A NINETY-FOUR year old who used to knit socks for soldiers in the Second World War is now a member of a care home ‘Knit and Natter’ group that has created wollen brooches for the Poppy Appeal, and blankets and beanie hats for hospitals to keep premature babies warm.

The group at Huntington House in Hindhead has rekindled fond memories for Mollie, who said of her wartime effort: “My mother would go down to the council buildings each week for the wool.

“One week was royal blue for the Royal Air Force; the next week was navy blue wool for the Navy; the third week was green for the Army.”

Unusually, Huntington’s knitters, comprising a director, residents, staff and two ladies from the local WI, use wool from a herd of rare Ryeland sheep – one of the oldest English breeds – which lives on the Huntington and Langham Estate.

The wool is also sold to raise money for other charities.