An embroidery story for you. During WW2 Lincolnshire was known as Bomber County and local engineering companies changed to making munitions. One of them made gun turrets for Lancaster Bombers and the wife of the managing director wanted to do her bit for the war effort. She invited airmen (and visiting top brass) into her home. She gave them a bit of peace and a meal and asked each of them to sign her tablecloth. She then stem stitched over the signatures, rather badly. They include Guy Gibson and many of the other crews who flew in the Dambuster raid. At the end of the war the cloth was only 3/4 full, and remains so to this day. It is in store at the moment awaiting the opening of a new museum. The photograph below is an old one from a local newspaper, taken after Mike and I wrote a song about he cloth. We are much younger than that now! LOL

Sue, This is the most awesome story - and it is real! I'm so glad to get to see the photo of the tablecloth - it is such a treasure. Thank you for sharing it with us. Ben and I went to your site and LOVED your songs. I would like to buy your CD as a download. Is it possible to buy it by Paypal??? Your voice is beautiful.
We could listen to your sing for hours. Jan

This was a great honor to have this story told in song. I found a link of your work: "Woven threads of linen. (Written by Sue Dewsbury)".

Thanks for sharing. What a great story!

Wonderful story. Wonder if my grandfather's name is on there.

What a great story and picture - where is the song that the two of you wrote? Would love to see the words to that. Glad you could partcipate in this piece of history.

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by spendlove 20 Oct 2011

I'll email the words to you.

Thanks for sharing this piece of history.

Thanks Sue, I enjoyed that story and seeing the pics of you both when you were older :)When kids finish their schooling here they tend to sign each others uniform shirts with permanent markers (last day). I did go one better once and provide a satin bordered wall hanging in school colours -but they did still sign in markers and I've not embellished it since.

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by spendlove 20 Oct 2011

We have shirt signing day here too!

This is an interesting piece of history. Thanks for sharing.

What a geat piece of history to have and to be able to see. Great story. thanks for sharing

Wonderful story and memory. Wish I still had the linens that my Mother had collected from the family, but am pleased to have one from the birth place of my grandfather.
Hugs,
Jacqueline

Sue this brings back memories of working in Woodhall Spa, seeing the airfield and the Kinema in the woods. Signing tablecloths was something that used to be done by various organisations. There must be some great signatures on this cloth. Where is the museum going to be? Great picture

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by spendlove 20 Oct 2011

Not sure where it will be yet? Could you afford to visit the Petwood when you were in Woodhall?

Nice piece of history!
In 1956, before our final exams, I embroidered the signatures of my classmates on a small cloth (8x8 inches), in stem stitch too.

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by spendlove 19 Oct 2011

I'll bet you made a better job of it!