Two alumnae who became friends when they both rowed for Newnham have joined forces to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and brain injury charity, Headway.
Jane Allberry (nee Jane Coker) and Anne Musgrove (nee Hewitt) both lived in Peile and by odd coincidence both of their youngest sons became seriously ill and were helped by the charities they are fundraising for.
So they launched the Meadow Farm Wool Project which allows home knitters to source their own knitting wool by leasing rare Jacob sheep from Anne’s, pictured, smallholding in Somerset.
Anne (NC 1975) explained: “Leasing sheep in this way gives knitters the opportunity to get lovely wool from Jacob sheep and, at the same time, support two good causes. Leasing costs £60 per year and, in return, you get enough wool to knit a jumper or lots of socks, gloves and hats.”
The rare breed of sheep yields high quality fleeces which are used to produce natural knitting yarns. The Jacob fleece is mixed with lambs wool from nearby Cheddar to produce a soft, high quality yarn, which is spun in Yorkshire before being shipped to individual knitters. Home knitters who lease a sheep are able to trace their wool from field to jumper.
Jane (NC 1976) added: “Anne and I are keen to support the Teenage Cancer Trust and Headway as our youngest children have been helped by these charities in the past year. We have now leased out enough sheep to cover the first set of spinning costs, so further rentals will provide funds for these charities.”
For further information, visit www.mfwoolproject.co.uk. Or email contact@mfwoolproject.co.uk