Charity overwhelmed by donations of jewellery

LOCAL people have donated jewellery worth thousands of pounds to help a charity celebrate its 70th anniversary.

Marie Curie, which provides care for people with terminal illnesses, was founded in 1948 following the bequest of a diamond engagement ring.

To celebrate the charity’s anniversary, Dundee jeweller Lorraine Law contacted Marie Curie offering to make a new item of jewellery, fashioned from unwanted pieces donated to the charity, which will be auctioned or sold to help pay for Marie Curie nursing services in the NHS Tayside area.

Although Lorraine and Marie Curie patron Petra McMillan asked for odds and ends such as broken necklaces or odd earrings, they have been stunned by the quality and quantity of the donations they have received.

Lorraine said: “I have done a bit of research on some of the pieces and the dates range from 1871 to 1971.

“There is a 15-carat gold amethyst brooch which is undated, but 15ct gold was discontinued in 1931 or 32.

“There is also an opal engagement ring engraved Roma 7.7.”

Petra said: “We are just overwhelmed with the generosity people have shown.

“Some of the things people have been bringing in are incredible.

“We’ve had 10 rings handed in, one of which dates back to 1871.

“There’s also a platinum ring still in its original box.

“One lady brought in an engagement ring and a wedding ring that belonged to her mother because she had no one to pass them on to.”

The appeal closes on April 30 and anyone who wants to donate jewellery can hand it in to Lorraine’s shop at 34 Union Street in Dundee or to Jessie’s Kitchen in Broughty Ferry.

Lorraine Law