Blind love of knitting for Christian Malford grandma (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Blind love of knitting for Christian Malford grandma

7:00am Sunday 20th September 2009

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Grandma Audrey Elks has knitted more than 400 jumpers for children in Bosnia despite losing her sight over 20 years ago.

Mrs Elks, 78, of Christian Malford, was taught to knit by her grandma during the war but was registered blind after suffering a brain tumour 23 years ago.

But despite her disability, Mrs Elks has continued her favourite pastime of knitting and this year has made 26 jumpers that will be sent out to eastern Europe.

She said: “I just love knitting. A long time ago, when I started knitting jumpers, somebody in my yoga class started collecting them and taking them to her church to then go to Bosnia.

“I used to knit socks for the troops during the war so I have always knitted.

“I can do one jumper in three days and, if I’m feeling absolutely stressed, my needles go faster and faster and my husband Arthur has to tell me to shut up.”

She added: “When I was registered blind I slowed up with my knitting because I thought I’d never be able to do it but I eventually got back into it.

“I have a certain amount of vision but not a lot and I can’t just sit and do nothing – my eyesight isn’t good enough for me to read a book, so I plod on and knit instead.”

Villagers, friends and family members donate wool to Mrs Elks and the finished jumpers are handed in to Station Hill Baptist Church in Chippenham.

She added: “It’s always very nice to see the jumpers being sent away and to know that children somewhere will be kept warm – I do feel quite proud.”

Friend Dorothy Coston, 72, said: “Audrey makes the most beautiful jumpers, it is just wonderful what she does.”

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