Dear Readers
At the start of every New Year, we think of friends and family, so it was with great sadness that I opened and read a letter from Betty Mullen in Portishead, Bristol. Betty was formerly Chairlady of the Portishead Machine Knitting Club and her letter was to tell me that Gloria Hughes had died. Gloria was known to MKM readers as Jamilla and we featured many of her Passap designs in the magazine. Gloria lived with her husband in Saudi for many years and during that time she developed her love of the Passap E6000. She came home to the UK for holidays, usually from November to January and again during the summer and was at a loss without her machine. She had no hesitation in buying another Passap to keep in England.

Betty and other club members first met Gloria when she retired from Saudi and returned permanently to the UK. As soon as she was back at home, I remember including a request in the magazine to see if we could find her a local knitting club. Betty spotted the letter, telephoned her and from then on the two became close friends. They also formed a small group of six knitters who each owned an E6000. Every Tuesday morning they met in one of their homes and Gloria taught them much more than the basics. A good time was enjoyed by all, including a good old natter. Gloria had been very ill for some time with several medical problems and sadly she passed away in October. Betty and the group will miss her very much at their Tuesday get-together. They’ll always remember her - not only for her love of her machine, but also because she was a really kind and helpful person. Over the years I often chatted to Gloria and the last time I saw her was at the Thornbury Show. Together with Nick Traylen at Uppingham Yarns we sorted out some 2/30s for her to take home to knit. Although her health was failing at that time, she still had lots of ideas and enthusiasm for future designs. I’m most grateful to Betty for letting me know and I’m sure you’ll all join me in sharing the group’s grief at Gloria’s passing.

Diary Date Change
After such a sad start, let me leave you on a brighter note by letting you know the revised dates for Machine Knitting LIVE in 2011. I’ve managed to move the Chepstow Show to a Saturday. If my memory hasn’t totally failed, I’m almost sure it’s around the time that Alice used to have her summer Get-Together. We’d pack up from the Croydon Show one weekend and head for Wales the next. This year, there’s a week in between so the Croydon Show will be on Saturday 16th July, followed by the Chepstow Show on Saturday 30th July. Please make a date to join us at Croydon and Chepstow for some Summer fun.


NEXT ISSUE
March 2011
Subscription copies sent out
Thursday 3rd February
On sale Thursday 10th February
Ask your newsagent to
Reserve a copy – see page 61