Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Hats off to village that knits for Africa

by Ken Bennett
7/ 5/2008

ANNE Moseley has saved more than just a stitch in time with a personal mission to help poverty-stricken African families.

In only 15 months, she and her team of volunteers, have hand crafted more than 2,000 hats.

The former probation officer is sending the brightly-coloured head gear to the South African township of Port Elizabeth after visiting the beleaguered area two years ago.

Anne, a 69-year-old widow and voluntary worker, who lives in Uppermill, said: "The poverty and sheer desperation of the people left a real impact on me. I didn’t realise their lives could be so dreadful.

"There are about 120,000 people living in wooden shacks in the township without electricity and anything to keep them warm during the winter months is very welcome.

"The help agency – the Vale Care Centre – said woollen hats would be a great help, so I focused on that. I hadn’t knitted for years but I quickly got into the habit and was soon producing hats by the dozen."

With the help of Mandy Gorey, the postmistress at Greenfield, Anne (pictured) went on to ask for help from the local community.

"The response has been amazing," she said. "People started dropping of completed hats at the post office and before I knew it I had 2,000 ready to parcel up and send off. I have been overwhelmed by the response from the folk of Greenfield and other villages. Many of the knitters want to remain anonymous, but they are doing a terrific job. Some of the hats have been made from scraps of wool, which make them even more colourful. They have all been made with loving care."

Postmistress Mandy said: "The knitting idea has really taken off. Lots of youngsters don’t know how to knit, but the middle aged and elderly have really caught the bug.

"The hats are very stylish and I am sure they will be very well received.People are bringing hats into the post office all the time. They have also brought donations to cover the cost of sending the garments to Africa.It’s a great local effort and shows the true dedication and kind-heartedness of our villagers."

So much so, the knitters are now extending their efforts and making jumpers.

"It gets terribly cold in Africa in the winter," said Anne, who is planning to revisit soon. "There is no doubt that what we are doing is a massive help."