Personal Stories - Scottish Men's Sheds Association

A Personal Story: John McFall

Retired chef and Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed (KBMS) Member John McFall (75) shares his story of feeling ‘forgotten’ following his daughter’s death and subsequent marriage breakdown, turning to alcohol and being on the verge of taking his own life before joining, and feeling saved by, his local Men’s Shed.

John said: “KBMS has been a lifesaver for me. I know that sounds quite dramatic but it literally has been. I came close to taking my own life a couple of times—I was on the verge and could not see a way out.

“Life has not been easy. My first marriage broke down and I brought up my two young children alone. Over time, I remarried— happily for many years, before tragically losing my daughter to suicide when she was just 27 years old. I didn’t realise at the time how much of an affect that had on me or on the marriage.

“I ended up on my own in a sheltered housing complex—a one bedroom flat and weekends in particular were horrendously lonely. It felt like a prison sentence. I was on my own; with little or no contact with anyone else from day to day.

“I started drinking, basically because it was a kind of comfort for me at the time and helped me sleep, something I was really struggling with. I started using alcohol as a way of getting to sleep rather than seeking help. I was in a very dark place.

“I felt forgotten so began looking for ‘something’. I started doing some local volunteering including cleaning up hospital gardens but unfortunately that role ended too. And then, four years ago, I heard about the Shed and what they’d done and thought ‘I have to look into that’. So I did. I got the information that I needed and drove up to Kirkmuirhill and filled out my membership form there and then—one of the best things I’ve ever done.

“It really could not have come at a better time for me. I found that a lot of the guys were very open about some
of the problems that they were having, health wise and in their personal lives, and some had similar experiences to me. There were a few particular members that I ended up getting close to.

“When you finally get a chance to talk to somebody—someone you can really relate to—you could just talk to them all day, get a lot off your chest and you know that what you share is not going to be laughed at or passed on to anyone else—it’s a safe space.

“Knowing that I had a fair bit to travel to and from the Shed—because I’m quite isolated in the village where I live—also took me away from the alcohol. The last thing I needed was to lose my driving license and feel even more social isolation.

“I now go to the Shed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays most weeks. The Shed never used to open on a Friday but after I requested it, they began opening for that additional day to meet my needs. The Shed and my fellow Shedders are a great help to me because it gives me a purpose and somewhere else to go rather than sitting in a sheltered housing complex.

“That was the godsend for me and that’s what really perked me up because I found that I could open up and get things off my chest.

“But it wasn’t just the social side that I loved. As a retired chef—I had never worked with wood in my life but the very first project I did, I was amazed at how much I thoroughly enjoyed working with wood and the tools and machinery. I got into it in a big way and have learned so much.

“I’ve been involved in so many Shed projects now including hand carvings and making clocks to sell at local fairs and community events. It is a pleasure to do my bit to raise funds to help keep this Shed functioning for all of the members including myself.

“All I can say is, for people out there reading this, that suffer from loneliness, are isolated in their own homes and/or grieving—get yourself along to the Shed because it has been my lifeline and it could be yours too!”

A Personal Story: Duncan Seymour

The SMSA connects with Dalkeith Men’s Shed Vice-Chairman Duncan Seymour (56), a working Shedder who recently embarked on an eye-opening trip to Japan’s first pilot Men’s Shed—Pokke Kotan in Sapporo.

Duncan, a Maintenance Technician at an Early Learning Centre in Vogrie, said: “I heard about the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement through word of mouth and joined just over a year ago. Although I am busy in my working life, I wanted to put in the time to further connect with my community as a type of preparation for my retirement, plus improve on my D.I.Y and woodworking skills. I don’t work on Fridays and the Shed is open from 10am to 1pm that day, so I go along every week to hang out and chat.

“Our Shed, within the One Dalkeith community hub, is currently rented hourly. With only having three hours at the Shed each week, and by the time we have finished catching up with each other, there is not much time left to get in the workshop. But when I do—I love making sticks, spoons, keyrings, wooden jewellery and much more. We have talked about introducing additional opening hours in the evenings and weekends for working members like me, and hopefully we can implement those in the near future and attract new members.

“Through my personal life, career, love of playing rugby and being a member of the Midlothian Walking Rugby Club, I have been fortunate to have travelled the world but, always on a shoe string budget and let’s just say—it has made my journeys a little different to the norm!

“My wife Linda and I were planning another wee break and started looking at East Asia. I looked to see if there were any walking rugby and Men’s Sheds in Japan but could not find anything. A little perseverance and more research and I learned about the Pokke Kotan Men’s Shed—one of only two Sheds in Japan. The other Shed, ’Yo-Ro-Ya’ meaning ’let’s get together, is in the south in the village of Mizukami in Kyushu.

