Relocation, Re-establishment and the Loss of a Founder Member
Introduction
The period from October 2023 to April 2026 was one of the most challenging and significant periods in the history of Royal Wootton Bassett Men’s Shed.
During this time, the Shed faced the loss of its original premises, a prolonged period without a permanent workshop, the considerable challenge of establishing itself in a new location, and ultimately the sad loss of one of its founder members and Treasurer, Phil Howell.
Despite these challenges, the determination and commitment of the members, together with invaluable support from local people, Royal Wootton Bassett Council, grant providers and others, enabled the Shed not only to survive but to establish a new home and continue to grow.
1. Loss of the Original Premises
In October 2023, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service made the decision to ask all businesses and organisations using their sites to relocate to alternative premises.
This gave Royal Wootton Bassett Men’s Shed approximately six months to find suitable alternative premises from which to continue its activities.
The announcement created a significant challenge for the Shed. A suitable location needed to provide sufficient space for the workshop, tools, machinery, materials and members, while also being practical and affordable for the organisation.
The members immediately began looking at possible alternatives and spent the following months investigating various options and potential sites.
After approximately four months of searching, however, no suitable alternative had been found.
2. Support from Royal Wootton Bassett Council
With the six-month deadline approaching and the Shed still without a new home, Royal Wootton Bassett Council stepped in to provide vital assistance.
The Shed had already developed a very good working relationship with the Council, and the Council kindly agreed to provide space at its depot to store all of the Shed’s equipment and materials once the existing premises had to be vacated.
This offer was extremely important. It meant that, although the Shed would lose its workshop, its equipment could be kept safe and secure while the search for new premises continued.
At the end of March 2024, with no suitable new location having been identified, the decision was taken to vacate the existing premises.
The Shed’s equipment and materials were carefully packed onto pallets and wrapped in cellophane to protect them during storage. The equipment was then moved into the Council’s depot, where it remained for approximately the following twelve months.
3. Keeping the Shed Going
Although the Shed no longer had a workshop, the members were determined that the organisation should not simply close down.
For the following year, monthly coffee mornings were held in Royal Wootton Bassett.
These regular gatherings provided an important opportunity for members to meet, maintain friendships, discuss the ongoing search for premises and, most importantly, keep the Shed community together.
At the same time, the search for a new workshop continued.
The year without a permanent workshop was undoubtedly difficult, but the monthly meetings ensured that the Shed remained active and that its members remained connected.
4. The Offer of a New Home
After approximately a year without a permanent workshop, the Shed received a much-needed opportunity when Richard Crapper offered the use of a barn on his site.
This offer provided the Shed with the opportunity to re-establish its workshop activities.
However, the barn required considerable work before it could be used. It needed to be cleared and tidied, and there was no electricity supply.
Rather than allowing these difficulties to prevent the move, the members decided to take on the challenge and work together to transform the building into a suitable workshop.
5. Preparing the Barn
In February 2025, the members came together to begin preparing the new premises.
Over the following two to three months, considerable work was undertaken to clear the building, organise the available space and make the barn suitable for use.
One particularly valuable contribution came from Paul, who worked nearby and was able to assist with the use of his forklift.
The forklift proved invaluable when clearing the mezzanine floor. It enabled heavy materials and items to be moved much more quickly and efficiently than would otherwise have been possible.
This assistance significantly reduced the amount of time and physical effort required and was a major help during the preparation of the premises.
The preparation of the barn became a genuine team effort, with members contributing their time, practical skills and experience to turn what was initially an unsuitable space into a functioning workshop.
6. Grants and Improvements
A number of grants were successfully obtained to help fund the essential work and equipment required to establish the new workshop.
One of the major requirements was an electrical supply. Grant funding enabled the Shed to purchase a generator and employ an electrician to completely re-wire the barn for the Shed’s use.
Dust and wood-chip extraction equipment was also purchased and installed.
This was an important improvement to the workshop, helping to create a safer and cleaner working environment and allowing woodworking activities to be carried out more effectively.
Further work was undertaken to improve the building’s ability to retain heat.
The steel roof was sprayed and insulated in an effort to make the workshop warmer and more comfortable during the winter months.
These improvements represented a considerable investment in the future of the Shed and ensured that the new premises were not simply a temporary solution but could provide a practical working environment for members for years to come.
7. Support from Royal Wootton Bassett Council
The support provided by Royal Wootton Bassett Council continued beyond the storage of the Shed’s equipment.
As the Council was preparing to move into new offices in Royal Wootton Bassett, furniture from its former buildings became available.
The Council kindly donated some of this furniture to the Shed.
This enabled members to establish a dedicated coffee and social area within the new workshop.
This area is particularly important because the Shed is not simply a place for woodworking. The social interaction, friendship and opportunity for members to meet and talk are fundamental parts of what the Shed provides.
The donated furniture therefore helped create an environment where members could relax, enjoy a coffee and socialise as well as participate in workshop activities.
8. Reopening the Shed
By April 2025, the extensive work undertaken over the previous two to three months had been completed.
The building had been cleared and organised, electrical facilities had been installed, dust and chip extraction equipment was in place, the roof had been insulated, and the coffee and social area had been established.
The equipment that had spent the previous year in storage could finally be brought back into use.
The Shed was ready to reopen.
Rather than simply reopening the doors, the members decided to make the occasion a special event and use it as an opportunity to promote the Shed within the local community.
The reopening was a considerable success and resulted in the recruitment of new members.
The event was also attended by both the current and incoming Chief Executive Officers of the UK Men’s Sheds Association, which added considerable significance to the occasion and recognised the achievement of the Shed in overcoming the difficulties it had faced.
After a period of considerable uncertainty, Royal Wootton Bassett Men’s Shed had successfully established a new home and was once again operating as a fully functioning workshop.
9. The Contribution of Phil Howell
Sadly, the period following the successful reopening also brought a deeply personal loss to the Shed.
In November, Phil Howell, the Shed’s Treasurer and one of its founder members, was diagnosed with cancer.
Phil had played a fundamental role in establishing the Shed. He was one of the small group of members who originally set up the organisation and had remained closely involved throughout its development.
As Treasurer, Phil also played an important role in the running and administration of the Shed. His contribution went well beyond his formal role, however. As a founder member, he was part of the group of people whose enthusiasm and commitment helped establish the Shed and create the community that exists today.
Despite battling cancer for almost three years, Phil sadly passed away in April 2026.
His death was a huge loss to Royal Wootton Bassett Men’s Shed.
Phil’s contribution to the Shed’s creation and development will remain an important part of its history. The organisation he helped establish continues to provide members with friendship, companionship, practical activities and a sense of community.
His legacy lives on through the Shed and the people who continue to benefit from the organisation he helped create.
10. Overall Achievements
The period covered by this report demonstrates the resilience and determination of Royal Wootton Bassett Men’s Shed and its members.
Despite losing its original premises and spending a year without a workshop, the organisation continued to operate and maintain its community.
The key achievements during this period include:
- Responding to the loss of the original premises following the decision by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service.
- Searching extensively for alternative premises.
- Establishing a strong working relationship with Royal Wootton Bassett Council.
- Securing safe storage for all of the Shed’s equipment and materials.
- Maintaining regular monthly coffee mornings during the year without a workshop.
- Continuing to search for a permanent new home.
- Securing the use of a barn through the generosity of Richard Crapper.
- Clearing and preparing the new premises through the combined efforts of the members.
- Receiving invaluable assistance from Paul and the use of his forklift.
- Obtaining grant funding for essential equipment and improvements.
- Purchasing a generator.
- Completely re-wiring the barn for the Shed’s use.
- Purchasing and installing dust and chip extraction equipment.
