Yarn star Joyce is getting straight to the point

A needle-wielding 90-year-old is getting straight to the point, by insisting that people do not forget about a charity that could be facing a bleak future.
Joyce Bellamy is doing her bit for St Jolhn's Ambulance.Joyce Bellamy is doing her bit for St Jolhn's Ambulance.
Joyce Bellamy is doing her bit for St Jolhn's Ambulance.

Joyce Bellamy from Pontefract is using her time in self isolation knitting doll nurses.

And while many are donating their cash raised to the NHS, she is reminding people that charities need just as much help.

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Mrs Bellamy is knitting nine dolls, one for each decade she has lived, and will be handing over any cash raised to St John’s Ambulance.

She said: “Nobody can run marathons or organise fundraising events and I don’t think that many people realise that St John’s Ambulance are working as medics on the frontline.

“It said online that they could run out of money by August and they paid staff and ambulances that needed maintaining.

“I’ve been knitting all my life and it usually takes me two or three days to make a doll, I do a bit at a time.

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“I was inspired by Captain Tom Moore doing the 100 laps of his garden and I thought about knitting 90 dolls, but then thought it would take too long!

“I’ve got five granddaughters and three great-grandchildren and I’ve knitted a doll of each of them so I know how to do them”.

A regular internet user, Mrs Bellamy has set up her own Just Giving page asking people to donate St John’s Ambulance.

She has set a £500 target, and she will randomly pick out those who have donated to receive one of the nine dolls.

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A former teacher, Mrs Bellamy set up the Inglebrook School in the town 56 years ago. She only retired from teaching at the age of 86, and continued with a busy social life until the lockdown in March.

The widow said: “I miss going out at night to play bridge and whist, there was the arthritis group and bible study group as well.

“But I play bridge online and there are millions of players!

“I also miss going to church on Sunday, but my daughter is keeping me well fed.”

To donate to the cause click here.

The fundraiser will run until the end of May and the winners of the dolls will then be picked out.

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