“I reached out to Pokke Kotan and began to correspond with Prof. Chihiro Sugimoto from Hokkaido University. Thankfully Chihiro’s English is very good and we began chatting back and forth about my plans to visit them whilst on holiday.

“Armed with handmade gifts from my fellow Dalkeith Shedders and a wee SMSA gift pack for our Sapporon brothers (including SMSA lapel pin badges and pens), my wife and I flew the 6,000 miles to Osaka on the 20th February before touring around heading north to Hokkaido. We reached Sapporo on Friday 7th March—a day before our planned Shed visit.

“The pilot Men’s Shed, supported by the Japan Community Sheds Association (JCSA) began back in October 2022 and aims to create a supportive community for its local men. Their men suffer from the same issues and problems as our Scottish men do. It is a collaboration project involving various individuals and organisations including Prof Barry Golding, Dr. Ayahito Ito (University of Tohoku) and Dr. Risa Takashima (Hokkaido University) with the goal to provide a space for local men to connect, share experiences, and engage in activities.

“On the day of our visit, Chihiro picked up my wife and I from our hotel and we navigated the snowy roads for the 45-minute drive to reach the Men’s Shed. Pokke Kotan means ‘warm village’ and we certainly received a warm and friendly welcome on our arrival.

“We were shown around the Shed, called ‘Base 871’, a former derelict house that was donated by a construction company, and it was great to see their workshop and social areas that have been transformed by their 50-strong membership. I then delivered a presentation on the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement and what happens at our Shed before asking some questions from SMSA CEO Jason Schroeder.

“We also heard about the Japanese Men’s Shed model and it was extremely interesting to hear about their unique ‘Brain Dock’ programme where the Shedders receive annual MRI scans for brain health monitoring, prostate cancer and even male pattern baldness!

“It is fantastic to see their government taking men’s health and social isolation and loneliness so seriously. Japan has a high number of MRI scanners per capita and the Japanese government programme offers preventative health screening to identify any potential issues before they manifest as clinical symptoms. Their government is also actively investing in new MRI techniques including the use of AI in diagnostic imaging.

We come bearing gifts...

“It was then time to hand over the gifts from our Dalkeith members including Ronnie’s handmade plaque (pictured right) and the SMSA gift pack. They were intrigued by the ‘No Pub, No Bookies’ poster and I had to explain what the pub and bookies are.

“We were certainly not expecting anything in return but were delighted to be presented with one member’s beautiful origami butterflies. Following the exchange of gifts, we were then invited to go snowshoeing—which my wife and I were both more than up for trying.

“My wife Linda is a bit of a foodie and had asked if we could do a cookery class during our visit and show them how to make a traditional Scotch Broth which they kindly helped with—they even pre-soaked the pulses overnight for us. Our Japanese brothers then reciprocated by demonstrating and making hand-rolled sushi. We all then sat down to enjoy the multi-cuisine feast together.

“The visit to Pokke Kotan really opened my eyes. The welcome and hospitality was excellent and it was great to share a snippet of the Scottish Men’s Sheds Movement to them.

“We are already discussing the potential for Chihiro and a few of the Pokke Kotan Shedders to come over and visit us, some of our local Sheds and the SMSA. This is an experience I will never forget.”

Risa Takashima, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Hokkaido University, said: “It is inspiring to hear about Duncan’s conversations with the SMSA. We’re still at the early stages of our Men’s Shed journey in Japan, so it’s encouraging to know that there is interest and support from a community with such a rich history and experience.

“We are truly honoured that Duncan wishes to share his experiences. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to learn from his insights and to introduce the Men’s Shed concept to a broader audience in Japan. We are humbled by the interest from the Japanese Consulate in Edinburgh and this is a fantastic opportunity to foster connections and raise awareness in both of our countries.”

A Personal Story: George Smith

The SMSA interviews 49-year-old George Smith from the Black Isle Men’s Shed who, following a major accident at work, had to give up work in 2005. At a loose end, George started delivering green woodworking tutorials to members in Feddanhill Wood behind Fortrose.

George said: “I had been a carpenter and joiner since the age of 16—travelling all over the UK to wherever the work took me on projects of a transient nature and thoroughly enjoying life. Then in 2005, everything changed.

“I was working on a refurbishment project with a team of other lads but due to a structural architectural defect, the unstable building collapsed on us whilst we were working on the gable end. I quickly managed to shove two lads out of ground floor windows before I was then hit by over eight and a half tonnes of debris. I survived but the building didn’t!

