Our Team Our Journey
Men's Shed Lichfield - The Organisation
Men's Shed Lichfield is a Chiaritable Incorporated Organisation, Registered Charity Number 1195026.
What has happened so far
Men's Shed Lichfield moved to its current home at the Swinfen Broun Pavilion in August 2023. Our previous home of almost two years was at Curborough Community Centre. The two years before that was the time of the covid pandmic when for organisations like Men's Shed Lichfield very little could happen. It is perhaps the case that the covid pandemic illustrates the value of Men's Sheds.
Men's Shed Lichfield all started on a sofa in Lichfield one evening in October 2019. It was a boring telly night so getting the laptop fired up and sending some emails to assess what support there was for a Men's Shed in Lichfield felt like a good idea. As it turned out those emails generated little interest. It was perhaps just one email that brought us to the attention of one or two people who thought we were on to something and pointed us in the direction of one or two further contacts. This was one of those situations when meeting somebody for a coffee and a chat keeps an idea alive.
A couple of small donations and some publicity leaflets transformed the idea into a list of interested people.
A formally drafted constitution and three trustees were soon in place. Then the pandemic.
As we emerged from the pandemic:-
- we had a bank account with very little in it
- we had become a registered charity
- we began regular shed meetings at Curborough Community Centre
Peter Hollis - Chairman of Trustees
Peter's working life was in Quantity Surveying, Business, Commercial and Project Management.
Finding that Lichfield lacked a Men's Shed and having taken early retirement Peter began to think about (moan at his long suffering wife) establishing a Men's Shed in Lichfield.
With some lucky breaks, some generous supporters and the guidance of fellow trustees we have started something.
Peter is a keen amateur woodturner.
Hugh Bradbury Sammons - Trustee
Hugh has a wealth of teaching experience and qualifications to back it up. His teaching experience includes design and technology and cabinet making in main stream education and in special needs settings.
He received the Leadership Award from the Design And Technology Association.
The altar furniture at Lichfield Methodist Church is an example of Hugh's own cabinet and furniture making work.
He is a keen caravaner and has spent much of 2021 helping his son to restore a property in South Wales.
Hugh is a past Worshipful Master of the City of Lichfield Worshipful Company of Smiths.
Paul Anthony Golder - Trustee and Treasurer
Paul was appointed Trustee in September 2023 having been a member of Men's Shed Lichfield from the time it opened.
Paul has had a career in statistics and computing with many years spent teaching. He is a believer in the value of designing and making things with an interest in electronics and digital construction. An active member of Lichfield’s Repair and Share Cafe and and enjoys sailing his radio controlled yacht.
Brian Empsall - Trustee
Prior to taking early retirement Brian was a chartered civil engineer specialising in the reclamation of derelict and contaminated land.
Now retired from paid employment, Brian restores and rides vintage and classic motorcycles, has built a 2 ½ inch gauge locomotive and has a 5 inch gauge locomotive in progress.
His main interest is in metalworking (both ornamental and functional) and all things mechanical. As well as around his own home examples of his work can be found in Lichfield Cathedral, Darwin House and St. Thomas's Cathedral in Kuching.
