Hurst Hookers create a right royal display

Just days before King Charles III is officially crowned, a miniature version of His Majesty has taken up royal residence at Hurst village pond.

Hurst Hookers, a keen group of knitters and crocheters, have handcrafted and installed 29 woollen 'post toppers' to commemorate the coronation.

Flanking the pond’s footpath is a version of the new king and queen, dressed in full regalia, with Paddington Bear and the Archbishop of Canterbury holding court alongside them. 

Twenty-five grenadier guards stand watch along the green where School Road and Wokingham Road meet.

Bearing an uncanny resemblance to their human counterparts, the characters, made of wool and adorned with brass buttons, cloaks, hats and embroidery, were six months in the making.

Sketches and careful planning took place to ensure that this, the group's largest village ‘yarn bombing’ installation, created the right impact. 

Jobs were shared out among the group - from experienced embroidery to sourcing wool and sewing garments together - with new members being fully included.

One of those new recruits is Pamela Barnard, who crocheted Paddington Bear, and was present at the installation on Friday, April 21, just a day before her 80th birthday.

“I just think this is wonderful, doing this for the village. I want to learn more and more.”

Pamela was taught by Hurst Hookers’ member Heather Howarth, the mastermind behind many of the village’s seasonal displays.

Heather started stitching in October, taking projects with her wherever she went, including Wokingham's council chambers, where 'Camilla' was crocheted.

“I crocheted during the ‘Hurst 200 homes’ appeal," she said. "Camilla was done there so I was helping Hurst in both ways.” 

When rallying the troops, Heather found that Pamela was an enthusiastic participant, despite being a beginner. “She was the first one to help me with this project and that set the others off,” Heather added.

Other volunteers came forward, such as Twyford’s Valerie Thorn, who embroidered with great detail the touches to the Archbishop’s cloak and the medals to the soldiers’ uniforms. She said:

“I joined Hurst Hookers only in January. I love this group, they have extraordinary and exciting and challenging thoughts for future projects.”

Elsewhere in the village the group’s handiwork can also be seen.

Two post boxes, one outside the village shop and the other in Lodge Road have been 'crowned' and a small parade of soldiers now guard St Nicholas’ Church.

“We had three soldiers left over so we walked up to the church and put them there with some jubilee crocheted bunting,” added Heather, who said that the Hookers are now working on their next theme.

“It now seems to tie-up as they are at the pond, church and outside our house in Lodge Road. Even caught a delivery man taking a snap.

“We are all so pleased. The villagers and passers-by love them,” she said.

Crochet fans, royal followers and passers-by who admire the work can donate to the Hookers’ fund for The Cowshed by using the QR code on each creation. 

Who are the Hurst Hookers?

It’s a group of beginner to advanced knitters and crocheters who meet every other Thursday at the Hurst Cricket Club 7.45pm.

It was started by Pip Etheridge who brought the group together as a way of keeping up the skill – and socialising at the same time.

“I think it’s quite important for people who live on their own,” she said. “We’ve all made friends and when we’re not together there’s a WhatsApp group that is busy.

“We’re a friendly bunch and there’s a lot of support.”