Five of the ten women who sewed the quilt.  From left to right: Joanne, Melanie, Vicky, Susan and Jane.

When I left England to live in the States, a few of my friends painstakingly stitched a quilt as a parting gift for me. Most of them had never tried their hands at patchwork before, yet they created a true heirloom. Their beautiful present hung on the wall in my Arkansas home for the three years I lived there, reminding me that I was loved and remembered.

The girls kept stitching after my quilt was done. And more friends joined their number. Today, the local newspaper turned up to photograph their latest creation (pictured above) - a gorgeous quilt of their own design which is to be raffled to raise money for The Children’s Society.

I’m planning to be first in line for tickets. And cheering them all the way.