'Men's Shed gave me companionship after wife died'

Richard Brewerton said he had not appreciated the companionship he would find at the shed

A member of a Men's Shed says the group gave him "companionship and a social life" which he never expected.

Richard Brewerton, from Berkshire, joined the Reading Men's Shed shortly after his wife died and said he has found "connection, conversation and creation".

The Men's Shed initiative aims to bring people together to make, repair and repurpose, supporting projects in their local communities, the Reading group has 70 members and meets every day.

Chairman Barry Fowler said: "Anyone is welcome to pop in and join."

Men's Shed started in Australia during the 1990s and there are now more than 1,100 groups in the UK.

The Reading group offers men a place to share tools and skills, as well as an opportunity to learn and socialise.

The Reading Men's Shed is a place where men can come together to work and socialise

Mr Brewerton has been a member part of the group since just before the pandemic.

He said: "I ended up here because shortly before that [Covid] I lost my wife and found myself on my own.

"I'd retired so I'd lost contact with all my work colleagues and I happened to be down the doctor's one day and the doctor said 'why don't you look into this?' and she showed me one of our flyers.

"I'd never heard of Reading Men's Shed before.

"My first thought, was 'I've got my own shed and my own tools, what do I want to go down there for?'

"But I did come here just to look around and I signed up straight away."

Mr Brewerton said he is encouraging others to join: "It doesn't matter what we're doing, if there's something you don't know, somebody will help you.

"You get ideas to do different things - I never imagined I'd be making trays.

"I hadn't appreciated the companionship and the social side of Sheds and now I think I've got loads of friends."

Chairman of Reading Men's Shed Barry Fowler said "anyone is welcome to join"

Mr Fowler added: "What we do here is whatever you want to do.

"We've actually had several people have heart attacks, strokes, and they come here to improve their health.

"Then obviously we get a lot of people when they retire, they haven't got the money to go round the world, so they come here.

"Anyone is welcome to pop in and join us, they don't have to do anything, you can just sit and talk."