Land Army girls meet again after 60 years

Ex-Land Army girls from Wolverhampton have been reunited for the first time since serving in the Second World War.

Nearly 40 former members of the Women's Land Army attended a service at St Peter's Collegiate Church in Wolverhampton at the invitation of the city mayor Christine Mills.

The service for the women and their families was followed by a reception with lunch in the mayoral suite at the Civic Centre. Among those attending were the Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Tessa Farlow-King, Lord and Lady Bilston and the deputy mayor Councillor Surjan Singh Duhra.

Last year, the efforts of the Women's Land Army were recognised as surviving members, many in their 80s and 90s, were awarded commemorative badges and certificates.

Elsie Brooks, aged 84, of Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, served in the Land Army in 1943 before leaving to have her son Gerald.

Gerald, now 64, who lives in Wightwick and is president of Bilston Rotary, also attended the service.

Beatrice Hughes, 84, of Low Hill, who served as a Land Girl from 1944 to 1946, said: "I felt proud when we got our badges and enjoyed my service. I was highly honoured to be invited to the church service."

Mother-of-six Betty Dinger, 80, of Stafford Road, who became a Land Girl at 17, said: "I did everything. I drove tractors – and a lot of hoeing."

She spent 51 years married to the late German PoW Eric Dinger, whom she met while she was a Land Girl. She said: "It was forbidden but when you love someone it doesn't matter."

Sylvia Parry, 83, was a Land Girl from 1943-47.

She worked in various places, including Wales, Hull and Cornwall. She also met her late husband Hugh while in the Land Army.

After meeting in 1943, RAF member Hugh was posted to India until 1947, when they got married. Their daughter Ann still lives in Shifnal.

Mrs Parry said: "The Land Army was wonderful."

Mayor Councillor Mills described the Land Army women's efforts as being "selfless".

She said: "They served their country in its hour of need, ensuring Britain did not starve during the Second World War."