1,000 flags were
contributed to Neil’s
project – each a unique way
o f s a y i n g t h a n k s t o t h e
Armed Forces.
How do you think sewing can help
mental health?
I had some prett y horrible
experiences in Bosnia in the mid-
1990s, seeing fi rst-hand the
aftermath of genocide. At the time
I was making my driver’s wedding
dress and when I look back that
probably kept me sane.
The Armed Forces have become
so much bett er at recognising
and supporting mental health, but
I think the real big challenge is our
children’s mental health. I am not an
expert but I believe if our children
were taught some form of creative
skill then maybe this would give
them a coping mechanism.
What are your plans for Christmas?
Hopef ully it will be the four of us:
Kate and the two boys. I used to make
all my Christmas presents. Now
however, with children at university
it’s diffi cult to sew a laptop or money!
What’s next for 2020?
Joining the fl ags together to
make quilts and useful objects.
It was such a powerful display, I am
also very keen to take them on a tour
of the countr y.
How can people help?
If there are any quilting or sewing
groups who would like to help please
email Kate at [email protected].
bringing order to my chaos. We
were so busy the week before the
display that I forgot our wedding
anniversary. However I got away with
it because she forgot as well!
What is the fi rst thing that you
remember making?
Clothes for my Action Man. I joined
the primary school sewing club in
protest because they allowed girls
into the football club.
Do you feel part of a tradition of
sewing soldiers?
I do – while I was in Sangin, Southern
Hellmand in 2008, I modifi ed some
ammunition pouches and sewed
them onto the side of a rucksack to
carry mortar rounds. I had explained
to some young paras that I had been
sewing since I was litt le and, after
they stopped mercilessly taking the
mick, they named me ‘Stitch’.
Why did you apply to be on the
Sewing Bee?
Kate tried to apply for me but
couldn’t complete the application. So
I had a go out of curiosity and kept
gett ing through each stage of
selection, and there I was – a
contestant! It was a case of “wouldn’t
this be a laugh?”.
What happened after the show?
I thought it would be a great
opportunity to leave the Army, but
the reality was I couldn’t aff ord to
with two boys at boarding school.
But I was asked to do a talk and
workshop at a veterans home. There
I made two discoveries, the power of
social media and realising I had a
following that I could use to good
eff ect and secondly what I call the
power of creation. Seeing the positive
eff ect on soldiers, who were suff ering
from quite traumatic mental health
issues, making something, had a real
impact on me.
I suddenly realised all the sewing
and knitt ing projects I had had in
Northern Ireland, Bosnia and
Afghanistan had actually helped me
get through some quite trying times.
The inspiration for the project came from
the tributes that appeared after the
bombing of the Boston Marathon.I suddenly realised all the sewing
and knitting projects I had had in
Northern Ireland, Bosnia and
Afghanistan had actually helped me get
through some quite trying times
INSPIRING PEOPLE