Back in 1947, Connie Diggle’s mum bought her a sewing machine for just £1.
Two years later, she used it to sew her own wedding dress and throughout the years, she’s used it to alter clothes to fit her petite 5ft frame.
But now, the 92-year-old is using it to help protect NHS workers during the coronavirus crisis by stitching bags for them to put used scrubs in, ready to wash.
Connie has spent an hour each evening diligently making the bags from scratch and she’s already made 65.
The grandmother-of-two plans to keep sewing for as long as they need more bags.
She is has been self-isolating for eight weeks and said she was delighted to be able to spend her time doing something useful.
She has been sending weekly deliveries to the Scrubs Hub group, who are a community-driven project of volunteers sewing scrubs and other necessities for the NHS.
Connie, from Bolton, Lancashire, said: ‘I was asked if I could help some NHS staff by sewing some scrub bugs and I said certainly.
‘I was delighted they asked me and even more so to be able to lend a helping hand.
‘I immediately got the measurements done and the material and I started sewing about two weeks ago.
‘I feel a massive responsibility to the NHS, and I think we all should. I’m doing this for the NHS, for my doctor, for my health, and for England.
‘With everything that is happening I’m delighted that I can do something good and it’s also giving me something to do.
‘I’m so impressed with Scrub Hub and what they do, I think it’s so important that we come together and do everything we can to help.
‘If I can do this anyone can.’
She started sewing as a girl, as she was just 11 years old when World War II started and they had to make do with what they had.
And in 1947, she got her first (and only) sewing machine as a gift from her mum.
Connie said: ‘I sewed everything by hand. I sewed my own wedding dress – it had to be done in secret as the men weren’t allowed to see it.
‘I sewed each night and it took about three weeks but I was so happy with how it came out.
‘Everyone was so surprised that I’d made it myself, it had a vogue pattern which was very fashionable at the time.
‘The sewing machine was worth every penny – I’m always happy to find a bargain.’
So when she heard about the effort to make scrubs for NHS staff during the crisis, she wanted to do what she could to help.
She said: ‘I have been very lucky in my life, with my health, my children who take care of me, I’ve got friends, so I want to give back.
‘It’s been so uplifting to see everyone come together, it’s a community spirit which is so essential in difficult times.
‘The doctors and nurses are risking their lives to save ours, it’s the least we can do.’
Maxine Grimshaw, 59, set up the Scrubs Hub group on Facebook and has taken on the ‘herculean’ task of organising the community effort.
The designer says the team works 16 hours a day to make sure NHS staffers get ‘professional grade’ scrubs and scrub bags.
Maxine, from Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester, said: ‘We are spending about 16 hours a day working to make sure we get everything done – it’s almost on a manufacturing scale.
‘There is a massive shortage of scrubs and we’ve had NHS staff ringing us constantly to get orders in.
‘There’s a real community spirit and we’ve had people trying to help in any way they can.’
A GoFundMe to raise money for materials has reached over £9,000 so far to cope with the thousands of requests have received.
MORE: Nurses bring cheer to patients by wearing jazzy scrubs made from donated bedding
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MORE: Nurse organises thousands of people to sew scrubs for NHS workers at home – but they need more help
source https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/13/woman-92-makes-scrub-bags-nhs-workers-75-year-old-sewing-machine-12696182/
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