Operating on weekday mornings, the community workshop is a place to pursue practical interests where members share tools, resources and expertise to work on projects at their own pace in a safe, friendly and inclusive environment.

Thame Shed was unveiled today by Chinnor RFC Thame President, Simon Vickers, in the company of the Mayor of Thame Town Council, Cllr Paul Cowell, South Oxfordshire District councillors and other guests who have supported the project.

The concept was first outlined to Thame Town Council in 2016 following Thame Shed President, Mike Ashford’s visit to a similar project while seeing family in Canberra, Australia. A storage unit at Chinnor RFC Thame was identified as a possibility and the Club, following its community ethos, was supportive of the approach, resulting in an agreement in principle to a ten-year lease for Thame Shed.

Thame Shed will open initially on Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9am until 12pm, with further details, including membership forms, available via www.thameshed.co.uk. It is a place for skill-sharing and informal learning, for individual pursuits and community projects, for purposeful activity, achievement and social interaction. Whichever activities are pursued the essence of the Shed is not the building, but the network of supportive relationships.

Mike Ashford, President of Thame Shed, said: “The Shed has been created to provide the people of Thame with a community workshop. It will be a place where adults can go to pursue practical activities, in the company of others, with access to tools and machinery to help them create, make, repair or refurbish. Thame Shed’s mission is to provide support, particularly to those at the end of their working lives, offering the opportunity for networking, skill sharing, companionship and friendship.”

Chinnor RFC Thame is delighted to have supported and assisted in this magnificent project, and look forward to seeing Thame Shed flourish, benefiting all in our local community.

Thame Shed would like to thank the following organisations and people for their help and support:

Angus Galbraith
Arnold Clark Foundation
Axminster Tools
Blanchfords
Chilworth House Upper School
Chinnor RFC Thame
Crendon Conservatories – Richard Warner
Dave Garrett
DS Decor – Dan Sullivan
Dulux
Dymotts
Ecotite
Guildford College
Helpful Hirings
JB Tree Services – Reg Bailey
John Chegwin
Layton O’Hare
LEAP – Kelvin Sampson
‘Mole’ Gardner
National Lottery Community Fund
Persimmon Homes
RPC
Ryecotewood College – Chris Hyde
South Oxfordshire District Council
Thame and Oxfordshire Agricultural Association – Andrew Duffy
Thame Town Council
The Friday Club
Tony Austin
UKPower