“After hours digging me out, which I thought was only a matter of minutes as I drifted in and out of consciousness, I have been informed by family members that I died several times in the ambulance. I remember waking to smashed teeth, golf-ball-sized dents in my head and a fractured pelvis—and was told about my vapourised hard hat and how I was lucky to be alive.

“On release from hospital, I really didn’t know what to do with myself as I could not ever go back to work. I was heavily medicated and had to use a walking stick and I have had a permanent headache for the last twenty years. My limited mobility meant that I couldn’t get out to do the things that I did before and I spiralled into a depressive rut which severely impacted on my mental health.

“Before the accident, I was quite outgoing and had worked on many high-profile projects including Europe’s first commercial wave generating station on the Isle of Islay. But I had now totally lost my confidence—I was a changed man.

“Then, one day, I saw a post on Facebook that grabbed my attention. A meeting to start up a Black Isle Men Shed and thought it sounded right up my street, literally. To say that it took a lot for me to go along to the Shed that first time is an understatement—I was suffering from panic attacks and social anxiety in other similar scenarios—but thankfully I already knew some of the guys there, as I have lived in the Black Isle for 29 years now, which put me at ease and I felt welcomed and comfortable from day one.

“That was in 2017 and I have been a long-standing member ever since. Our Shed has the use of facilities at Avoch Community Centre which is operated by the 1st Avoch Sea Scouts for the benefit of the community. Our members have access to an indoor workshop, social area (Ward Room) and a storage container, small workshop and a large patio outside to work on larger projects when weather permits.

“I would go along to the Shed at the Avoch centre twice a week and as a team, we all helped get the Shed up and running. We started building our machine shop and work areas at our pace. Everything was great and then COVID reared its ugly head and the centre had to close.

“One of our members Graham Tuley owns a local wood, Feddanhill Wood, and he offered the space for members to work on projects outdoors.

“Graham and I began taking small manageable groups of up to five members each and started teaching the lads green woodworking—working with wet or unseasoned wood that has been freshly-felled—as well as tree identification and forestry management. We would meet up at the woods, learn new skills and soak up the great outdoors whilst carving away with our axes, saws and knives or turning bowls on our pull lathe.

“For our members with a love and passion, like me, for being outdoors, it was an escape for us during the pandemic. There is no power there, apart from a seldom used borrowed generator, and we began creating beautiful items like bowls and spoons using traditional methods the way it used to be—no power tools or electric bills!

“Graham emptied three buildings at the woods and gave us two of them for shelter and storage. Over time, we demolished one that had seen better days and together, we built a new shed using interwoven sapling Ash. We also built another out of pallets and covered it in reclaimed corrugated sheeting.

“We skinned Sitka trees, which I had done before and swore I would never do again, and used the bark as a roofing membrane for the building. We built up numerous layers to ensure it was water tight—and several years on, it still is—not one leak! Graham now has more out buildings for storage and we have our double shed with a reasonably kitted out workshop with all of our hand tools.

“I won’t lie, it has not always been plain sailing. It took me two years to modify the pool lathe in order for me to get it just right to work it with my bad leg on a barber’s chair. But all of these challenges are part of the fun and banter we have there.

“Our plans for the future? Well, we pretty much want to do more of the same. It works! We just all gather with our flasks and a packed lunch and enjoy our time together. We have built up some great friendships. The only thing I would really like to see more of in the future is to introduce more social activities up at the woods since we have this huge outdoor space.

“I would like to see the lads making bows, arrows and targets and doing some archery. And, partake in some axe throwing too! I also really enjoy exploring the area with my metal detector, hopefully some of the lads will join me with that too and go on an adventure and treasure hunt with me next time!”

A Personal Story: Alex Hunter

Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed (KBMS) member Alex Hunter—a Ministry of Defence veteran in his mid-70s with a newfound passion for bodging garden planters—reflects on the impact that the Shed has had on him.

Alex said: “I joined KBMS when it first started up in 2019. We all had a meeting in the local community centre and the place was full with people keen to have their very own local Men’s Shed.

“Forms were handed out asking for our contacts details and to list what we were interested in, good at and what we did in our day-to-day and working lives. I put myself down as a ‘bodger’ cause everything I do is a bodge, if you know what I mean?

“I certainly couldn’t make furniture for a house. I’m just not that neat and finished, but I was never into joinery or carpentry. I had zero woodwork experience and was Ministry of Defence Police for 23 years and before that, a light house keeper, and prior to that I was in the Royal Air Force (RAF). But now that I am in that Shed, oh, I’m right into it.