- Insulating the steel roof to improve the working environment.
- Receiving furniture from Royal Wootton Bassett Council for the coffee and social area.
- Successfully reopening the Shed in April 2025.
- Attracting new members following the reopening event.
- Welcoming the current and incoming CEOs of the UK Men’s Sheds Association.
- Continuing the legacy established by founder members such as Phil Howell.
Conclusion
The story of Royal Wootton Bassett Men’s Shed between 2023 and 2026 is one of perseverance, community spirit and determination.
The loss of the original premises in 2023 created a serious threat to the future of the Shed. However, the members refused to allow the organisation to disappear. With the support of Royal Wootton Bassett Council, they were able to safeguard their equipment and maintain their social connections while continuing to search for a new home.
The eventual offer of the barn by Richard Crapper provided the opportunity to rebuild. What followed was a considerable amount of hard work by the members, supported by grants, local businesses, individuals and the Council.
By April 2025, the Shed had successfully transformed the barn into a functioning workshop and social environment. The successful reopening, recruitment of new members and attendance of representatives from the UK Men’s Sheds Association demonstrated just how far the organisation had come.
The subsequent loss of Phil Howell in April 2026 was a particularly poignant event for the Shed. As a founder member and Treasurer, Phil had played an important part in creating and sustaining the organisation. His contribution and friendship will be greatly missed.
Despite this loss, the Shed continues to build upon the foundations laid by Phil and the other original members. The organisation remains a place where people can come together, learn and share practical skills, enjoy companionship and contribute to their local community.
The journey from losing the original premises to establishing a new and thriving workshop is a testament to the commitment of the members and the strength of the community around Royal Wootton Bassett Men’s Shed.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
| October 2023 | Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service announced that businesses and organisations using their sites would need to relocate. The Shed was given approximately six months to find alternative premises. |
| October 2023 – February 2024 | Members actively investigated a number of potential sites and alternative premises, but no suitable new location was secured. |
| Early 2024 | With the deadline approaching, Royal Wootton Bassett Council kindly agreed to provide temporary storage for the Shed’s equipment at its depot. |
| End of March 2024 | The Shed vacated its existing premises. All equipment and materials were packed onto pallets, wrapped in cellophane and moved into storage at the Council depot. |
| April 2024 – March 2025 | Although without a workshop, the Shed continued to operate socially through monthly coffee mornings in Royal Wootton Bassett. Members continued searching for a new permanent location. |
| Early 2025 | Richard Crapper offered the Shed the use of a barn on his site, providing the opportunity to establish a new workshop. |
| February 2025 | Members began the major task of clearing and preparing the barn. |
| February – April 2025 | Over approximately two to three months, members cleared, cleaned and organised the premises. Paul, who worked nearby, provided invaluable assistance with his forklift, particularly in clearing the mezzanine floor. |
| Early 2025 | Grant funding was secured to help purchase essential equipment and carry out improvements to the new premises. |
| 2025 | A generator was purchased and an electrician completely re-wired the barn. Dust and chip extraction equipment was purchased and installed. |
| 2025 | The steel roof was sprayed and insulated to improve the temperature and working conditions during the winter months. |
| 2025 | Royal Wootton Bassett Council donated furniture from its former offices, allowing the Shed to establish a dedicated coffee and social area. |
| April 2025 | The new workshop was fully prepared and Royal Wootton Bassett Men’s Shed officially reopened. |
| April 2025 | A special reopening event was held. The event attracted new members and was attended by the current and incoming CEOs of the UK Men’s Sheds Association. |
| November 2025 | Phil Howell, Treasurer and founder member of the Shed, was diagnosed with cancer. |
| November 2025 – April 2026 | Phil continued his battle with cancer while remaining an important and much-loved member of the Shed community. |
| April 2026 | Sadly, after almost three years of battling cancer, Phil Howell passed away. His death was a tremendous loss to the Shed. |
