Casgliadau Arlein

Crochet mat/panel depicting a naval gunship firing canons. Made by George Preece (1880-1951) a coal miner who in 1909 was run over by a tram at the colliery in Abercynon. He was carried home on a makeshift stretcher to his home, a distance of around two miles. His injuries were very severe and one leg had to be amputated below the knee and the other above the knee. He never worked again. He very rarely used the artificial legs he wears in the photograph (P2009.31) as he found them heavy and uncomfortable, so he preferred his wheelchair. The stitching was part of his rehabilitation. He also liked tin work and made the local children drinking cups from used condensed milk tins.