“The stuff I’ve made in the Shed is unbelievable, for me, and I’m very happy with it. I like to undertake projects like garden planters, after all if there are any wee mistakes—nobody notices, because it’s sitting out in the garden anyway!

“Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Thursday night, I’m at that Shed. I would say I’m one of the best attendees because I like it so much. And, the company is fantastic—we all get on so well and are all now really good friends.

“It is a fact that I simply would not be living such a happy and fulfilled life in my 70s without the Men’s Shed—it is a huge part of my life”.

– Alex Hunter, Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood Men’s Shed

“We work closely with our neighbouring Shed, Coalburn Men’s Shed too which started up about two years behind us. We helped them out and have remained pals ever since. We’re a good mixture of men, good friends and we look after each other.

“It is a fact that I simply would not be living such a happy and fulfilled life in my 70s without the Men’s Shed—it is a huge part of my life.

“Because I was a storeman in the RAF, I’m also in charge of the stores – mainly the biscuits. It is a responsibility to be taken very seriously—biccies are kept under tight lock and key to make sure the members eat plain biscuits some days and not just the choccy ones!

“I also manage the Shed’s Walking Tours in the good weather from April through to September. We’ve got four different historical walks that we do around the villages where we get groups of up to six to go on a leisurely walk. Every one of our popular walks can be done in under two hours and at an easy pace for all whilst we explain the ‘now and then’ – what’s there now and what used to be there many years ago.

“We look at everything in our surrounding community during the walk and we show pictures to compare the past with present day. We have produced folders upon folders containing all of the photographs and settings. We explain the history of our villages and there is a brilliant uptake for it. We are even educating some of the people that have lived here for decades and this all adds to the enjoyment!

“Without the Shed, I really would be lost. I never want to be stuck in the house looking at four walls or watching mind-numbing daytime television, do you? I want to get out and about, keeping myself busy enough and just have a really good time—and the Shed provides just that for me.”

A Personal Story: Stuart Mackenzie

The SMSA interviews 42-year-old Stuart Mackenzie who kindly offered his friends a lift to a meeting of their local Men’s Shed ten years ago but had no urge to go himself and thought that DIY meant ‘Don’t Involve Yourself’. Fast forward to present day, and he has a mad passion for woodwork and is the Chairman of Macmerry Men’s Shed.

Stuart said: “I worked in the prison service (young offenders) for a few years when, in 2007, I woke up one morning and I had lost my sight. I still tried to get up and drive myself to work but my wife thankfully stopped me.

“That lasted for about two and a half weeks during which I was diagnosed with relapsing/remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

“I got better and thought nothing more of it. Then in 2011, I suddenly lost my ability to talk which ended up lasting for about six weeks. I had to learn how to talk again and I also lost the feeling in my hands which, as a guitar player, was an interesting learning curve trying to continue playing.

“I ended up being medically retired in June 2013 as a result of my MS and spent about six months getting steadily fed up with daytime telly, so I looked into doing some kind of volunteering work.

“I began volunteering and ran a Sporting Memories Scotland group at my local community centre and it was at one of our get-togethers that I first heard about Men’s Sheds. A few guys from the group wanted to go along to a meeting to find out more so I offered to give them a lift.”

Stuart admitted that “At the time I could not join two bits of wood together if you paid me and was never interested in woodwork at school. Just ask my wife Lynda, about the horror story that was the flat pack chest of drawers I tried to put together in our first flat. My dad has never been good at DIY so I had no real interest in trying to learn myself, so I was happy just being a chauffeur for my pals that day.

“Before I knew it though, by just being at the meeting, I had inadvertently now become a member of the Shed. All the men were great and welcoming, to the point that I felt, seeing how I was the youngest there, I had somehow been adopted by 20 or so granddads.

“The Shed has an infectious nature and before I knew it, I was hooked and attending regularly. By just watching and helping out—and without realising it—I started to learn so much from my peers.

“I began to absolutely love working with wood and started making garden benches, planters and even playhouses for my daughter and her friends in their respective gardens. Over time, my daughter Olivia’s playhouse grew with her—in the end I had almost turned it into a two-storey house complete with a spiral staircase! Knowing my history with DIY, my wife still struggles to believe that I am ever asked to make, build and fix things.

“Working with young offenders in the prison service comes in handy when peace making with 15-25 guys in a Shed every day. There is always someone not having a good day—so it is certainly a useful transferrable skill! Saying that, the members are all great—all from different backgrounds that come together as a team. They are all so welcoming and inclusive.

“Being the youngest at the Shed, I initially worried that we would have nothing in common but the banter and friendships were almost instantaneous. We are all there to help and support each other.

