A 97-year-old great-grandmother from Harrow Weald has been hailed as a “beacon of commitment” after spending the last 20 years knitting comfort blankets for homeless cats and dogs in London.
Beryl Jenkins, a great-grandmother of seven and grandmother of five, has been crafting colourful blankets for Cats Protection North West London Cat Centre – with each one going to support cats waiting to be rehomed.
Beryl, who first learned to knit during the Second World War, said: “My mum was a great knitter. She taught me to knit as a young child during the war. We knitted balaclavas, gloves and socks for servicemen overseas. I was hooked and knitting has become a lifelong habit.
“I couldn’t possibly give up knitting. The cats’ needs are a life saver to me. I would be bereft without that. Even when I’m sat waiting for my online shopping to be delivered the needles are clicking for cats.”
Cats Protection, the UK’s leading cat welfare charity, is celebrating Beryl’s contribution during Volunteers’ Week in June – a national event that highlights the impact of volunteers across the country.
“Before Cats Protection came to Harrow Weald, a group of my friends and I knitted blankets for other animal charities,” said Beryl. “Sadly those friends have all died but Cats Protection has given me the incentive to knit for a charity close to home. In truth, I am the one who is so grateful.”
The handmade blankets are often given to cats when they are adopted, offering comfort and a familiar scent in their new homes. The Harrow Weald centre rehomed 456 cats over the past year, many of whom would have taken one of Beryl’s blankets with them.
One of the current residents at the centre, Smokey Joe, has been waiting a long time to be adopted. Until then, he has one of Beryl’s blankets to keep him cosy.
Caroline Ryan, Volunteering Lead at the Cats Protection North West London Cat Centre, said: “In this month when we celebrate all volunteers, Beryl shines as a beacon of commitment and dedication to cat welfare. By highlighting her contribution, we want to thank every one of our committed volunteers for being part of our extended team.
“It isn’t any exaggeration to say that the volunteers working across our charity in so many diverse roles enable us to continue helping so many more cats in need.”
Cats Protection says it relies on around 9,800 volunteers across the UK to help improve the lives of cats in its care.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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