96-year-old care home resident has spent last 10 years knitting hundreds of premature baby clothes

Doris Foyle aged 96, has spent a large part of the past 10 years, wielding a pair of knitting needles knitting hundreds of sets of clothes for premature babies.

Doris can be found most days at Brockington House Care Community in Hereford, sitting in her chair knitting cardigans, little hats, gloves and booties for premature babies.

She has been knitting for the Neonatal Unit in Kingston Hospital Surrey, where her great granddaughter works as a nurse, ever since she learnt there was a shortage of premature baby clothes.

Doris was taught by her father to knit at the age of four and she would knit in the air raid shelter by candle light during the Second World War using wool donated by the service women for them to knit for the soldiers.

Wendy Westbury, director of sales and marketing at Dormy Care Communities, said: “Doris is an absolute sweetheart! She has been knitting all her life but for the hospital she has been doing this for the last ten years.

“Every week she produces a couple of sets that include booties, cardigan, hat so she isn’t sure how many items but we are thinking hundreds.

“Knitting daily keeps Doris fit and the following of patterns and counting rows is keeping her mind active. We think she is truly amazing giving her time and talent to a great cause.”

Brockington House offers residential, nursing and dementia care. You can also book a short break to relax or recover after an operation.

click here for more details or to contact Brockington House