Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed was presented with a donation to thank them for setting up the new tables in Ross Library.

Clare Llewellyn West, chair of the Ross Library Development Group met with the members of the Men’s Shed to present them with a £50 cheque as a thank you to them.

Men’s Shed members kindly assembled tables for the library’s Dennis Potter room, which has been going under recent renovations.

Clare went down to the shed on Wednesday, November 16 to hand over the cheque, as well as personally thanking the members for their help.

Along with the cash, was a letter which read: “The enclosed cheque is a thank you from the Library Development Group (RLDG) for the help the Men’s Shed provided in setting up the new tables in the library. They have already encourage more people to spend time in the library—whether chatting, browsing, or just have a welcome sit down!

“It is very important to the professional library team, and to us library supporters and members of the local community, that people are reminded that the library is a welcome public space which belongs to them. The Covid years have had such a negative that we really need to reinforce this simple message. The new set up in the Dennis Potter room is a significant part of that message, which is why we are helping to fund the changes and why we are making this donation to you. So once more—thank you!”

For those who are retired or semi-retire who would like to know a little bit about whether membership to the Men’s Shed is something they’d like to consider can visit the group’s Facebook page “Ross-on-Wye Men’s Shed” or via email [email protected]. The workshop has a variety of heavy duty power tools which members use to craft some delightful items.

Earlier this year, the Men’s Shed faced closure after the county council demanded more than £13,000 rent per year for their premises, but was saved after more than 700 people signed a petition.

The shed now has an agreement with Herefordshire Council to keep them at their Ashburton Industrial Estate Unit for the next five years.

The agreement came after Herefordshire South MP Jesse Norman visited their base to pledge his support to the charity, which was founded four years ago and supports retired men’s mental well-being by providing community making and repairing projects.