A Coventry care home has been celebrating one of their residents on International Woman’s Day, which this year was on Friday 8th March.
Mavis Worrall, 88, has lived at HC-One’s Victoria Park Care Home, in Stoke, Coventry, since 2022 and is well known among her fellow residents as an expert crocheter - a passion that has also recently benefited a local neo-natal unit.
Mavis started crocheting six years ago when a neighbour began to teach her, but sadly her neighbour lost her sight and was unable to teach her anymore. Despite this setback Mavis persevered and has since crocheted over 300 blankets which she has gifted to fellow care home residents, staff members, and staff member’s babies.
In recent months Mavis crocheted over 30 blankets which she donated to the neo-natal unit at Walsgrave Hospital. These were gratefully received and used straight away for the babies being born there.
Although Mavis is a relative latecomer to crocheting, she has held a love of dress making from a very young age, when she would watch her mother make clothing.
When she attended senior school at the age of 13, she took part in a sewing class where she made her first blouse, dress, and skirt.
Her talent for sewing continued throughout her life, and by the age of 30 Mavis was making dresses and knitting cardigans for her two daughters, Anne, and Shirley.
As well as developing a love of crocheting, Mavis also took up cake-making and sugar craft in her later years. She has five photo albums full of photographs of the ornate cakes she has baked - including a selection of beautiful wedding cakes.
Although she is approaching her 90th birthday next year, Mavis shows no signs of slowing down and loves sharing the story of her life with friends and relatives. As she is fond of saying:
“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to others.”
Tracey Allan, Deputy Home Manager at Victoria Park care home, says of Mavis’s life story:
“It’s wonderful to take a moment to reflect and celebrate the lives of our residents here at Victoria Park. Mavis has enjoyed a fantastic life and the fact she is still contributing is a testimony to her commitment to the community and her zest for life. I can’t think of any other better role model on International Woman’s Day.”