Celebrating Syston Knitting Banxy
As Syston Knitting Banxy (SKB) put out her 100th topper showing the cast of the Vicar of Dibley. She said: ‘I was so inspired by the Royal Mail’s wonderful stamps celebrating The Vicar of Dibley (issued 14.1.2025). It’s a fabulous show, and I have great admiration for Dawn French. Missing those wonderful actors who are no longer with us.’
We thought we would give you a round up of what she had produced during 2024.
Our fabulous SKB created 21 post box toppers although not all on display in Syston, one famous one was seen on Coronation Street’s Christmas special as well as the one she created back in 2020 for Syston that was then given to the Street and appeared in December 2024 episodes. In January 2024 she created the Topper of the Queen Victoria Public house, which featured on the BBC Radio Late Show and East Midlands Today on Wednesday 12th February 2025, when they visited as part of a week long tour of the country visiting pubs called the Queen Victoria and bringing with them a replica of the bust that features in EastEnders which is celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary. The Queen Victoria is one of the oldest in Syston, and SKB donated the topper to the pub. The April topper was for LCFC champions which was auctioned for LOROS and raised £500 for that most worthy charity. The Kasabian topper appeared in July and then one for Thunderbirds day in September and she finished the year with the Home Alone one, just to name a few.
She also produced 29 bollard toppers ranging from celebrations, proposals of marriage and retirement gifts. She created a memorial for the three little girls who lost their lives in Southport and it was gifted to one of the mothers who has it as a memorial in her workplace. As well as celebrating the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey, ‘Tidy’ one.
But she then created three plaques, one for D-Day and gifted to our local RBL, Zyla the police dog who gave her life in the line of duty and gifted to Zyla’s owner, as well as one for a local postie who retired after 40 years.
She has created over 16 raffle prizes for local causes including 12 postbox tins of shortbread with miniature Christmas toppers.
She is often donated wool from people and in January 2024 she made 15 pairs of children’s mittens which were placed on the school railings to go to anyone who needed them. She made a Vardy hat that was gifted to Jamie Vardy, she has made a variety of heart keyrings for a variety of causes or events. In total, individual pieces number over 186.
Her major project was that of a soldier and dog on a bench covered in knitting. This piece took over 300 hours to make and was donated to the Secret garden at Glenfield hospital for Remembrance Day 2024. It is an amazing piece of work with the soldier in full WW1 uniform sat on the bench covered in knitting with a knitted dog sitting alongside of him. It is a very poignant piece with a beautiful and emotional story behind it, which we featured in the Dec/Jan issue.
Thank you SKB for all your amazing post box toppers,
Thank you SKB for all your amazing post box toppers, bollard toppers and everything else you do to bring a smile to us all.
You truly are an artist in the medium of wool, I really don’t believe you have time to sleep, you are amazing and it is an honour to be your representative when needed to speak on your behalf.
I look forward to seeing what more treasures you bring to us in 2025.
Fiona Henry Editor
