much he enjoyed being part of the SMSA and the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement following his retirement from the fire service and moving to Scotland, we had to share his story…

Rod said: “I had spent many years working and living outside the UK and then four years ago, I made the decision to retire from the fire service. I wanted to leave the place I was living in Canada, near Niagra Falls, and return and settle back down somewhere in the UK.

“I made a list of all of the requirements I wanted the place to meet. After a perusal of many places that came near to my list, I finally found Lossiemouth! Not only did it meet all of my list requirements, but it also provided a few bonus extras. Therefore, Lossiemouth it was!

“For those who don’t know Lossiemouth, it is in the far North East of Scotland and located approximately half way between Inverness and Aberdeen, and very near the historic town of Elgin. It is a seaside town popular with tourists and hosts two caravan camping sites and a beautiful harbour and marina.

“On arrival in Lossiemouth, everything was new and exciting to me—but having grown up and worked in Yorkshire, before moving for work abroad—you will appreciate, I was still somewhat at a loss living here. Things were so different and one of the main things I had to adjust to was the Scottish accent.

“Fortunately, I was blessed with wonderful neighbours who helped, advised and guided me through everyday life and, it was through them that I found out about the Men’s Shed.

“The Shed has been the most spectacular thing that has ever happened to me. They invited me into their community and through their meetings, chats and general get-togethers, I have opened an entirely new chapter in my retirement.

“I have made so many new great friends and am developing new skills such as wood turning! We have outings to other Sheds in the area, visits to local places of interest and visiting speakers capable of enlightening us on many different topics, particularly men’s health issues.

“Through the Shed, I have also become more aware of our community which has broadened my scope of living. I now have a bus pass and am informed of local events, such as the Highland Games and have joined the local rowing club.

I also take part in Christmas Fairs and Charity Fun Days etc.

“I’m 80 now, but feel about 50 in the head! Maybe I should slow down a bit, but hey ho, maybe not! I am enjoying everything that life has to offer right now.

“My life has been enriched beyond anything I could ever have imagined or wished for. I can truly say that the Shed has brought me a new and exciting era.

“I have found that everyone at the Shed has a unique background, and we all have stories we can tell. This is what makes it so interesting and the companionship is fantastic.

“I recommend to any gentleman with time on their hands or feeling a bit lonely, living on their own, or just getting under the wife’s feet a bit—go down to your nearest Shed, take part, enjoy the blether, learn something new or just put the kettle on!

“I guarantee you will enjoy the experience. It’s all free, and there are no rules for you to attend at certain times, you just go when you want and take part if you want to. It’s your choice! And, it’s a healthy choice!

“I hope by sharing my experience with others that it even encourages one more person to join the wonderful association which is the SMSA and connect with your local Shed. Don’t sit at home in front of the telly. Head to the Shed—you certainly won’t regret it!”

A Personal Story Continued: Growth and New Horizons (Aug 2025 Update from Rod)

Almost a year has passed since we shared Lossie Shedder Rod Ainsworth’s story. Here Rod, now 81, reflects on an incredible journey of growth, connection, and creativity at the Shed.

“Last September, I told the story of how Lossiemouth Men’s Shed took its first steps and how we established ourselves as a hub for men in Moray to come together, build skills, and create something meaningful,” says Rod. “Since then, so much has happened, and it’s been amazing to see how the Shed has blossomed, and how much I’ve personally gained from being part of it.”

One of the biggest developments at the Shed has been the expansion of the workshop. Thanks to securing a second container, the Shed has doubled its workspace resulting in more members joining in and the addition of new machinery.

Rod praises the invaluable support from Axminster Tools, with our Scottish Shed rep Mark Bloomfield working closely with the Moray Sheds to provide not just equipment but also guidance — a partnership that has truly elevated what the Shed can achieve.

The workshop has been producing popular items like bird nesting boxes, bat houses, and insect hotels, all in strong demand from their local community and for their own gardens!

The creative spirit however extends way beyond woodworking. The Shed has been involved in an innovative project assisting the local rowing club to develop a custom foot and seat rowing attachment, led by one of their members who is part of the club. Meanwhile, other members are transforming whisky barrel staves and lids into stunning coffee tables and stylish wall fittings—a true celebration of local heritage and craftsmanship.

Community connections are growing stronger than ever. Rod tells of how the Shed has reached out to their neighbouring communities and have connected with many including Roseisle.

The Shed has been building reciprocal links with their neighbours in Roseisle, with members attending and supporting each other’s events and delivering talks.

“One speaker from Roseisle delivered a talk to our Shedders. This was so successful that he is coming again, and this time, the event will be opened up to our own community with the event taking place in our Community Hub.”

A particularly moving moment came when the Shed helped organise a memorial service to honour victims of a wartime air crash in Lossiemouth — an event that united local residents, schools, council members, the RAF, and even the last eyewitness to the tragedy.

Local children placed handmade crosses on the memorial stone, and the community’s shared remembrance left a lasting impact, highlighting the powerful role the Shed plays in bringing people together.

That spirit of community was further exemplified when His Majesty The King visited RAF Lossiemouth. The Wing Commander asked the Shed to create a fitting gift for the visit — a whisky bottle and glass stand crafted from the old Lossiemouth wooden bridge. “I’m sure the King will remember the visit fondly,” Rod smiles, “We certainly will.”

“The Shed has seen an increase in membership, which I’m sure is due to the publicity we are receiving and the way our Shed is managed. The Shed philosophy is, that if you simply want to come and meet for a chat and a coffee, or if you want to hone your existing skills or develop new ones in the workshop, all are welcome. If you can go home smiling, then we have done something right.”

Rod treasures the connections across the Moray region and attending the quarterly Shed Network meetings hosted at neighbouring Sheds—sharing stories, swapping skills, and always walking away uplifted. “We don’t talk politics or news — just Shed stuff — and it always leaves me with a happy heart. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Finally, a bittersweet note — the Lossiemouth Shed is bidding farewell to one of its founding members, David Thompson. David’s dedication in building and equipping the workshop has been crucial to the Shed’s success. As he moves to a new part of Scotland, Rod is confident that if there isn’t a Men’s Shed there yet, there soon will be.

“On behalf of all of us at Lossiemouth Men’s Shed, we thank David for everything and wish him and his family every happiness in their new home.”

Before closing, Rod extended heartfelt congratulations to Jason Schroeder, the visionary behind the SMSA who was recently honoured with a Doctor of Business Administration by Robert Gordon University. “This honour recognises Jason’s exceptional contribution to the Scottish Sheds Movement to enhance men’s lives across Scotland through innovative, community-driven initiatives and inspires Shedders far and wide.”

“With that said, I believe, every single Scottish Men’s Shed including ours, has a very important part to play providing a similar contribution to our localities. Every member volunteers and invests his time, energies, funny stories and skills to the Shed and without their commitment, Sheds would simply not survive.”