By Sarah Robinson

Last updated at 11:26, Thursday, 20 September 2012

EXTRAVAGANT dressmaker Thelma Madine, best known for creating lavish fairytale gypsy wedding dresses, is expected to be in Egremont next weekend.

expected in Egremont: Dressmaker Thelma Madine, made famous in Channel 4’s Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

Made famous by Channel 4’s hit series Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and, most recently, Thelma’s Gypsy Girls, the dressmaker from Liverpool has agreed to showcase one of her sparkling creations at a car boot sale in Egremont Market Hall next Saturday afternoon.

During the event she will auction off six signed copies of her recently published book Tales of the Gypsy Dressmaker.

Proceeds from the sale and auction will go to Galgo, a charity that rescues abandoned and mistreated Spanish greyhounds. It is a cause particularly close to the heart of Angela Wilson, of Moor Row, who has paid for two mistreated greyhounds, Caremelo and Sugus, to be transported overseas from the shelter to her home.

Angela says she is delighted that TV star Thelma is coming to Egremont to support the cause.

She said: “I was quite shocked, I never thought she would come up here to help. She is definitely coming up as she’s been looking for a size 8 model to wear the dress.”

One of Angela’s friends is friends with Thelma on Facebook and asked her by chance if she would like to help. She has already sent five paperbacks and one hardbook copy of her book to organisers which will be signed and auctioned off on the day. A variety of car boot stalls will also be on offer at the sale which takes place between 12pm and 4pm.

Angela says she hopes to bring her two pets, which have been helped by the organisation, to the event for people to meet them.

She said: “The charity wants to build shelters near Madrid, so we are raising money for that. It’s a different level of abuse over there. People get rid of their dogs and break their legs to make sure they can’t get back home. It’s just awful.”

In May, Angela paid for a mistreated greyhound Caremelo, to be transported from a Spanish dog shelter to her home in Moor Row.

Caremelo had been shot several times, was found starving and near to death by his rescuer, Sandra Baas, an Englishwoman who runs a Spanish organisation to save greyhounds (Galgo). His front paw had been amputated while he was at the shelter due to his injuries.

Since Caremelo has been living with Angela and her husband, Steve, and there other eight dogs, he has undergone a further operation to remove his front leg.

A new addition, Sugus, another greyhound, has been brought into the family on Sunday. He has had the whole of his back leg removed after being mistreated.

Angela says the main obstacle of looking after Spanish dogs is their lack of understanding of commands in English.

“With Caremelo it took a few weeks for him to adjust to us speaking English as I can’t speak Spanish at all. But he is getting used to us now. I think we’ll have the same problem with Sugus, but I’m sure he’ll get used to us!” she added.

First published at 11:06, Thursday, 20 September 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk