• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

    Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

    Risks and strategies for flexible pension drawdown

    Risks and strategies for flexible pension drawdown

    Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

    Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

    £37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

    £37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

    Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

    Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

    New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

    New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

    18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire

    18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire

    Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

    Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

    Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

    Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

  • Sport
    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

    Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

    Risks and strategies for flexible pension drawdown

    Risks and strategies for flexible pension drawdown

    Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

    Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

    £37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

    £37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

    Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

    Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

    New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

    New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

    18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire

    18th century Eden pub sold as owners retire

    Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

    Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

    Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

    Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

  • Sport
    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Penrith’s Sewing Bird saves the day for Top Gear’s The Stig

by CWH
5 April 2021
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A Penrith family business was in the limelight as it made alterations to the iconic white suit worn by The Stig for the first episode of Top Gear’s current series which was set in Cumbria.

Work by the Sewing Bird on Duke Street’s featured in the award-winning BBC show which saw presenters Paddy McGuinness, Chris Harris, and Freddie Flintoff drive through the Lake District in their fathers’ cars.

The costume was turned into 70s bell-bottoms and complimented with a knitted vest top for a surprise appearance from The Stig’s Dad.

At 45 minutes into the programme, the character gets out of his rally car and stands arms-crossed, showcasing the Sewing Bird’s stellar work.

“He’s got a pair of flares on as well” said presenter and ex-cricketer Freddie Flintoff, as the camera zoomed in on the trousers.

“Nice!” replied comedian Paddy McGuinness.

Emma Wallace, who owns the shop, said: “It looked spot on, but it was just so weird, seeing something we’ve made on television. I was absolutely gobsmacked to be asked at all.”

Margaret Anderson, Emma’s mother, who carried out the alterations, said: “It was very random, but we got it done and sorted. I do a lot of bridal work, so I had some satin in exactly the same colour.”

She then quilted the material to match the suit, made it into bell-bottoms and added a black cuff, in keeping with the original design.

She added that a man from the BBC called them out-of-the-blue, asking if they could turn the suit around in less than 24 hours. He dropped it off one morning and picked it up at 7.30am the next day.

The team is used to odd requests though. “We do a lot of work that nobody else will touch,” joked Margaret.

She regularly makes specialised dresses, with just a photo for reference, and once remade a teddy bear which had been ravaged by a dog.

In the Stig’s Dad rallying challenge, the Top Gear team can be seen turning up to High Cross in Grisdale Forest to race around four miles of gravel tracks.

After racing around the area, which is “renowned for its rallying heritage”, according to Chris Harris, they make a dash to Windemere Ferry for the finale.

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “We were delighted to welcome BBC Top Gear presenters Freddie Flintoff, Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris on board our Windermere Ferry while they were filming in the Lakes for their new series.”

Margaret, now 63, who has been sewing since the age of four, said: “Dressmaking is a dying art. People do craft things nowadays, but most people can’t even put in a zip or do a hem.”

A thoroughbred seamstress, she can trace her family’s tailoring history back until 1700 and even made and sold dolls clothes from the age of six.

She taught her own children to sew and boasts that her son in London can buy fabric in the morning and go out in the evening wearing a new shirt he has made for himself.

“I’m just of that generation,” she said.

  • The first episode of Top Gear is available to watch on the BBC iPlayer

Related Posts

Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply
Latest

Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

17 June 2025
Risks and strategies for flexible pension drawdown
Expert advice

Risks and strategies for flexible pension drawdown

15 June 2025
Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith
News

Man arrested after fleeing from police in Penrith

13 June 2025
£37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads
Latest

£37.7 million to tackle potholes and upgrade roads

13 June 2025
Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair
News

Over £38,000-worth of fake goods seized at Appleby Horse Fair

13 June 2025
New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed
News

New bid for Appleby stallion sculpture revealed

13 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Risks and strategies for flexible pension drawdown

Risks and strategies for flexible pension drawdown

15 June 2025
Flower fairies of Kirkby Stephen brighten people’s day

Flower fairies of Kirkby Stephen brighten people’s day

13 June 2025
Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

Penrith man admits possessing cannabis twice with intent to supply

17 June 2025
Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

Double national triumph for Stuart Robinson

13 June 2025
Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

Pub landlord must remove Covid canopy

13 June 2025
Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

Tebay’s plans for battery storage unit

13 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald