The story of how Mobile Sheds Suffolk started, what an amazing story and journey it has been.

 

It was back in 2010, when travelling to Sydney and Melbourne with my daughter, for a once in a lifetime experience.

 

Previous to my holiday in Melbourne, my wife had found Corinne, her third cousin-once removed, living in Melbourne, on Ancestry. Com.

 

When Corinne realised, I was travelling to Melbourne, I was invited to stay with them for a week, while my daughter was travelling in the opposite direction with friends. I was met at the airport by Corinne and her husband Tony and taken on an hour’s drive north, to their home. To say I was apprehensive would be an understatement, I was to stay with strangers, who I had never met, in another country was worrying.

 

As it turned out, I didn’t need to concern myself, they were lovely people. I have returned for the second time in 2018 and they have also stayed with us in Stowmarket three times.

 

On my first visit to them in 2010, they introduced me to a “Men’s Shed” local to their home. The members of the shed welcomed me to their small building, but they had big hopes. When leaving their local shed I was inspired by the warmth of my welcome and fully embraced the objectives of a Men’s Shed.

 

This motivated me to start a shed in Stowmarket in 2015 and this shed is still growing. It was with pride, I could show Tony and Corinne my achievements, inspired by them during their visited to us in 2016.

 

During my return visit to them in 2018, they took me to the same shed local to them and I was over-whelmed by the size of their small shed. It had grown into: a forge, car repair workshop, model train section, a cinema, wood-working room and a commercial kitchen! This demonstrated to me; with enough energy and determination, it is possible to make a dream come true.

 

I became an Ambassador for the UK Men’s Shed Association in 2017 and enjoyed supporting new and established sheds in West Suffolk, but my thoughts were for men and women in rural areas and care homes, who were unable to attend a shed because of limited transport or medical reasons.

 

My thoughts were for a Mobile Community Workshop, taking a workshop to those unable to get to a fixed location. I became aware of the Rural Coffee Caravan and soon realised our objective were very similar. It is a known fact, men who are lonely, depressed, bereaved or for many other reasons for not leaving their armchair, would stay at home, drink and eat too much, which would result in poor health and early death. It is also known, statistically, more suicides are men.

 

I had a meeting with Ann Osborne to explain the aims of our mobile shed concept and soon a relationship of interests was established. Ann introduced me to Hartismere Place, where I have taken flat packed bird boxes and bug hotels to this day care centre and the results are memorable.

 

I started attending Mellis Memorial Hall in 2023 with the Rural Coffee Caravan each month, regularly meeting some familiar faces. I have made a great friend in Bernie, who is such an inspiration and gives me so much encouragement.

 

Tony and Corinne have just left for their return journey back to Melbourne Australia and it was with pride; I was able to take them to Mellis to introduce them to my friends. I reflect on my very first visit to Melbourne and being introduced to a men’s shed and were the journey which has followed.

 

It has taken many years for the mobile workshop to get where we it is today, progress is slow, but the ambition is just as strong.

 

We are now a registered charity seeking funding and about to purchase a second- hand trailer. I look forward to fitting out the trailer to suit our needs, it will need many hours work.

 

Thank you, Rural Coffee Caravan, for your continued support and confidence in our future together.Alan Page