Poignant labour of love 'heart quilt' tribute to special woman set to boost coffers of Easter Ross MacMillan Cancer Support
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THE memory of an inspirational woman who spent much of her life helping others is being honoured by a unique Ross-shire crafting project set to provide a boost to cancer sufferers.
A stunning, hand-crafted labour-of-love quilt initiated by Gill Thompson after she received a devastating diagnosis is set to be raffled for a local Easter Ross charity that was close to her heart.
The Heart Quilt dates back to the spring of 2020 when Gill, as a fundraiser for Easter Ross MacMillan Cancer Support after she was told she had inoperable lung cancer, decided to create something positive out of a desperate situation.
Fourteen of her friends worked together to make the 140 blocks that together created the quilt and four separate cushions.
Using a design that had originated from her mum, Margaret, Gill provided her friends with with templates and her beautiful South African shweshwe fabric.
The project has taken two years to complete and the final quilt was assembled and finished by Liz Strachan Speirs and Teddy Moseley before being quilted by Jo of Reel McCoy.
Gill Lindsay had moved to Ross-shire to teach in the 1970s.
She married Mike Thompson and they went on to have two children, Matthew and Jenny.
Gill was a gifted teacher who, with endless patience, helped many young people for whom school was especially challenging and difficult. She taught and supported pupils from all around Easter Ross.
A talented lady, Gill always had a creative project in her hands and encouraged others to join her. She is remembered as kind and generous by her many friends.
Gill loved adventurous travel and in recent years made visits to South Africa where her daughter and family live. There she involved herself in creative charity work to support local groups of women.
Sadly, Gill passed away in June of this year and is greatly missed by her friends and family.
The super-active Easter Ross Macmillan Cancer Support group has set itself the challenge of selling 2000 raffle tickets for the stunning quilt and cushions.
These will be sold at a number of planned craft fairs and local schools and are available through committee members.
A draw of the raffle will be made at the St Duthus Hotel in Tain on December 19.
All money raised will stay in the Highlands.
St Andrews Road-based Shona Docherty of the Tain branch described the quilt as "a fantastic piece that has been beautifully made".
She said Tain and District Development Trust is also helping with the sale of raffle tickets.