“For someone that was unable to talk, I now never stop—I do love to blether a LOT! But also, I try not to dominate those all-important chats in the Shed and I always try to make time to listen to others.

“In lockdown, we all missed the Shed so much. I was bored and craved the banter so we started holding video conference calls—checking in on each other and cheering each other up. In fact, we held a surprise birthday party video call for one of our members—he was delighted. Each of us had party hats on, balloons and banners on the walls behind us which made it a lot of fun for everyone involved.

“My wife says I fight against my health condition. Yes, the Shed does take up a lot of my time—more so now I am Chair—but it replaced work for me and gave me purpose. With my MS, I felt tired and run-down all of the time to the point of feeling useless but now, I want to get up and go, I want to better myself and do things for the guys at the Shed and the wider Shed community.

“My mental health really did receive a huge boost. In all honesty, there are so many people out there all with either physical or mental health issues that, I would say, going to a Shed could be just what you need. It is an amazing sight when you see a new member come into the Shed and all the guys greet them, chat away to them and within 10 minutes have made a new friend.

“Our Shed recently purchased a CNC machine and members have been familiarising themselves with this new piece of kit as well as learning computer skills whilst making intricate designs and this knowledge is being passed on to other interested members.

“Every Shed has got their own speciality, that could be specific to their area or something a member has learned in their personal or working life and can bequeath this to other Shedders. One of our members Fred did stick dressing as a young boy and has passed his skills and knowledge of this on to his fellow members. Fred sadly passed away not that long ago but his memory lives on when the guys are doing this activity.

“I have been at the Shed for ten years now and last year took over the reins from our former Chairman David Dickson who is now our Honorary President. We are a Shed run by its members, for its members and we have welcomed quite a few new guys recently ranging in age from their 40s to 80s. We have so much potential to grow the Shed, and it’s great to see some younger guys, the next generation, joining—we are not just here for the retired after all.

“Future plans include the addition of two new cabins to the yard which we have secured funding for through the Community Health and Wellbeing Fund and National Lottery Community Fund. Two of our members were featured on BBC Radio 4 specifically talking about their experience of joining a Men’s Shed. The producer of that show has asked us to launch a podcast about the Shed which would be produced by the BBC. This will afford the opportunity to promote the Shed and stories from the Shedders to raise awareness but also teach skills around video editing and radio presenting. There was even talk of taking the show on the road to other Sheds to get their stories, which would be fantastic. This project is still in its infancy just now but it is a project that I feel would be worthwhile and hope to pursue.

“In the past, we have connected with the community—young and old—and we have exciting plans to step this up a gear and get a van full of tools and start up a ‘Men’s Shed on the Move!’ and visit different places to spread the word. We can bring the Shed to communities and hopefully, as a result, they will then check out and join the actual Shed. We plan to hit the road to connect with schools, colleges and care homes etc in the surrounding area and really promote what we have to offer to ensure we are still around in 30+ years!

“To think that all of this started just by offering to give a couple of friends a lift to a Men’s Shed. That, I feel, proves the totally infectious and positive results of the Shed effect.”

A Personal Story: John McGhie

The SMSA chats to 97-years-young veteran, toolmaker and golf club manufacturer John McGhie who is the oldest active member of Stonehouse Men’s Shed and the most mature Shedder within the South Lanarkshire Shed network. Here, John shares his life story and how he connected with his local Men’s Shed which he now ‘could not live without’.

Born in Stonehouse on the 20th June 1927, John McGhie went to school in the village before leaving at age 14 to become a toolmaker and studying practical and theory at Burnbank Engineering College for two years travelling back and forth on his motorbike.

John then went on to work in the tool rooms of Metropolitan Vickers in Motherwell and Ranco in Tannochside before, at age 18, he was drafted into the army towards the end of the war and sent to the Royal Corps of Signals in Berlin putting in lines of communication.

John describes Berlin as ‘flat and very quiet’ but he did meet a local girl and asked his commanding officer if he could get married. His commanding officer’s response was to send him to Antwerp instead saying he was too young to get married.

Following the army, John came home and established himself as an entrepreneur, building up the brand of McGhie Golf Clubs. John said: “I set off on the train to travel all the way to the Foxhall Stores near London—the equivalent of Harrods today—for a meeting with the manager. On arrival, my excitement was quickly deflated when the lady at the reception informed me that it was the manager’s day off!

“On my way to leave the store and feeling very disheartened, a man brushed the back of me and asked me why I was there. I informed him that I had travelled all the way down from Scotland to meet the manager but he was not working that day. The gentleman turned out to be the owner, Brian Marks and he was keen for me to show him a set of the clubs that I had brought with me. There and then, I received an order for £6,000 for 15 half sets of clubs and it was also the beginning of a life-long friendship between myself and Brian.

