The grand rollout of Bridport’s longest scarf, celebrating months of work by the town’s dedicated community of knitters, was hailed a success.
Enthusiastic knitters across the town helped to create a scarf measuring an impressive 410 metres in length - equivalent to around the length of four football pitches - to raise money for Bridport Community Kitchen.
The unrolling began from the kitchen based at Priory Lane where Mayor and Mayoress of Bridport, David and Bridget Bolwell, followed the town crier up Gundry Lane, onto South Street and then through Bucky Doo Square to the town hall.
Mayor and Mayoress of Bridport, David and Bridget Bolwell unravelling the scarf (Image: Bev Thornton)
Cllr Dave Bolwell, who has been heavily involved in the project since it began in October, described this as an “incredible community achievement” and was completely “in awe” of the result.
He said: “The idea started small but I always thought that in Bridport it might catch on and capture the imagination of our community, and it certainly did.
“We not only created the longest scarf but raised well over £2,500 to enable the Community Kitchen to continue its much-needed work for those in need in Bridport and those just passing through.
Bridport's longest scarf is unravelled in the town centre (Image: Bev Thornton)
“I would like to thank everyone involved who made this idea come to life and especially Bev Thornton who took the lead and saw it through from start to finish.”
Since October last year, volunteers would meet at the charity once a week to knit squares which would then be sewn together to form the scarf. Each square was also sponsored to raise money for the charity.
READ MORE: Inside Bridport Community Kitchen helping the homeless
Bev Thornton, who helps to run the charity, thanked everyone who has supported the scarf project which she said will go a long way to support the community kitchen in its mission to help vulnerable members of the community.
Mary and Beverly, who have sewn a lot of squares together for the scarf (Image: Bev Thornton)
She said: “The grand rollout was a success. It was a wonderful morning, enjoyed by all, an unexpected treat for Bridport shoppers and other passers-by. “
The scarf is now being cut up into individual scarves and blankets for the RSPCA. There are also plans to make woolly hats out made using the left-over wool which will go on sale for Christmas in Bucky Doo Square on Saturday November 23 to raise more money for the charity.
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