Hundreds of visitors enjoyed sunshine and community spirit as the annual Men in Sheds Festival returned to Sandown Airport over the weekend.
The event, hosted by Wight Aviation Museum (WAM), marked the 4th time the festival has been held at the Airport and brought together more than 25 stalls showcasing the work of Men in Sheds groups from across the Isle of Wight.
Shanklin Mayor Councillor Sara Sheath officially opened the event on Saturday alongside Dave Betteridge from Shanklin Men in Sheds. On Sunday, High Sheriff Nigel Hartley visited the festival and toured the various stands with Rob, from Nashers – the Nettlestone and Seaview Shed.
In his opening address, Wight Aviation Museum chairman Jonathan Lamb highlighted the importance of the Men in Sheds movement.
Jonathan Lamb, chairman of Wight Aviation Museum, has said:
“We are here to celebrate a truly remarkable movement: Men in Sheds.
“Across the Isle of Wight, over a dozen Sheds offer far more than just woodwork, engineering and crafts. They provide a lifeline. They tackle isolation, foster unbreakable camaraderie and promote mental wellbeing by giving local men a shared sense of purpose and good old-fashioned conversation.”
Groups represented at the festival included Bembridge Shed, Nettlestone and Seaview Shed, Shanklin Shed, West Wight Shed and WAM’s own Men in Hangars. Visitors were also entertained by live performances from Wootton Acoustic Music Shed, Whippingham Music Shed and other musical groups.
A small beer festival, organised by WAM volunteers Allan and Hobbit, also formed part of the weekend’s attractions.
Wight Aviation Museum, based at Sandown Airport, is open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays between 10:00 and 15:00. Further events are planned throughout the summer.
