|
Mystery Knitter identity revealed
Listed under: News
Published: Wednesday, March 09, 2011
This is a story to warm your heart. For ten years the identity of a crafter dubbed 'the mystery knitter' had been kept a secret, as she knitted dolls for sick children then had them delivered to their homes under a veil of anonymity. But now the modest pensioner's name has been released after she agreed for the truth to come out just days before her death.
Mary Westwell from Ramsbottom in Manchester used to read moving stories about sick children in her local paper. She then picked up her knitting needles and yarn to knit little dolls, before getting her sons to deliver them to their houses. She managed to keep her name a closely guarded secret for 10 years, and even though families quizzed her two sons, they honoured her wishes and kept schtum. Mary died aged 98 on February 23rd and over the years she had knitted over 2,000 hand-made dolls and had them delivered to homes in the surrounding areas. Her granddaughter finally managed to persuade her to go public with her identity. The 26-year-old, from Bury, said: “She must have made hundreds of dolls and thousands of other items. She never did it for any kind of self-glorification. Even when she was older she kept at it and always wanted to help the sick children. She didn't want anything to be about her, just about the children.” A former seamstress, Mrs Westwell also knitted items for Ramsbottom Library and St Philip's Church, Chadderton, and taught sewing in primary schools.
