Horndean great-grandmother knits rainbow medals to give thanks to family, neighbours and village shops

Rita Muston, 85, has been keeping her hands busy despite arthritis, knitting rainbow medals to give recognition to those who have kept her spirits up during the pandemic.

Rita is well known around the village as she goes out to the shops when she can and has got to know her neighbours very well.

She said: ‘They have been so wonderful and helpful and kept me going through this Covid. Being on my own, it kept me going. They’re so helpful and kind to me and I’d like to show my gratitude.’

The keen knitter usually works on items for the premature babies in the neonatal ward at Queen Alexandra Hospital, but hasn’t been able to send her creations in during the pandemic.

Rita keeps active and is missing attending lunch clubs during lockdown.

She said: ‘I do like to go out more than I stay in, I have got a stroller and I walk to the village. I like to try to keep active, most days I get out for a walk around the block.’

Rita was married to her husband Brian for 62 years before he passed away, and the pair met ‘on the dancefloor’ before she married him at age 17. Rita has two children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

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