May 2025 Update
The Wandsworth Photographer
Anna’s daughter-in-law, Alexandra Vanotti, has written an article about the history and work of The Scrubbery from 2020 to the present. It can be viewed on her Instagram page (@thewandsworthphotographer). It gives an excellent summary of Rosie’s vision and leadership and shows all the hard work done by everyone. It encapsulates the ethos and compassion of The Scrubbery and celebrates the friendship and shared commitment of the many volunteers. If you don’t have access to Instagram here is the article and photos.
Did you know it takes 3,500 strips of fabric to turn a tennis net into camouflage netting? This is one of many tasks that Rosie & her team of volunteers tackle at The Scrubbery.
This scrub hub was born at the start of the pandemic when Rosie, thanks to her NHS doctor daughter, realised an impending national shortage of hospital scrubs. After canvassing junior doctors, she spent a month working on a new pattern which allowed for petite & larger frames, ethnic needs & ease of movement. She then spent every single day of the next 3.5 years supplying scrubs, masks, laundry bags, headbands, hats & gowns to all London hospital trusts, plus GP practices, care homes & vaccination clinics.
St Mary’s Church initially hosted the hub & raised funds to buy fabric. Rosie now manages a team of 200 volunteers, of which 20 visit Oasis Academy weekly. Rosie took precautions to isolate during the pandemic, not even shopping for food, so her immune-suppressed volunteers felt safe enough to attend in person. She recognises the need for community & talking, strongly believing everyone needs a skill to focus on – ‘because talking naturally follows’. She told me working on the camouflage net is particularly therapeutic & enthused about her volunteers; ‘Everyone who comes is fabulous & all have a story of their own. We take all sorts – there isn’t anyone who isn’t able to help’.
Where does the camouflage come in? The day Ukraine was invaded, one of Rosie’s contacts in Kyiv asked if she had scrubs to spare. The hub’s efforts now turned to the desperate needs of Ukraine hospitals. Starting with scrubs, they now send whatever is requested (inc. painkillers, sweeties & home-made trench candles), working with Ukrainian drivers to safely deliver the goods (although Rosie herself drove a van into the country on one occasion)
As if that isn’t enough the hub also crafts Thank You bags for NHS workers & created a library at Oasis Academy, with Roald Dahl cushions & story sacks. ‘Sometimes volunteers can’t sew – it’s lovely to have other options for them’. At some point Rosie will need to return to work (in design & embroidery). In the meantime her plea is for ‘more volunteers - & always funding’.
Ukraine
Rosie has received a letter of thanks from the Director of the Tarashchanskaya Hospital in Kiev. It was forwarded by Djamilia, one of our regular delivery drivers from Medical Lifelines UK. The hospital received a shipment including the baby incubator donated by Noah’s Ark Hospice, children’s clothing and medical aid.
Translation by Google
Dear Ms. Rosie Taylor Davies!
On behalf of the entire staff of the Municipal non-profit enterprise of the Taraschan City Council “Tarasha City Hospital” and our patients, allow me to express my sincere thanks for the support shown to Ukraine and the humanitarian aid provided during this extremely difficult time for our country.
Your sensitive heart, care and active citizenship are an example of true humanity and international solidarity. The support we have received through your efforts and the work of the Scrubbery Foundation has been invaluable to our hospital. It has not only helped to strengthen our capacity to provide medical care but has also been a source of morale and hope for many.
At a time when the Ukrainian people are forced to fight for their lives, dignity and freedom, your help is a manifestation of true friendship, compassion and faith in common values. You demonstrate that even after thousands of kilometres you can feel the pain of another people and extend a hand of support.
We deeply appreciate your kindness and efforts aimed at making the world more humane. Let all the good that you give return to you in a hundredfold amount. We sincerely wish you good health, inexhaustible energy and inspiration to continue your extremely important business.
With deepest respect and gratitude
Director: Yana Troyan
Through the mother of a friend of Djamilia’s, Rosie has been in touch with Iryna Ktyshat, a volunteer in Ukraine. Ten bags of bed linen have been sent to Kharkiv. In addition, this connection with a new group has demonstrated to us a new, faster method making camouflage netting—hooray! A video describing this can be seen here.
Cast Socks
The knitting instructions for Cast Socks have been added to the Scrubbery Library page on the website or you can download them here.
Rosie and Saida are developing a pattern for a military head wrap, which looks similar to our scrub hats, but with a panel to protect the back of the neck. The military use this headgear for various reasons, the obvious being as a hat, but it can also be tied as a face mask, neck scarf or even as a bandage. The hat provides protection from the elements, particularly sun, but also dust and sand. It will be made from 100% cotton and provides moisture wicking in the heat, but also warmth and protection against wind and rain in more inclement weather. Once we have mastered our template we will be making these in significant quantities as they are much needed and have been particularly requested.
Call out
Please donate old mobile phones with or without chargers.
The military affix them to telegraph poles and use them as listening devices for drones flying overhead. The phones form part of an early warning system to protect the civilian population.
Also needed is sunblock and mosquito repellent as summer approaches and all of the usual medical equipment and medicines, particularly Ibuprofen. Gratefully received would be any unwanted parcel tape - we get through kilometres of it!
