My grandmother Alice was the eldest of the three Bonnet girls. She first met my grandfather Len at the annual sheep trials once held at Boston Ferdinand and from that point their mutual interest in wool was the basis for a long and happy relationship.
In the days of World War One Alice knitted continually for the troops. It is estimated that she single-handedly equipped three regiments and a tank division with sleeveless jerkins and matching balaclavas. Unfortunately her eyesight was such that she only liked knitting in bright colours and patterns so the troops who received her garments often fell easy prey to German sniper fire.
She died in 1970 and was buried in a scarlet and mauve cable-stitch coffin of her own design.
