It was a busy meeting of Lockerbie and District Rotary Club on Monday night when principal speaker Ann Hill, BEM was there with husband David. Also present was Colin Vooght, Assistant District Governor for District 1320, South Scotland.
Ann Hill is an internationally recognised figure in the quilting world. She was born in Shetland with a make do and mend culture. She was 14 before television reached the islands, consequently, she learned to knit and stitch, making Fair Isle gloves and lace scarves at her grandmother’s knee for pocket money. Quilting became her hobby.
She took early retirement and volunteered in care homes in Dumfries and Galloway, working with families of residents with dementia, to create memory quilts, noting how a feature on a quilt could trigger a memory and could start a conversation where previously there was silence.
Speaking to patients gave her a new understanding of dementia and she is known for her efforts to raise awareness of the condition. She holds quilting classes for carers and those with memory loss and told members of her various projects over the years.
When Covid came along, she recognized the effect loneliness was having on people and spearheaded the Quilted Hugs project to encourage people to communicate.
She was created Alzheimer Scotland’s Quilter in Residence in 2010. This was at the time Alzheimer Scotland was promoting football memories project at Hampden Park. Ann was asked to hold an exhibition in the museum there. Some banter resulted in Ann saying that she could probably cover Hampden pitch with quilts – and she did! The quilting community rose to the task nationally and internationally and in June 2013, 5012 quilts covered the pitch. It was a magnificent effort, a logistical nightmare and a great fundraiser.
Her contribution to raising dementia awareness was recognized by the award of the BEM in 2020 and she and David were delighted to be invited to attend the Coronation in 2023.
She had examples of her work with her and showed the Changing Minds quilt. Members also learned of the Chinese Whispers project, whereby she got 40 quilters in 40 countries to make a quilt based on a picture of the quilt made before. The project started in Scotland and finished in Korea.
Ann and David have taken these 40 quilts, and the messages with each one, to exhibitions in 12 of the 40 countries … so far.
Ann is the current president of Dumfries Rotary Club and produced a quilt to commemorate the centenary of the club in 2021, the 25 squares representing activities Rotary promotes.
Her energy and commitment has been inspirational. She is also vice-chair of the Shambellie Trust and established the Shambellie Quilters and continues to teach and raise awareness of dementia and the need to care for the carers. Her generous and caring nature epitomises the aim of Rotary “To do good in the world”.
Also at Monday’s meeting, Ann made the club’s first lottery draw with the winner beinmg Mrs Moira McDonald who wins £250. Sheets are in the shops in Lockerbie now for the October draw.
The vote of thanks was given by Ian Sloan.