PICTURES: Wing-walker tribute to dad helps Dingwall and District Men's Shed vision take off
THE far-sighted vision of a much-loved community stalwart in Ross-shire's county town is taking shape after his death thanks to a surge of goodwill for a project set to benefit many.
Members of the Dingwall and District Men's Shed group have chipped in to a variety of community projects around the town down the years and played a part tackling social isolation and sharing of skills across generations.
And a vision by former member Andy Foley to create a "craft village" on the edge of town close to Ross County FC's ground is now taking shape two years after he sadly passed away.
A bravely won donation from his daughter Kate Evans – who took on a sponsored aeroplane wing walk in memory of her Dad – was celebrated at the weekend as units created by the group continued to take shape.
The trailblazing facility will be a hub for woodwork, metalwork, horticulture and arts and crafts, helping bring people together in productive pursuits.
"I was really touched by how many members of the Men's Shed came to Dad's funeral."
Kate (43), who lives between Bristol and Bath, was gifted a voucher to try wing-walking and – with a love of rollercoasters and no fear of heights – jumped at the chance. She said: "My Dad moved up from Stafford to Dingwall in 2006 and was shortly followed by my step-mum, Mary, and they lived there until Dad passed away in August 2020. Mary is still there and very involved in the Men's Shed. I've visited a couple of times a year every year since 2006. Dad would always take us exploring the area. we often went to Chanonry Point to see the dolphins, visited castles and gorgeous beaches, and woodlands. I love Dingwall and the area."
She said: "The work they do is so important and there's nothing else like that for men of that age. In my work at the university we're looking at men's mental health among the students, the opposite end of the age range from Men's Shed, but it's surprising how common the issues are – feeling isolated, not feeling comfortable talking about mental health among other men, and how doing an activity makes them open up and chat, almost without realising they're talking about their mental health."
She said the group had been a huge part of his life and he loved helping the community: "I was really touched by how many members of the Men's Shed came to Dad's funeral. It was in lockdown so only 20 people were able to attend and so Dad's friends came to wait outside the church on the pavement and said a few words to my brother and me. It was clearly very important to him."
She cherishes a video about the Men's Shed project that features him: "I've watched that over and over, it's the only recording of him that I've got."
Her effort raised almost £600 and Mary has organised a log cabin in his name.
Steve Dovey of the Men's Shed said the roofs of two new buildings – a clubhouse and workshop – had been completed with Mary's effort and Andy's memory celebrated with a barbecue there.