“I waited a few weeks and finally, an envelope plopped through the letterbox. It contained a big cheque—ya beauty—and then there was also a letter with an order for 2,000 more sets!

“More orders quickly followed so I purchased a building in Stonehouse for £500 and started manufacturing. I brought in people from the Larkhall labour exchange and bought grips from Goodyear, maple heads from Canada and iron shafts from three foundries in Douglas in Lanarkshire all shipped via Motherwell Railway Station.

“I really had a great, loyal and trustworthy team working with me and I trained the men on every step of the process—how to make, polish and finish the clubs.

“I really did make an awful lot of money with my business back then but to be honest, the workload almost killed me. Towards the end, we were making over 500 clubs a week with a team of just four and I have to say, it was such a relief when I retired.”

John was delighted that he had built up McGhie Golf Clubs to become a well-known and highly-respected brand in the golfing world, famed for its quality, but all good things must come to an end. Avid car enthusiast John, who at one time owned five much-treasured cars, then went on to invest in Jaguar motor cars and was then asked by the Managing Director of Taggarts to deliver Jaguar cars across Scotland. Not one to turn down a great offer, John then began driving all across Scotland delivering his favourite luxury car.

John said: “When I retired—for the final time—I then just started staying in the house. I didn’t go out much—I had nothing to go out for! But then one day, I noticed some building work taking place at an old toilet block near my house. Intrigued, I went over to chat to the builders to see what was going on.

“The builders informed me that the toilet block was about to become a Men’s Shed! A Men’s Shed—whatever it was, it sounded great and I was in. I took an interest and talked to my grandson who was all for it too and offered to support me by taking me along.

“Every Monday without fail, since day one of the Shed, my grandson picks me up in his car to take me along. I make a beeline for ‘my chair’ and thoroughly enjoy chatting to the lads and hearing all the banter. I love listening to everyone’s stories and also sharing my tuppeny’s worth.”

Throughout the interview, John reminisced on many stories of his loving wife Georgina—who was selected to be a model for many, including the army, and had the most stunningly beautiful low-maintenance hair that she used to dunk in a bucket and swirl and shake in the air and then she was done. Georgina (pictured below) had always supported John tremendously and devoted her life to John and their son and daughter. Georgina unfortunately had a family history of cancer and is now sadly no longer with us and John himself has also fought and recovered from cancer.

Graham Curtis, Chairman of Stonehouse Men’s Shed said: “Recently, this remarkable man stood and captivated the Shed members with his incredible life story for over 50 minutes (pictured above right). This man has lived in Stonehouse all of his life and has so much wisdom and experience to share. John commands his seat on the couch and is a focal point of our Shed. He comes in the Shed and soaks in what people say and you can hear his laughter echoing through the social area. We are so lucky to have him as a valued member.”

When asked about his secret to a long life and still living in his own home, John first of all had to stop the interview to cancel another call on his smart watch, before sharing that he makes sure to keep himself and his brain active by going to the Shed and his main meal of the day is his hearty breakfast—a humungous bowl of porridge made with a pint of milk and four Weetabix dunked in and topped up with orange juice—sometimes with a scoop of jam on top! “The breakfast of champions, plus the odd pint of Guinness” he said.

John added: “I intend to keep coming along to the Shed every single Monday. The lads held a fantastic birthday party for me for my 96th birthday, we all had a great time, and they are already speaking about my 100th birthday celebrations. I can’t let the lads down.”

A Personal Story: Rod Ainsworth

When the SMSA received a letter from Rodney (Rod) Ainsworth (pictured above far right), 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: Tom Hollins

The SMSA interviews father-of-five, armed forces veteran and Comrie Shedder Tom Hollins (53) who following medical discharge from the army found his local Men’s Shed and is now embarking on a new venture—to set up a veterans’ hub a stone’s throw away from the Shed base at Cultybraggan Camp. Tom, originally from Belfast, had a military upbringing from day one, his dad was in The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) providing recovery and engineering support to British Army vehicles from land, air and sea and his brother was also in the Royal Air Force. Tom said: “I joined the Army Infantry Division and then in 1989 moved to the 1st Battalion Wessex Regiment as a mortarman and then a few years later transferred to the Royal Logistics Corps as a railhead operator.

“In 1996, I moved to the Territorial Army (TA) for four years before serving for 14 years (2000-2014) with the Military Provost Guard Service (MPGS) in an armed security role as a section commander/guard commander with a 14-man security section for the 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment in Kent. In 2018, I moved into a recruitment role with the TA and then had a short spell back at MPGS before being medically discharged in 2022 as a result of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which my father and brother also suffer from.

“I thoroughly enjoyed military life. I really missed the lads, the banter, the lifestyle. People say I am very regimental—of course I am, it is all I have ever known, we even have our own language, and I loved it! After 33 years in the army, I didn’t know what to do with myself—I had travelled all across the world, seen so many good things and a lot of bad but I still missed it. I had to find a way to move on.

“With my complex PTSD, I attended the Veterans First Point in Dundee and received great support from them and was also put on a 28-week Peers-to-Peers course so I could also help others.

“Life following discharge has been a roller coaster ride—both mentally, emotionally and physically. But then we moved to Crieff and I heard about Comrie Men’s Shed and quickly joined desperately seeking my get-up-and-go and comradeship.

“The Shed helped me to talk to other men and make connections. There were some veteran members and it was great to talk to people that could relate. Even though I am one of the youngest members, I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of great Shedders with good life experiences to share and learn from.

“The Shed changed my life for the better and helped me feel at ease. I have met so many amazing people and it was a place I could concentrate on my own health and wellbeing.

“Comrie Men’s Shed is based at Cultybraggan Camp—a former WWII prisoner-of-war camp in one of 80+ Nissen huts (Hut 65) which was constructed to house up to 4,000 prisoners (formerly known as PoW Camp 21) and then became a training camp for the Ministry of Defence in 1948. The camp is now a thriving multi-use community resource run by the Comrie Development Trust.

“The Shed offers activities ranging from woodwork to bird watching including personal and community projects, repair/restore service, arts and crafts, IT skills, book clubs, leather-craft, photography and ham radio.

“I found however, meeting veterans in the Shed that they were all saying the same thing—there was no support in our area just for veterans and their families. Somewhere to go for help, advice and support.

“A lot of veterans come back shellshocked and/or with disabilities and struggle to readjust to society and find employment and don’t know where to turn. Many feel like an outcast, and suffer anxiety and feelings of loss and just need somewhere to go to chew the fat with someone who can relate to military issues. So, I decided to do something about it.

“The camp is such an ideal location with many opportunities and huge potential. In addition to the huts, there are 40 allotments, a community orchard, woodland, a gym, shops and local businesses too. There are also many volunteering opportunities including gardening, maintenance and offering tours at the museum. In the Shed and at the camp, you meet a wide mix of all lives and I had now made the decision to add a veterans hub to the list!

“I have undertook many courses including Mental Health First Aid and my past made me experienced to offer integrated support to veterans and their families including health and wellbeing support, funding advice, social activities, connections, advocacy, access to services and pension, employment, relocation and housing advice. I can also signpost veterans to programmes and partner agencies that I have built close links to.

“It has now been over a year trying to set up the veterans hub as a charity, piggybacking on the Shed. I have ‘pestered’ everyone in my path to get the hub up and running.

“The hub is now open and located in Hub 1 at the camp and open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays but the long-term plan is to be open five days a week. The hub is really informal—like walking into a living room –and is somewhere veterans and their family members (whether they have served one month or 40 years) can come and chew the fat with someone relatable and access support.

“We can also send veterans on day trips such as the Wolverhampton Multi Sports and Activity Camps where they can do anything from wheelchair basketball to rock climbing. There is something for everyone.

“I say to people who are struggling—feeling withdrawn and pushed to one side—don’t look at the pavement, when you go out for a walk, look up, look around you and see new things. Say good morning to people you have never spoken to before on your daily walks, try something new. As we know in the Shed, it can take a while for people to open up. Take the time, build up trust and they will talk.

“On Remembrance Sunday 2024, we opened our doors and invited veterans from the armed forces and families to come and join us and had a buffet and refreshments. It was a great success.

“Chris from the Shed has been fantastic helping me out with the hub. We opened a little later than planned due to waiting on funding. We have a benefactor who has offered to pay our rent which will keep us going for the next five to six years.

“The Shed has such a great rapport in our area and as word gets out about the hub and its Scotland-wide service, we are hearing the same. We aim to reach and help as many people as we can.

“But, I said from the start of this venture, if I can help just one person feel happier and valued in themselves and move on at their own pace, then it has been a success.”

Please follow and support Comrie Men’s Shed and the Cultybraggan Veterans Hub on Facebook.

