Life’s rich tapestry
Mia is almost eight years into a highly ambitious project to hand stitch a full-size replica of the Bayeux Tapestry – a 10,000-hour task which she hopes to complete by 13 July 2027, exactly 11 years on from the date she began.
“I might manage it if I don’t sleep.” Mia jokes.
Her love of embroidery blossomed from attending historical re-enactments of the Viking period. Through this activity, she began hand-stitching costumes, bags, purses and finger puppets. But Mia’s ambition extended further, and she quickly realised that she wanted to create a more substantial piece.
Having been commissioned by a friend to recreate a small section of the Bayeux Tapestry, she enjoyed the assignment so much that the idea to make the entire piece took hold.
Mia aimed to replicate how the original tapestry looked before it suffered damage and underwent repairs. Her goal was to maintain the authentic colours and details, making her work distinct from other replicas that reflect the tapestry's current state.
The original tapestry, depicting the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, is almost 70 metres long and 50 centimetres tall. Mia’s version is currently around 45 metres long and counting.
Mia told us about her interest in the variety and complexity stitching involved, such as chain stiches, and the aspects of the design that she enjoys the most: “There is a particularly beautiful tree which I have already completed that is my favourite part of the Tapestry. Trees, along with ships and horses are top of my list of things to embroider. They have the most impact.”
Her attention to detail extends to the portrayal of objects like stirrups, which feature various stitch techniques not immediately noticeable in the larger scene.
And when she is not stitching, embroidering, writing or designing, Mia is caring for her son Tom who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Tom is non-verbal and a wheelchair user.
Healthwatch Health and Care Forums
In this capacity, she began attending our Fenland and East Cambridgeshire Health and Care Forum five years ago. As a carer, Mia has found the Forum a great source of information and support.
“No subject is off limits at the Forums. It’s a very welcoming environment, and each time I attend I feel that I am not alone in the issues I face.” Mia explained. “We discuss topics such as how to make a complaint and the lack of availability of NHS dentists, and we receive regular updates about our local hospital.”
Mia also noted that access to care and the way in which triage systems operate is a particularly important issue affecting people in Fenland, and which can be a barrier for those without mobile phones or technical skills. She stressed the importance of maintaining common sense and human contact in healthcare services, ensuring that no one is left without the care they need.
From her involvement with the Forum, Mia learned about the Partnership Boards that Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough oversees. She has since become an independent member of the Carers Board and the Wheelchair Users Forum.
“It’s great that I can contribute my lived experience to help make positive change happen for others” she said. One example of this has been highlighting the need for hospitals to have wheelchair scales to enable wheelchair users to check their own weight.
Mia believes in the power of collective voices to drive change and improve services for the disabled community.“I would encourage people to attend their local Health and Care Forum and spread the word” she added.
Mia will display sections of her Bayeux Tapestry at a public event for the final time in Wisbech later this year, before keeping it behind closed doors until its completion.
