NEARLY 30 Porlock residents, organisations and businesses got a surprise present this week from a mystery well-wisher in appreciation of their contribution to the village community spirit during the dark days of lockdown

Visitor centre manager Debbie Stanyon arrived at the centre on Monday to find a box full of 29 hand-knitted teddies, each depicting a business, group or individual who have been key figures in coping with the problems facing a village with nearly half its residents over 65.

“I could hardly believe my eyes when I opened the box,” Debbie said. “The detail on each ‘Front Line Teddy’ is fantastic. For instance, the town crier has a black tricorn hat and red coat, the parish council has the colours of their logo, and the butcher is wearing his butcher’s apron.

“The recycling team are wearing their orange overalls, Porlock Medical Centre are wearing scrubs and masks and our wonderful NHS are in rainbow colours.

“The bears will be delivered by volunteers organised by the visitor centre and we are delighted to be asked to help with such a unique and special thank-you to our wonderful community. 

“But the real thanks must go to the ‘Mystery Knitter’ who designed and knitted every bear with love and appreciation for our village.”

In a letter delivered with the bears, the unknown benefactor said: “Early in lockdown a friend asked if I could make a Covid Teddy for her to give to a key NHS worker and she included a link for the pattern download. 

“This turned out to be an American pattern for a crochet teddy and I can’t crochet. I couldn’t find a knitting pattern equivalent so by trial and error I designed what I have now come to call a Front Line Teddy, in scrubs and wearing a mask.

“I love the community spirit that brings the village together and was really impressed on how the parish council and the visitor centre and key workers worked together to keep us informed during lockdown and encouraged us all to do our part.

“The list of services, organisations and businesses along with volunteers that were prepared to keep the wheels of the Vale turning inspired me to show my appreciation for everything that has been and is still being done to keep us positive in this ongoing situation. 

“I discovered I had lots of oddments of yarn and wondered if the teddy pattern could be adjusted to highlight the work done by other key workers and this ’Wheel of Teddies’ is the result. Thanks to my computer-savvy friend for designing the certificates and graphics.

“I had planned to put them through letterboxes anonymously but discovered that most of the letterboxes were too small so I have enlisted the help of the visitor centre to distribute them.

“Thank you for everything that you and your staff and all the volunteers have done during lockdown. It really is appreciated.”

Recipients of the Teddies include Porlock Pharmacy, Spar, Squires, the town crier, Porlock Parish Council, the recycling team, volunteers and Good Neighbours, Kitnors, NHS 111, paramedics, One Stop, and Porlock Hardware.

Debbie added: “These very generous gifts from a very hard-working and kind person prove that we are fortunate to be able to call Porlock our home and one which shows true community spirit.”

See Friday’s paper for more photos.