A UK charity kickstarted 70 years ago by the gift of a diamond ring will benefit from a unique commission thanks to a Dundee jeweller.
Lorraine Law contacted Marie Curie, the charity that provides free professional nursing care to terminally ill people at home, after realising she could help commemorate its 70th anniversary by finding a way to make history repeat itself.
The charity was founded on the proceeds of a donated engagement ring in 1948.
Marie Curie patron Petra McMillan is appealing to Courier readers to donate any odd, unwanted pieces of gold or silver that Lorraine might melt down and fashion into a new gold or silver pendant which will then be auctioned or sold for the benefit of the charity’s community nursing service across the NHS Tayside area.
Petra said: “We’re not asking people to part with high value items or pieces they hold dear — it’s the broken necklace, odd earring, spare butterflies – the kind of thing many of us have lurking at the bottom of our jewellery box.
“Lorraine can breathe new life into the metal and create something wonderful and unique which will then help us raise vital funds to support our nurses working in our own communities.”
Contemporary jeweller, Lorraine has been in business for almost 20 years.
Trading from her shop in Dundee’s Union Street, she is well known for handcrafting one-off pieces, in particular, contemporary heart-shaped pendants.
However, it may be that Marie Curie’s iconic daffodil is chosen for this particular work of art.
Lorraine said: ”I’ll just have to see what we get, I’m open to different ideas – it’s an exciting process and something I wanted to do for personal reasons but also because the Marie Curie anniversary and story of the ring struck a chord with me.”
Established on July 6, 1948, the Marie Curie International Memorial received a diamond engagement ring, donated by Mrs Alice Macpherson, as it’s first gift.
It sold for £75 – around £2000 in today’s money.
In the 70 years since then, Marie Curie has grown to become the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness, including cancer.
It employs more than 2,700 nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals, and with its nine hospices around the UK including Edinburgh and Glasgow, is the largest provider of hospice beds outside the NHS.
Typically best known for their overnight service from 10 pm to 7am, when a Marie Curie nurse is with an individual, the family can rest and recover, knowing their loved one is safe and well cared for.
Depending on what is donated Lorraine may make an entirely silver piece, a gold pendant or even include precious stones if they turn up in the “harvest”.
Usually such a piece would cost in the region of £400 to £2000.
With just one hour of Marie Curie nursing care “costing” £20, Petra is hopeful the golden opportunity might make a real difference to local families this spring.
“We are very grateful to Lorraine for her generosity in donating her time and skills to us and we very much hope Courier readers will get behind our appeal and help us make something beautiful to help those in our own communities who most need our support at the end of life.”
Anyone looking to donate jewellery can do so either at Lorraine Law’s shop in Dundee city centre or at Jessie’s Kitchen in Broughty Ferry.
The appeal will close on April 30.
