An Angus nonagenarian, who has knitted more than 1,000 teddies for African orphans, has received a royal thank you.
Over nearly a decade, great-granny Grace Lownie has used her talent to support an Arbroath church’s ties with Malawi through a scheme that has seen cuddly toys created for the youngsters there.
Lifelong knitter Grace returned to the hobby after suffering a series of heart attacks and she completed her 1,000th teddy by sending a red, white and blue bear to Prince George.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, sent Grace a card, thanking her for the “thoughtful gift”. Grace, a widow for almost 25 years, has bravely battled ill-health since her first heart attack in 1970.
“I used to love knitting but gave it up when I had my heart attacks,” she said.
“Then, about eight or nine years ago, a friend of mine brought me a pattern for a teddy for going to the Malawi children through a project being run by St Andrew’s Church in Arbroath.”
Grace added: “Some days I’m not able to do much because of my arthritis but, on the days I can knit, I will probably do a teddy in a day.
“When I knitted my 400th bear, I had a photograph in a magazine and other people contacted me, asking how they could get involved in knitting bears so that will have meant that there have been many more sent to Malawi.”
With five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, Grace’s work alongside other knitters at the church has won her a whole new legion of fans.
The joy the little bears in their scarves bring to the youngsters in Malawi is evident in treasured photographs of grinning children that have been passed on to Grace through the church project.
“The teddy is often the only thing that belongs to the children so they are very proud of them,” she added.