A St John’s Foundation almshouse resident has knitted 25 mice based on historical figures to celebrate the Bath-based charity’s 850th anniversary.
Joan with her knitted mice | Photo © St John’s Foundation
Joan Wilkinson, who met Queen Camilla, the charity’s Patron, over tea and cake when Her Majesty attended a special Service of Celebration at Bath Abbey in February, has also dedicated one of the mice to her.
A resident at the charity’s Chapel Court Almshouse accommodation in central Bath, Joan has been an avid knitter for 80 years, since her grandfather taught her.
She spent five months on the project, using knitting patterns from the late 90s to create the mice.
Royal mice created by Joan | Photo © St John’s Foundation
The mice feature outfits from throughout the 850 years of St John’s history, from medieval times to Georgian times, and right up to the modern day, including the charity’s founder, Bishop Fitzjocelyn, Queen Victoria, and King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Joan asked her granddaughter and one of St John’s Good Living Advisors, Fern Phillips, to help research the dates and costumes of historical figures for the mice.
The 88-year-old said: “Some of my favourite mouse figures are the pilots from 1900 and the flapper girl from the 1920s.
“The project has been challenging at times, and I’ve got a few glue gun burns on my fingers from making the costumes, but I have enjoyed it immensely, and it’s lovely to look back through St John’s history.”
On meeting Her Majesty the Queen, Joan added: “The Queen is a very nice and down to earth lady. It was absolutely lovely that she walked around the room and spoke to all of us, and I will remember the day for a long time.
“I was glad to get a photo with Queen Camilla too. She’s shaking my hand, so I’ll definitely keep it!”
The historical mice are not Joan’s first knitting project since becoming a resident at St John’s.
Every Monday, she attends a knitting session as part of the charity’s vibrant Good Living Service Activity Programme, which features activities and events designed to support wellbeing and independent living for older adults in the community.
Over the last couple of years, she has raised £500 for Parkinson’s UK by selling knitted dolls and baby clothes. She also knits for her friends and has created baby shawls for three of St John’s Good Living staff members who had babies last year.
Now, she is working on some jumpers for these children’s first birthdays.
Joan explained: “My Grandpa Petey taught me to knit when I was four years old. I was evacuated during the war and went to live with my grandparents, and he learned to knit from making his own socks when he was in the army.
“At our village school we also knitted socks and scarves for the Merchant Navy. When I was working and raising my family, I didn’t have much time for knitting, but now it is one of my favourite hobbies!”
