Dalbeattie Men’s Shed is celebrating after its secretary won a top honour at an annual awards ceremony.
Geoff Allison was announced as Volunteer of the Year at the UK Men’s Sheds Association Shedfest in Worcester on Saturday night.
The Dalbeattie shed is one of over 600 in the UK and was shortlisted in two other categories – health and wellbeing and shed project of the year.
But in the volunteering award they hit the jackpot when Geoff was declared the winner in front of hundreds of delegates.
Geoff, 77, was modest about his achievement but delighted Dalbeattie was top of the pops again after winning the Shed of the Year title back in 2017.
He told the News: “Our shed wanted to enter but I didn’t want to write my own praises.
“So our member Brian Atwell did the testimony and the application.
“On the night I won and I’m really proud – but I’m feeling a bit diffident about all the fuss.
“I’m the local ambassador for the Men’s Sheds Association in the south of Scotland and northern England and their guy on the ground.
“I’m proud that nationally, among all the many volunteers who are about, what we are doing up here in bonnie Scotland and fabulous Dalbeattie is appreciated.”
Geoff added: “We do put in a lot of effort and it’s great it’s been recognised from such a long distance.
“We also have great links to the community and that makes it easier for us to hum along when you have that kind of support.
“It’s gratifying and pleasing that little old me can traipse on to a national stage.
“To me it’s a valuable thing – there was a lot of competition and it’s nice for Dalbeattie to come to the top.”
UK Men’s Sheds Association director of services, Charlie Bethel, paid tribute to Geoff’s dedication over the years.
He said: “Geoff has made an outstanding contribution to the Men’s Shed Association both locally and nationally and has helped support sheds in their communities across Scotland.
“He is an incredible individual and an incredible supporter of us nationally.
“Helping to go out and create more men’s sheds has a huge positive impact on mental health and undoubtedly saves lives.
“We are so grateful to Geoff and his family who wrote to us to say thank you for giving us our dad back.
“I told him don’t thank us – we thank you.
“We are honoured that Geoff is involved in the Men’s Shed movement.”
