Marie Trubic is a Church Related Community Worker for the Strengthening Communities Project, in Somerset serving Westfield (Bridgwater) & Cannington URCs. One of the key aims of the project is to respond to rural and urban deprivation, including problems associated with social isolation and non-integration, and changing community dynamics.
This article highlights just one of the initiatives currently happening in the local area:
鈥楥annington Yarn Bombers鈥� was formed during the Cannington URC Warm Space Initiative of 2023 to encourage more people to visit. This led to a member of the church suggesting that the village was 鈥測arn bombed鈥� as part of the Coronation celebrations. A Facebook post, highlighting the activity encouraged a good crowd to see the spectacle, which saw bollards and trees suitably covered, alongside bunting and decorations for the event.
Yarn Bomber Command has a core group of around 10 people, who meet each Tuesday morning at Cannington URC. Various works have since been completed including poppy cascades and knitted Christmas trees. The group reuse the work wherever possible; the Christmas tree, Coronation tree wraps, and bunting have been made into blankets and donated to local charities, for example.
2024 has seen Cannington Yarn Bombers go international with two panels being produced as part of an 80th Anniversary Day Landings Commemorative piece: 鈥淭he Longest Yarn鈥�. A total of 80, 1m x 0.5m, panels will form an exhibition in the cathedral at Caranten from May to September after which it will go on a tour of the UK and next year the USA.
Cannington Yarn Bombers decided to get involved to honour the men of the US 535th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion who were stationed at Brymore House (now Brymore Academy) from February to the end of May 1944. They left for Dartmouth, landing on Utah beach on D Day June 6th, 1944.
One panel shows the camp in front of Brymore House, the second the troops leaving through the village. The work has taken three months to complete, the actual time spent doing the knitting, crochet and embroidery is probably in excess of 500 hours.
The finished artwork is on its way to France where it will be displayed alongside the other panels ready for the end of May, when Normandy will again be invaded, but this time by the world鈥檚 dignitaries, veterans and their families and friends remembering the events of 80 years ago.