A Stitch in Time
Shirley Downe
Shirley is one of Gnosall’s sewing ladies and she worked independently to make scrubs bags and headbands, using material that she already had in hand. Some of her 70+ bags have gone to Kettering, Stafford, Leicester and even the mother and baby unit in Cannock, with First Responders helping deliver. Like many of us, especially the vulnerable or shielded, she has stayed on her own patch and seen few people but that didn’t stop her doing her bit. People have been grateful for the supplies and she fitted the sewing around her usual chores. Well done Shirley!
Sue Spencer
Sue has lived in Gnosall for fifty years and her daughter Amy is a nurse working for NHS Shropshire and when staff in hospitals were given strict guidelines about the dangers of cross infection and the need for uniforms were to be taken off before leaving the hospital, bagged and taken home for laundry, plastic bags were not an option as they could not be sanitized. So of course – the call went out to mum! “Sewing for NHS Shropshire” was created, with about 20 makers. The first consignment went in a flash and it became obvious that thousands were needed.
Friends have donated bags of fabric, old duvets and so on and now gowns, sleeve protectors, scrubs and hats and ear protectors have been added to the items produced. Sue herself spends up to 5 hours per day sewing and has to date sewn 150 laundry bags, 50 pairs of sleeve protectors, 20 medical gowns and 32 sets of scrub uniform so far!!! The fabric used for scrubs has to be new fabric and Sue bought over 80 metres herself. However, a huge donation from Chris Evans’ son, Noah, has helped enormously. He set up a funding page to help the group – amazing! All the items go to a collection point in Oakengates and from there are taken to where they are urgently needed.
Greer, Denise and Melita
Greer O’Connor started the ‘Angels with Scissors’ group, which has around 30 members from ladies making scrubs bags on their home sewing machines to companies such as “Not Just Curtains”, who have turned over their work rooms to making scrubs.
Greer usually runs a small specialist business making reproduction 18th century gowns with friend Val Goodwin, but as lockdown took hold, their events were cancelled and they realised that the NHS urgently needed protective wear. Greer used her business contacts and suppliers to coordinate donations, fabrics, patterns etc. at a central point. She posted on the Gnosall Facebook page asking if anyone would be interested in making scrubs or donating fabrics and received an overwhelming response! As the work load became overwhelming, Denise Simkin and Melita Edge stepped up to help Greer and the 3 of them shared the coordination and logistics required for the smooth running. Washbags, headgear, full sets of scrubs – they did it all.
Generous donations of around £4,500 (from a child putting her pocket money in the pot, to a £1000 donation from a local group) have allowed about 370 sets of scrubs to be made, along with 500 washbags and 90 hair protectors. What a fantastic achievement by makers and donors alike!
Pam Prince
Pam is a quiet lady who much prefers to take a back seat, but parishioners will be familiar with her friendly face on her fabric and haberdashery stall in Newport Market and from craft fairs, where her period costume is a familiar sight. She and Paul have lived in Gnosall for 16 years and she loves the variety of people and the community spirit.
Pam is one of the team making scrubs for the NHS Shropshire but she also sews independently for Royal Stoke, with assistance from hubby from time to time. Initially, she financed herself, buying fabric and patterns, but has recently been supplied with fabric by Stoke. We all echo her hope that in the future, after Covid-19, we continue to take care of each other and show kindness whenever we can.