Warsash gran who helped stitch thousands of masks and protective clothes for health workers is honoured

SHE is the grandmother who rallied an army of helpers to stitch together protective clothing for health workers at the height of the pandemic.
By Belinda Dickins
Published 30th Dec 2020, 07:00 BST
Team Scrubbers at Gosport Masonic Hall in Clarence Road, Gosport, on Friday, May 29, who have been making scrubs, bags and face masks with a team across Hampshire for the last eight weeks. Pictured is: Lin Gell, co-ordinator. Picture: Sarah Standing (290520-9114)Team Scrubbers at Gosport Masonic Hall in Clarence Road, Gosport, on Friday, May 29, who have been making scrubs, bags and face masks with a team across Hampshire for the last eight weeks. Pictured is: Lin Gell, co-ordinator. Picture: Sarah Standing (290520-9114)
Team Scrubbers at Gosport Masonic Hall in Clarence Road, Gosport, on Friday, May 29, who have been making scrubs, bags and face masks with a team across Hampshire for the last eight weeks. Pictured is: Lin Gell, co-ordinator. Picture: Sarah Standing (290520-9114)

And now hard working Lin Gell, of Warsash, has been honoured for her community spirit and dedication to those fighting on the front line of the pandemic.

Lin set up Team Scrubbers in response to a PPE crisis facing key workers in April.

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Leading from the front, she pulled together a team of volunteers to sew scrubs and masks for NHS staff, GPs and teachers who were in desperate need.

Team Scrubbers presented Queen Alexandra Hospital's neonatal wards with scrubs and masks made from the rainbow fabric designed to thank Noah Evans, son of radio DJ Chris Evans. Pictured: Lin Gell, Malcolm Dent and Julie Greenwood when they presented the scrubs to neonatal staffTeam Scrubbers presented Queen Alexandra Hospital's neonatal wards with scrubs and masks made from the rainbow fabric designed to thank Noah Evans, son of radio DJ Chris Evans. Pictured: Lin Gell, Malcolm Dent and Julie Greenwood when they presented the scrubs to neonatal staff
Team Scrubbers presented Queen Alexandra Hospital's neonatal wards with scrubs and masks made from the rainbow fabric designed to thank Noah Evans, son of radio DJ Chris Evans. Pictured: Lin Gell, Malcolm Dent and Julie Greenwood when they presented the scrubs to neonatal staff

And over the past eight months, Lin’s team has created 13,500 sets of scrubs, more than 20,000 masks and raised thousands for the Royal British Legion and Crisis Food Gosport.

Lin said: ‘It’s just amazing what we have actually achieved out of something I started at the beginning of April.

‘If anybody had told me this time last year I would have done this much this year, I wouldn’t have believed them.’

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Helpers came from across the county, with plenty of volunteers signing up from Lin’s home town of Gosport.

As people came and went throughout the year, eight dedicated volunteers stayed in Lin’s team to keep sewing all through 2020.

Her family also stepped up to help, with son Matt selling masks on his doorstep and daughter Kirsty running the Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent operation.

Lin added: ‘I need to thank all the people who have helped sewing and selling the masks. My family has helped me so much.

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‘I have had so much support from my Gosport people, they have all been amazing. People I never knew are now my best friends.

‘Considering we started with no fabric, no money, nothing, we have really achieved amazing amounts. I am exceptionally proud of it and I have loved every minute of it.’

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Related topics:WarsashGosportPPE

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