New Men's Shed offers chance to share friendship

A new Men's Shed offering "connection, conversation and creation" has opened in Cornwall, say organisers.

The building for the Men's Shed at Morvah near St Just was donated by Col Sir Edward Bolitho, the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The aim is to offer men the chance to share friendship and knowledge in skills such as woodworking.

Cornwall has nine Men's Sheds out of 1,100 across the UK, said the UK Men's Shed Association.

Patrick Abrahams, from the association, said: "They are hugely important.

"They save men's lives, and it improves their health, and are a real value to the community, in terms of what they contribute to the local community."

Retired electrical engineer Andrew Packer, who uses the Men's Shed, said: "The most important thing that we do is talk.

"Talking is more important than actually doing anything, because that's what people need to do, is talk with people that have similar interests."

Col Bolitho said: "These sheds have clearly shown throughout the country and throughout the world that they can be of huge value to particularly to men, but not necessarily exclusively to men who are perhaps retired, perhaps out of work, to help them get back and make friends and do creative things, which in turn, help the community."

Follow BBC Cornwall on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].