Do not suffer in silence this festive period

Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602 (8am-7pm, 365 days a year)

Age Scotland Advice Line: 0800 12 44 222 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)

Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 917 7650 or use the live chat box

Andy’s Man Club (men’s suicide prevention charity): Meet Mondays at 7pm, find your nearest group)

Men’s Sheds: Search the SMSA ‘Find a Shed’ map to find your local Scottish Men’s Shed

Quit Your Way Scotland (stop smoking helpline): Call free on 0800 84 84 84

Relationships Scotland InfoLine: 0345 119 2020 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am–4pm) or visit Relationships Scotland to find your nearest service

Respect Men’s Advice Line (Help for male victims of domestic abuse): 0808 8010 327 (Mon-Fri. 10am-8pm), or visit the webchat (Wednesdays, 10-11.30am & 2-4pm)

Samaritans: Call 116 123 (24 hours)

Shelter Scotland: 0808 800 4444 (click here for festive opening times)

Shout: UK’s first and only 24/7 text service for anyone in crisis. Get free, confidential mental health support anytime, anywhere – text 85258

UK Narcotics Anonymous: 0300 999 121 (10am-midnight) or find a physical or online meeting.

A Personal Story – Krzysztof Malkowski

The SMSA interviews Krzysztof Malkowski (33) from Lanark Men’s Shed (LMS) who is mentoring his fellow members on the creative world of 3D printing.

Krzysztof moved with his family to Scotland from Poland eight years ago and of late has been heading to the Shed every fortnight to deliver training to a group of his fellow members (age 50+) to share his skills and knowledge on how to unlock the true creative potential of 3D printing by making robust and visually interactive articulated prints and creations to sell to raise funds for the Shed.

Krzysztof said: “I always felt like all the people around me had fantastic hobbies and here I was, still looking for an interest to really grab my attention.

“Then, two years ago, I started to learn about 3D printing and I have been hooked ever since. I bought my first 3D printer in December 2022 and get to explore computer programming and the design side and creating something that I am passionate about.

“It took around three months to teach myself what I needed to know to get started and I did a lot of research and watched a lot of YouTube videos. It was exciting to learn a new skill and do something just for me in my spare time. It doesn’t always go to plan mind you but I also love the tinkering side and perfecting the design to get it just right.

“After six months, I felt fully confident and purchased the necessary licenses to sell some of my items commercially. In November 2023, I started selling at the Chatelherault Market which showcases some of the best hand-made products across Scotland.

“Then I met Alan Ross (pictured above)—the extremely passionate Chairman of Lanark Men’s Shed. I didn’t know about Sheds prior to meeting Alan. Now I can see the impact they make, I so wish the concept was as advanced in Poland as it is here in Scotland for the retired and lonely to go to benefit their health and wellbeing.

“Alan told me that the Shed members would be interested in learning how to use a 3D printer. The Shed had secured funding to purchase one and asked for my recommendation on which one to buy. They bought the top-notch model that I suggested and I went along to set it all up and show it in action.

“I was totally blown away the first time I met the members and ended up coming out of the Shed with more energy than I went in with. I was so impressed that I signed up as a member and offered to share my passion by mentoring my peers on my day off work—every second Friday.

“There is just so much enthusiasm from the members—they are just amazing to be around. Now, when I am at the Sunday markets, I am telling everybody and anybody that will listen about the Men’s Shed and how great it is.

“I am hoping to share what I know with as many of the Shedders as possible. Life at the moment is PRINT, SLEEP & REPEAT but I am just loving it and wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Shed Chairman Alan Ross added: “Krzysztof is bringing great energy to the Shed. The Shed members are now producing magnificent 3D items including astronauts, dinosaurs, teddy bears, frogs, HMS Vanguard Class Nuclear Submarines and PS5 wall lamps that can be personalised with individuals’ names.

“Our printer is the Bambu Lab X1-Carbon Combo 3D Printer and the quality is astounding. It is running like a dream. The items are not plastic, they are printed using polylactic acid (PLA) which is made from the sugar in corn starch. Not only is it easier to work with, it is also biodegradable and does not emit as many particles as other materials.

“These superb items make fantastic quirky gifts are available for sale at the Shed or to pre-order. The members are learning a new skill whilst raising funds for the Shed, but most importantly they are thoroughly enjoying it. The possibilities for items on sale from the Shed are endless with multi-material and multi-colour options to bring creative ideas to life.”

Krzysztof concluded: “I am just buzzing when I walk out of that Shed. The impact it is having is mind-blowing and I get butterflies of excitement on my way there every time. Long may it continue.”

Check out more of Krzysztof’s creations on Facebook and TikTok.

We come bearing gifts...

“The Shed has an infectious nature.”

Do not suffer in silence this festive period

“The Shed has an
infectious nature.”