It all started when this fan club in England called Detective Armani decided to hold a charity auction. One of the items up for bid was a knitted doll, a Ray doll. The item sparked a bit of interest. (understatement) And the rest is history. With the dedicated work of some motivated due South fans and of course the wonderful David Marciano who took the time to autograph bookcovers for the event a sizable sum was raised for Wolf Watch in England and Mr. Marciano's chosen charity in America. Both continents and a whole lot of fans benefited from Elaine's work.

Ray Doll Sees The World

This is Ray Doll and one of the quarterly newsletters that was published by Detective Armani for its members. Mr. Marciano also received a copy.

As any articles or any news on the travels of Ray-doll come in to me, I'll keep you posted right here on his site. He does tend to get a little busy and is extremely popular with the people he meets.


The Mountied Knitties!
by Elaine Lucas

It all began with my having a brainwave - next time, I'll just lie down in a darkened room until the urge passes. How wonderful it would be, I trilled to Ann Manwell over the phone, if we - or more specifically Ann - could knit a cute little Mountie doll for the Auction.

Ann visited me a few weeks later with a limp looking piece of knitwear which, she asserted, would become a Mountie doll when completed and appropriately stuffed. Sure enough that night, as tunic skirt, pockets, and lapels were individually knitted and painstakingly sewn on, Benny took shape. We stuffed him with cotton wadding - 'What did you do over the weekend, Elaine?' 'Me? I stuffed a Mountie.' And soon we had a bouncing baby Mounted Knittie. He was so adorable that I just had to have a Ray doll too so Ann was dispatched to her business meeting with the command to create one.

I didn't see Ray until the Mini-Convention but I was kept updated on his condition by Ann who had taken to talking to the doll and cuddling him. When I saw him, I fell instantly in love with him and spent most of the convention pampering him - which is probably not what you want to hear from your editor this close to renewals!

The Mounted Knitties - as Ann called them meaning Knitted Mountie - were a huge success at the convention and were invited to join our sing-along and Gala Dinner. Ray sat between me and Vicky while Benny sat between Angela and Sue. They both enjoyed their food but were a little uncomfortable at having to be strapped to their chairs!

I know you all want to know how they got on after the convention: Well, Benny was adopted by Sue and her two children while Ray will soon be flying to his new home with A. Ray Fan.

A. F. tells me Ray is going to go on holiday soon while I have already received a postcard from Benny. He misses Ray but likes the Lake District as it reminds him of his Arctic home.

~ ~ ~ The links below will take you to the various places that Ray-Doll has traveled. ~ ~ ~
Real Due South Updated
March 2008		 Canada Toronto, Canada
Alliance Studios 		Toronto Tour
due South related sites
Arizona California Chicago Kansas Missouri
Montana New York Nevada Ohio Oklahoma
Pennsylvania Texas
- first stop,
now living in California 		Utah Virginia Washington
Wyoming Holidays