IF you see a young man in the waiting room of the Camden Haven Medical Centre knitting, it’s a good chance you’re looking at the Camden Haven’s newest doctor David Chessor.

During breaks GP registra David will often head out to the waiting room and sit with patients and knit squares to indulge his crafty hobby.

He is so good, his first “proper” creation just earned first prize at the Camden Haven Show. During medical school his wife Suzanne started knitting and David thought he’d re-indulge his hobby too.

“My mum taught me to knit when I was young and it’s a good way to switch the mind off and take a break,” David said.

“In medical school quite a few surgeons took up sewing to fine tune their stitching, so that became my excuse to knit. I made a couple of little things and wanted a bigger project. Suzanne and I decided to each make something for the other. I chose a jumper and started in 2006. It took years to finish, painstakingly slow!”

The gorgeous cream coloured jumper is textured, cable-knit-style and Suzanne said it’s very warm.

“I love it, it’s beautiful,” she said.

“I’ve knitted a quarter of a vest for David!”

At the Camden Haven Medical Centre there are knitting boxes in the waiting room and if patients want to pass the time, they are welcome to knit squares and these are sent to vaious charities to be made into blankets.

“When I first started here, being the new doctor, there was a fair bit of spare time and I would knit squares,” David said.

“Dr Barry suggested I enter a square in the show, but I decided on entering the jumper because I haven’t finished a square yet! Everyone was a bit surprised I was entering and it was a bit of a joke around here but everyone was supportive.

“I was surprised to go to the show on the Sunday and see it with the first place card on it for the Cardigan/Pullover Category.”

The jumper has won praise from the staff at the medical centre and Suzanne is finding that “everyone wants to see it.” This is high praise indeed considering the knitting talent living in the Camden Haven.

David said he was considering working on another creation for next year’s show.

“The people that I beat probably deserve another crack at me and I need to prove it wasn’t a fluke,” David laughed.