Loughborough Junction estate residents get sewing to make NHS face masks

You’ve heard of knitting for victory in the Second World War – well now there’s sewing for victory against Covid-19.

Hardworking and public spirited residents on Loughborough Junction’s Lilford Estate have been beavering away making face masks for the past two months to donate to the NHS.

Residents on the Lambeth council estate were desperate to give something back to the doctors and nurses helping their community through the pandemic.

So, led by Lilford Area Residents Association chairwoman Rosemary Nja Egbe and sewing tutor and clothing designer for Unique ID Vicky Quadri, neighbours have been sewing hundreds of the brightly coloured masks for use by the staff at Kings College Hospital, a quarter of a mile away.

Many of the masks were skilfully sewn by Omeh Egbe, an autistic adult, with support from her carer, Nicole Thete.

Residents started sewing in May and were delighted to see the selection of stylish masks presented to King’s College Hospital’s chief nurse Nicola Ranger at the hospital by Herne Hill councillors Pauline George – herself an NHS nurse – and Jim Dickson, Lambeth’s cabinet member for health and adult social care.

Rosemary said: ‘We’ve all been affected in some way by Covid-19, including members of our community who have lost loved ones.

“This was a way of showing how grateful we were to NHS staff who are helping us through the crisis and giving some practical help at the same time.”

Cllr George paid tribute to the Lilford residents, adding: “As a nurse myself I know how much a generous gesture like this from the local community is valued by the staff – what a lovely thing to do.”

KCH Charity chief executive Gail Scott Spicer said: “This is an incredibly kind donation that is hugely welcomed by the staff at King’s.

“On behalf of King’s, chief nurse Nicola Ranger, and the whole team, we’d like to say a really big thank you to Rosemary and her neighbours.”

The sewing team included estate residents Oye Olajide, Vicky Onitari, Merlin Johnson, Chuks Igwe, Eyang Igwe, Fartiha Bouzidi Santos, Mistura Oseni, Lyn Kuan, Alex Waterman and Jidechukwu Jude.

Pictured top: From left, Vicky Quadri, Cllr Jim Dickson, Cllr Pauline George and Rosemary Nja Egbe