Members of Wellington Arts Association (WAA) would normally be busy at this time of year making final preparations for the annual pantomime at the Wellesley – but these are no ordinary times.

This year, instead of sewing costumes, as she has done for over 20 years – and more recently making props – Penny Bradnum has been sewing scrubs.

Just a week ago, she had a call from WAA members Bridgette Sells and Jane Burt, both qualified nurses with 70 years’ experience between them, and who will be part of the Covid-19 mass vaccination programme in the local area. They had been told about a national shortage of scrubs and asked if Penny could help.

She had sewn face masks for a charity during the first lockdown but had not made scrubs before – but thanks to the Taunton Scrubbers she obtained a pattern and material, plus whatever could be found from her own fabric store, and set to work.

People called for vaccination should look out for some particularly colourful scrubs, which might look more at home on stage than in a medical scenario!

Penny, who is also president of Wellington Pantomime Group, said: “It’s not been so different from making some Aladdin chorus costumes – and I just hope they brighten people’s day a bit.”

Many arts association members have been busy volunteering during the past year. They have been vaccination volunteer stewards, done shopping, collected prescriptions, transported people to vaccinations, been NHS volunteers as check-in and chat reps, produced online exercise videos, and sewn scrubs and masks. They have even opened a community shop and run a community support group, and created support software

Wellington Arts Centre has been undergoing a major refurbishment since the spring, so members are keen to get back to putting on musicals, pantos and plays – and welcome back the public as soon as they are safely

able to.