A scarf measuring 2,000 feet was draped up and down the central aisle
of Salisbury's famous cathedral today (25 January) transforming the place
of worship into a spectacular sea of colour.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Wiltshire's Ronnie Barbour launched an appeal
in October 2004 asking his listeners to knit squares which could be sewn
together and made into scarves for Wiltshire's homeless.
The original target was to create a scarf long enough to hang from the
top of Salisbury Cathedral's 404 feet spire, but as the listeners sent
in nearly five times this length plan b was put into action.
Ronnie broadcast the unveiling of the 2000 feet long scarf live on Radio
Wiltshire as he presented his morning radio show from the cathedral.
He has been truly amazed by his listeners' efforts: "Initially
we thought we'd struggle to get the 404 feet and the knitting trickled
in but then everyone tied in. Before Christmas there was a really big
drive.
"Local radio never ceases to surprise me - once we say we're going
to do something, the listeners do it!"
The Dean of Salisbury Cathedral blessed the endeavour and everyone involved
in the appeal.
The scarf will now be put to good use keeping Wiltshire's homeless warm.
Lengths of the giant scarf will be made into smaller scarves and donated
to Alabare, a local Christian Care Centre for the homeless.
The remaining squares will be made into blankets for the Wiltshire Mercy
Appeal and victims of the tsunami disaster.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Wiltshire's Managing Editor, Tony Worgan, is astonished at
the results:
"We set our sights on the top of the spire. We knew it was a tall
order. The idea certainly caught our listeners' imagination. They've risen
to the challenge spectacularly going to such great lengths that we could
actually have gone up the spire, down, up, down and up again!"
Listeners, local wool shops, care homes and groups including the Guiding
Association and the WI have all supported the appeal by collecting and
donating scraps of wool and knitting them together.
The project has seen a revival of Wiltshire's interest in knitting and
there were even stitching sessions held in the kitchen at the Radio Wiltshire
studio!
The gigantic scarf has already impressed the Blue Peter team and it made
an appearance on Monday night's programme (24 January).
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