A BEAUTIFUL quilt made by 65 local people (men, women and children) to encapsulate their experience of lockdown was unveiled in a busy Crediton Town Square on Saturday, July 11.

The quilt was made through the Creativity in Captivity: Spring 2020 project.

Sue Brown explained: “Covid-19 was moving around the world. On March 23, 2020, the UK was put into lockdown to limit the spread of coronavirus. The message: stay at home, was very clear.

“I was at home, as required, researching the history of quilting as I wanted to write some words of wisdom to accompany a quilt my friend Cathie was making for my daughter’s Civil Partnership.

“Reading ‘Threads of Life. A History of the World Through the Eye of a Needle’ by Clare Hunter, I was drawn to the chapter on ‘Captivity’.

“She describes the plight of 500 women who found themselves captive in Changhi prison, Singapore, in 1942.

“To stay in contact with their families they were asked to sew ‘something of themselves’ into a six inch square. The result was three quilts, one British, one Australian and one Japanese: https://changi.redcross.org.uk/ .

“The idea was born. Sixty-five people, from across the UK, Europe and the Bahamas (including four men, a 10 year-old boy, five NHS workers) came together through friendship, family and word of mouth, to create a quilt.

“Our intention was to display it and raise funds for a charity supporting those who had suffered in lockdown. Each person created either a six or 12 inch square. Some were experienced quilters or makers, others were new to sewing.

“This project was much more than creating a square for a quilt.

“At a time of lockdown, it had different meanings for each individual.

“Some were finding isolation difficult: the project helped connect them to others with a common purpose. Many commented on how the beautiful spring had helped whilst some just wanted to thank the NHS.

“Others chose significant material linking them to family. Our central Haiku summarises the project beautifully.

“We met the end of May deadline and the quilt was put together by a group of expert quilters.

“Whilst it is now ready to fulfil its primary purpose of raising funds for charity, it is evident that it has found another purpose: to tell the story of Spring 2020.

“Please join us in raising money in aid of Refuge: every donation will help. Thank you in advance.”

The quilt is now to begin a world-wide tour.

MUSIC

Musicians playing music in the Town Square took a break to allow the quilt to be launched watched by many people seated on the new Town Team benches.

The new benches, paid for by Mid Devon District and Crediton Town Councils, have proved amazingly popular. They allow for people to meet up and chat and/or enjoy a drink from a local venue while social distancing outdoors.

The music was supplied by bands courtesy of Crediton Arts Centre as part of the Town Team Share in the Square music sessions.

Music was provided on the Saturday and Sunday and more musicians will take to the stage in the square this Sunday, July 19.

The musicians, Steve Turner and David Faulkner and Dave and Caroline Gooding, will play from 11am to 2pm.