10/05/2026
I first published this article đ on December 11, 2025, on the soon-to-close WordPress blog. As it's a lovely feature, I'm reposting it here so it lives on after the website is shut down.
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MOST of us assumed that âUnder Constructionâ post box topper at Tesco Gallows Corner was an amusing reference to some, ahem, delayed structural works at a famous nearby roundabout.
Apparently not.
It was, in fact, more of a âcoming soonâ place holder put there by the duo behind those incredible knitted and crocheted scenes on display at the entrance to the busy store off the A12.
Lynda Smith and Hilary Salisbury have been lovingly crafting homages to special events and seasonal holidays since February 2022.
They became friends at the Romford-based Stitch-in-Time group and their first design for Tesco was a tribute to our late Queen Elizabeth II on her Platinum Jubilee.
Since then we have been treated to many imaginative offerings every year, and Lynda explained: âWe always do Christmas, definitely, Chinese New Year, one in the spring and one in the summer, and Remembrance Day.
âSo we probably do at least five every year, I should think.
âSome are more straightforward than others, of course.
"The VE Day one, for instance, there were lots of elements to it so it took us a while to do.
âAnd the D-Day one was tricky because I did a Spitfire and had to make it look as though it was in the air. You have to think about how to construct it â and do it so it doesnât fall apart!
âBut I think the one that has made people laugh the most was the recent one we have just taken down, the work-in-progress one.
âWe did it as a kind of place holder while we made the Christmas one but at the back of our minds I guess we did think it was appropriate, given what is going on with the works at Gallows.
âBut thatâs all part of the fun and when we get feedback like that, it is great really.â
The bases for the designs are always crocheted by Hilary (who was overseas when this interview took place) and the bulk of the knitting work by Lynda.
And Lynda revealed the secret to her âtricky Spitfireâ was the use of a wooden model plane supplied by her RAF-expert husband.
She also had input on the correct colours to mark D-Day â black and white stripes â from her son, who is an RAF Typhoon pilot.
Lynda, 75, added: âIt has predominantly been just Hilary and I doing them but we have certainly had help with some bits from other people.
âWhen we started, another lady from the knitting group called Leslie helped out with some of the figures on the May Day one, and with the Easter one.
âAnd it all started because â with a late friend of mine called Jan Smith â we used to do a lot of knitting of covers for Terryâs Chocolate Oranges and things like that to sell in aid of Saint Francis Hospice.
âJan was a great one for going to the supermarket to ask for donations of the chocolate and had quite a network of contacts as a result.
âClover [Deacon, Tescoâs Community Champion] was one of those contacts and thatâs how it started.
âAlso, as a group, weâd seen how these post box toppers were becoming more and more popular so we did one on a post box quite close to the hospice, with all the different workers at the hospice.
âThen we started with the Queenâs Jubilee one at Tesco and it has gone on from there.
âThat location is very good as itâs under cover, so not affected by the weather, and the staff are great because they keep an eye on them. Weâve never had any vandalism, Iâm pleased to say.
âAnd the customers always stop us for a chat when we go there to put them up or take them down. They really do appreciate them and that is just lovely for us.â
The Stitch-in-Time group meets on Tuesdays at Romford Baptist Church and you can find more information on their website.
