A DISTANT relation of Lawrence of Arabia is paying homage to him – through tartan.

Theresa Jenkins-Teague from Weymouth has created a tartan based on the legacy of T.E Lawrence, the soldier and author who lived and died near Bovington.

The tartan has been made into products to raise money for brain injury charity Headway.

Theresa, a distant relative on the Irish side of Lawrence’s family, wants to honour her ancestor with her Seven Pillars of Khaki project.

Official merchandise will be available to buy online, with £1 from every sale over £25 going to Headway, or another chosen charity.

Last summer she presented actor Joseph Fiennes with a Lawrence tartan tie after watching him play Lawrence in the play Ross at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Lawrence was famed for his role in the Middle East during the First World War. He died of a traumatic brain injury sustained in a motorcycle accident near his home at Clouds Hill in May 1935.

The Seven Pillars of Khaki name pays homage to his famous literary work, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

Theresa said: “Every piece of tartan tells a fascinating story of Lawrence, especially his Celtic family heritage, through the materials’ colour combinations and designs.

“We chose to support Headway as one of the medics who attended Lawrence after his motorbike accident was Sir Hugh Cairns, one of Britain’s very first neurosurgeons.

"After Lawrence’s death, Cairns began to gather evidence relating to the importance of wearing a crash helmet for military and civilian motorcyclists, which contributed to pioneering research in the prevention of brain injuries.”

She added: “I hope that our project will raise vital awareness of Headway’s valuable work and help us to remember how devastating head injuries can be, even for those we think are indestructible, like Lawrence was once considered to be.”

The orange brown of the tartan represents Wadi Rum and Lawrence’s famous raid on Aqaba as well as the ‘hues and tones’ of his home at Clouds Hill. Red represents his Welsh birthplace and ancestry. The cross of St George demonstrates his admiration for Richard the Lionheart and his thesis on Crusader Castles. Blue and green represent his Irish connections and his two periods of service in the RAF.

The tartan, which is produced exclusively by Johnstons of Elgin in Scotland, has been made into cashmere scarves, lambswool scarves, blankets, tartan wool cloth, and gentlemen’s ties, with other ranges to follow. Products will be available to purchase online soon.

For details email t.jenkinsteague@outlook.com