WHEN Anne Ward was frantically searching for a nice tablecloth suitable for the dining room table when family visited two Christmases ago, she had no idea how big a part of her life it would become.

Long after the Belgian-born theatre costume and props maker’s family had left her Tirabad home to head back across the world to Australia and South Africa, the tablecloth-come-bedspread has remained. And her search for the origins of the beautifully decorative garment was just beginning.

It is quest that has taken her across the globe during a worldwide pandemic – virtually of course – including her native Belgium, various parts of the UK, New Zealand, Canada and even Hollywood. She has even written a book about it.

Anne, 43, has found out a great deal about the hand-embroidered bedspread, which has been intricately stitched with 12 regimental badges that were all active during World War I. It is entirely, and uniquely, in white work and bordered with machine made filet lace – 26 metres of it. It has been dated to have been made sometime between 1916 and 1920 and by very skilled hands, as confirmed by the Royal School of Needlework and the British Embroidery Guild. But Anne has not been able to uncover any details about who, where or why it was made as there is no label or signature.

“It all started when I needed a nice tablecloth,” said Anne, who was born in Belgium but emigrated to South Africa aged seven before moving back to Europe in the late 1990s.

She lived with husband Damian, who is Irish, in Scotland, before the couple moved with their family to the tiny little Powys village of Tirabad, nestled at the foot the Cambrian Mountains near Llangammarch Wells, in 2013.

Her sister lives in Australia and it was her visit, as well as family from South Africa, descending on rural Powys for Christmas 2018, that prompted Anne’s visit to the British Red Cross Shop in Brecon in search of a special tablecloth for her guests.

“It was when looking for a nice tablecloth in a bag of assorted white goods in the shop that I found a bedspread which has taken me and my family on an international time traveling journey of incredible historical discoveries,” she said.

“We have been to villages and towns in the UK and Wales, to Flanders Fields, the Somme at 1916, the USA, a Benedictine Abbey in Ireland, and to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.”

The charity shop was unable to shed any light on the blanket’s origins and local appeals to try and trace its donor, last owner or any fragment of its history have proved fruitless.

“As a family we have a lot of theories that even experts consulted agree with,” added Anne.

“A few of the many include: it was sewn by soldiers convalescing from wounds, or those receiving specialist treatment, as a gift for one of the medical team. 'Lap crafts' were taught to occupy patients who were bed-ridden for extended periods of time, including embroidery, crotchet, knitting and basket weaving.

“Another theory is it was made by continental refugees as a thank you gift for someone in England who showed a particular kindness to their plight or maybe made a significant contribution.

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“Over 200,000 refugees came to the UK from Belgium, France and Russia from 1914 onwards. They were welcomed and accommodated by civilians who wanted to do their bit but they also set up their own communities.

“One more theory is that it was sewn by an embroidery college or club for a war, or post-war, fundraising exhibition and sale. All sorts of fundraising incentives were held in all countries involved in the war.

“In Australia rosettes were sold, balls and concerts organised. In New Zealand, we found a story of how schoolchildren contributed their pocket money to make money trails and knitted socks for soldiers. So, a specially made, exhibited and then sold high-quality item such as this bedspread can certainly be considered.”

Attached as Anne has become to the bedspread, however, the thirst to discover its secrets is what she craves, which is why she sent the quilt off to the National Army Museum of London last month.

“We may never find out its reason for being made and where it has been these last 100 years, but it will be available to be seen and be puzzled over in the museum to which it has been donated,” she said.

“We do love it but have no personal connection to it or the right home to enjoy it. It is too long for our bed anyway,” she jokes. “And we would be too scared to use it lest we spill our morning cup of tea on it. Until we can find its story, if ever, we can still continue to enjoy speculating over it with it gone to the museum.”

The book the couple have written, entitled ‘Twelve Secret Voices, A True World War One Mystery’, is now available and can be purchased for £10 from www.aspect-design.net, plus p&p. Signed copies can be requested by emailing Anne at anneward77@icloud.com. With Father’s Day approaching (Sunday, June 20), perhaps it would make the perfect present.

Anne has even been approached by a number of schools asking her to provide a learning pack that can be studied by pupils – including Ysgol Dolafon in nearby Llanwrtyd Wells, and even a school in South Africa.