Big-hearted Clitheroe couple determined to bring much-needed Christmas cheer into the lives of struggling families

For the generous Clitheroe couple, who both taught for years at Ribblesdale High School, have continued to help under-privileged children in their retirement - more so during the coronavirus lockdown.

Mrs Gregson (84), who has always loved knitting, continues to knit cardigans for babies and young children in need of warm garments. She began helping the poor in 2009 and to date has created an amazing 733 items of clothing.

She explained: "I have always enjoyed knitting. About 11 years ago a group of three ladies from our estate began a project where they knitted cardigans and sent them over to orphanages in South Africa. We continued knitting and sent hundreds of items, however, the postage costs became too expensive and we therefore decided to send the garments elsewhere and more locally to help needy children. Therefore, we sent a lots of parcels via International Aid, who would come to the house to collect the bags of knitted goods."

Mrs Gregson, who also taught home economics at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, added: "I mostly knit in the evenings and for children five years and under. During the lockdown in March and more recently, my daughter, Carol O'Reilly, issued a plea on Facebook for spare wool and the response was fantastic. I received so much free double knitting wool and obviously had plenty of time during lockdown, so I knitted away!

"It gives me great satisfaction that I have been able to help so many families and my most recent donation was to Clitheroe's Salvation Army, the local refuge for those families fleeing domestic abuse and Hyndburn Baby Bank."

Meanwhile, Mr Gregson who also shares a passion for helping children who face poverty or other adversities, has been busy crafting toys for struggling families. The former Ribblesdale High "woodwork teacher", who taught at the Clitheroe school for more than three decades, has become just like a real life Father Christmas, crafting cars, lorries and buses out by recycling old furniture and donating them for needy families to place under the Christmas tree.

The 86-year-old commented: "I have always enjoyed creating little toys and then selling them at craft fairs with proceeds going to local worthwhile causes. During lockdown, I decided to make the little toys and support the Salvation Army Clitheroe's 2020 toy appeal.

"Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are lots of people who have lost jobs and cannot give their families the Christmas they deserve. Iris and I are just doing our bit to help spread a little Christmas cheer."