Kent’s experience of Covid-19 will be forever commemorated after a group of Speldhurst volunteers took up the call to contribute to the Parliamentary Coronavirus Memorial Quilt project.
MPs from every party and every part of the UK were asked if they would like to contribute to the project, leading Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark to approach a local group of quilters to design and create a six inch square block for the national quilt.
The Quirky Quilters, who meet in Speldhurst Village Hall, rose to the challenge and created a design inspired by the work of Augustus Pugin, who designed the interior of the House of Parliament, using the English Paper Piecing, with four C’s embroidered around the edge signifying the purpose of the project – to create, connect, convey and commemorate.
The Italian phrase “andra tutto bene” at the base of the design translates to “all will be well” – a saying which often accompanied the rainbow pictures in Italy during the first lockdown which soon became popular in the UK to commemorate the efforts of the NHS.
Mr Clark met up with the quilters to congratulate them on their efforts and to take their contribution to Parliament.
He said: “The Parliamentary Covid Memorial Quilt will capture and commemorate the nation’s experience of the Covid Pandemic and will be a piece of history admired by generations to come. I am delighted that the Tunbridge Wells constituency will be represented on the national Quilt by the beautiful square sewn by my constituents.”