'Come see how Men’s Sheds bring men together' - your letters, plus a historic photo of a school evacuated over structural fears

​Get down to the Men’s Shed

Re the letter: “Difficult to get men talking.” No it's not - you just need to provide the right environment.

That's where 'Men's Sheds' play an important role for some. Like-minded people, a warm, safe, comfortable setting, tea, coffee, biscuits and most importantly engaging in practical activities together. Men talk when they do things together. Then the banter will flow, relationships will develop and men will begin to feel comfortable opening up about themselves - if and when they want to.

Helping to overcome social isolation, improving wellbeing, giving life a practical purpose and supporting other local community organisations. That's why Men's Sheds are so popular. They meet a need and their numbers continue to increase nationally.

There are many in the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Cannock Chase Shed, based in Hednesford, is the local Men's Shed workshop branch in my area. Look us up on the web or Facebook for more details of where we are and what we do. Come along for a visit and a chat.

Experience the buzz of equipment...and men talking!

Peter Ross, Trustee, Cannock Chase Shed

Rough seas and lots of baggage

Shiver me timbers, splice the main brace and pass the rum! 

As the UK struggles to decide what it stands for in the current Middle East punch up, and eventually finds one ship that is actually working to help defend Cyprus before eventually Starmer does another U-turn and disappears up his own porthole after the May elections. As the UK faces this dilemma and needs rational, non-religious discussions, not hot headed demos, it occurs to me that airlines and cruise ships charge people for excess baggage. So maybe the UK Government should charge a few people for displaying excess political baggage with hidden agendas?

Peter Steggles, Rushbury

Keep Winston on my £5 note

No one can dispute that the world is in a proper turmoil at the moment. We all have less money in our pockets to spend yet some clowns want to remove Winston Churchill’s head off our £5 notes and replace it with some wildlife creatures. What a complete waste of our hard earned money.

Kenneth Clibery, Lanesfield

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