Name: Mike Ashford

I first experienced ‘a Shed’ whilst staying with my son and family in Canberra, Australia. An Australian neighbour stuck his head over the garden fence and told me that I was doing too much work on my son’s garden and needed to ‘take a rest and come down the Shed.’ The rest is history.

I came back to Thame full of enthusiasm for the Shed movement, spoke to Thame Council about how much I felt a Shed could enhance social provision in the town and then set to work finding like-minded people and suitable premises to create the community workshop that is now Thame Shed.

‘Unlike the children I used to teach and the staff I trained, a building does not walk away. In teaching I never saw an end product. Now, everytime I walk into Thame Shed I get a thrill to see what we’ve created. It is beyond my expectations and now a great credit to those who are continuing to develop its value to the Thame community.’

Name: Chris Hyde

I trained in furniture making and restoration at Rycotewood College in Thame and have been teaching and leading there since 1994. I strongly believe in the power of creativity and making things. As a trustee of the Thame Shed, I helped set up a workshop for the community. I have also been involved in local projects, like the Sustrans Phoenix trail seating. Currently, I serve as the design director of the Creative Industries faculty at Activate Learning and hold positions at The Furniture Makers Company. I live in Thame with my wife Sarah and our two daughters.

Name: Ian Brearley

I had been eagerly awaiting the opening of the Thame Shed from some time before the COVID lockdown and was delighted to be able to become a member in mid October 2022. 

My interest and such expertise as I have is mostly in woodwork and diy repair and I am happiest when making noise and wood chippings. Having a fairly comprehensive set of tools and associated equipment I also get pleasure in introducing our less confident members to the safe and productive use of such equipment as can now be found in our wonderful shed.

Name: David Staples

I’m a retired civil engineer who spent most of my career in the water industry in the UK and the Middle East. After retiring in 2020, my wife and I moved to Thame to be closer to family. It’s a friendly town, and we’ve enjoyed meeting new people through local clubs and organizations. I’m a member of the Thame Cycling Club and ride twice a week, fitting it in with my role as the Secretary to Thame Shed. I aim to support the Management Committee in developing skills and hobbies for our members, fostering friendships and adding value to our community through our projects. I also have a hobby of railway modelling and hope to enlarge my daughters’ train sets.

Name: Neil Madden

Since retiring from my job as a helicopter pilot I have had a keen interest in model engineering. I can be found most days in my workshop at home building model steam trains.
After my first few visits to Thame Shed I was invited to help establish a new metalworking department with equipment that had kindly been donated. Teaching people how to use the equipment and tools were next steps and I now teach two sessions a week supporting members with their projects and also helping with community projects.
It is a pleasure to be part of a friendly, enthusiastic group working together in a community workshop.