The Gibson family

interview by Jess Webb

It’s common knowledge that Personal Protective Equipment also known as PPE has been in short supply for the Key Workers nationally during this pandemic.

I had been told that a family in our town, had selflessly took it upon themselves to go above and beyond, by producing PPE for members of the community. This was in their own time in the form of reusable face masks, and I had been told the whole family had got involved.

I wanted to speak to Paul and Davinia Gibson, who I was told were in charge of this family venture, to find out more about what they’ve been doing to help, and what prompted their action. The following interview with Davinia was with Paul present.

I have been told you have been using up your own time to make and supply a form of PPE for Key Workers in Newton Aycliffe. Could you tell me more about this and why?

Davinia: I saw a call for help from a local care homes and with Paul being an Ex-Army Qualified Tailor, we decided with Paul’s skill we could, and wanted to, do something to help.

We had only planned on making and donating a hundred or so, from materials we already had or what could be donated. This would mean we could provide them free and that would be it. But we were taken aback by the extreme demand, and also that members of the public were paying £8 upwards for these masks. We felt people were being taken advantage of, and knew this was wrong and that we needed to continue.

We wanted to start providing them to the public at around cost, but also continue to donate them free to different local services, accepting donations along the way. We have not been charging people for our time, but have needed to purchase or rely on kind members of the public donating our materials. It’s the elastics that have been the most costly, as they have risen in price as you may expect and cost hundreds to date for these and thread. We have thankfully managed to keep purchasing cost to an absolute minimum, whilst still being able to donate masks to local services and making charity donations to Junction 7 of any surplus monies keeping it all local.

Can you tell me which key worker services you have made these for, and how many you have made to date?

We have made them for care homes within Aycliffe, staff at a local Mental Health hospital, some Veterinary services in Newton Aycliffe, Cafe Pronto in the town centre, bus drivers, health care workers, teachers etc.

As mentioned, we have also being supplying them to the wider community, ie; people who are in isolation and Aycliffe residents in general who feel they need them. To date we have made approximately 2500 masks, give or take a few hundred – we unfortunately haven’t been able to keep absolute track as it has been so busy.

I have heard it’s been a family affair, with all family members getting involved in this venture, how did that happen and what experience has everyone got in sewing?

Paul is a trained Army Veteran of 24 years, who was trained as a Military Tailor and has many years experience. Myself and the children have had absolutely no experience at all until now. Paul could not keep up with the demand of the whole process; including the cutting of materials and elastics, taking requests and crafting face masks to completion. Therefore he roped all us into the process, willingly, obviously.

Paul taught me how to use a sewing machine to help out, allowing him then to concentrate on the more intricate finishes. My daughter, Jennifer, (16 years), has been the Administrator, taking face mask requests over Facebook messenger and writing them down. My other daughter, Britney, (13 years), and foster children (7 and 5 years) have been helping by unfolding the materials, once stitched into pockets and ready to go then next step. So yes we have all been involved as a family and enjoyed it.

How many hours do you think you have all put in together making these masks?

It’s really hard to say; we have worked every day since we started, cutting materials, sowing etc. Paul is also still working full time as a Key Worker in a local Mental Health Hospital, and after a full days work, he then works to midnight most nights sewing and finishing requests. On a weekend and the Bank Holidays, he’s been working on the masks up to 18 hours a day. I have been putting up to 8 hours a day cutting and sewing material, with the help of the kids.

What do you both normally do for work?

Paul is a Patient Transport Driver for a Mental Health Hospital in Darlington. I recently gave up work to foster two children and also look after my own three girls.

What do you all do for fun?

We all love going to the lakes to walk up mountains, but during this lockdown unfortunately not been able to do what we love – and probably have been doing much the same as everyone else.

A couple of years ago myself, Paul and Jennifer did the 3 Peaks over the summer and had planned to do it again this year. But due to the lockdown this has put a stop to this plan, but hopefully next year. We recently took our foster children up their first “mountain” Roseberry Topping, which they really enjoyed, so hopefully we can get them to do a real mountain by the end of the year.

Have you got any other ventures planned?

Our current venture with mask making was purely an accident by scale, as we only wanted to make a hundred or so for a care home. So when the demand is no longer needed we intend to hang up our kit, as we really can’t wait to get a bit more freedom, and get out to the Lake District again to get some good fell walking in.

Jess Webb: What can I say about this fantastic family effort? All I can think to say is WOW!

I am sure you would all like to thank Davinia, Paul and the rest of their incredible family in supporting our community in this inspirational way.

Thank you the Gibsons.