Doughty's 'Sunrise Quilts Appeal' In Memory of John Doughty
Most of our customers have already heard of John's unexpected death on January 5th 2009.
Your many letters and cards expressing sympathy and recollecting many happy memories and anecdotes of John as a friend, businessman and a purveyor of 'excellent value for money fabrics' have been much appreciated by Matthew, myself and other family members.
I have catalogued them and intend to store them away in a memory box for our grandchildren so they have a record of how their grandad was admired, respected and loved by his business associates, colleagues and customers, many of whom have become close and dear friends over the years.
I must also thank Di Huck and Sheilah Daughtry for the wonderful obituary they wrote in Patchwork and Quilting, a copy of which you can read here.
This article started the ball rolling on our 'Sunrise Quilts Appeal' to be donated to St.Michaels Hospice, in memory of John. From those lines so many quilts have been promised from groups and individuals from Dubai to Hereford. Beautiful quilts have already started to arrive at the Church Street Quilting Shop. I would like to contact each quilter individually to thank them.
Each quilt will be photographed (with the quilters permission) and displayed on a special gallery on the website.
If you or your group would like to create and/or donate a quilt, it needs to be about 50" square or 45" by 55". The hospice nurses have asked for them to be quite densely quilted to withstand the rigorous washing. When sending them, please could you make sure that they have a detachable note stating which group/individual has sent it, and an address and contact telephone number so that we can thank you!
In the true spirit of Doughtys we are carrying on just as John wanted. He was still full of enthusiasm and ideas and was making plans for the future right up until his final days at the hospice.
So, along with this website launch we have a new, larger Dress and General Craft Fabric shop next door to the Quilt Shop in Church Street, Hereford. Also a brand spanking new, larger transit van - so we can take even more fabric to road shows.
Bread and butter, fish and chips, John and Ruth, one seems incomplete without the other. Everyone at Doughtys misses John more than words can ever express. Don't worry about your earthly stashes quilters, because I know that when you get past those pearly gates you will see - a scruffy little bloke in a Doughtys tee-shirt,with a cheeky grin and hugs and kisses to spare. He will have a stall full of every fabric you have ever dreamed of, and all at 'excellent value for money prices', of course. If you get there before me, give him a big kiss from Ruth.
Many thanks and love to you all,
Ruth
