Digging deep pays off for Land Girl Sylvia, 82

She dug deep to provide for her country during the darkest of days, and now a Black Country great-grandmother has finally had her hard work rewarded.

Former Land Girl Sylvia Parry has been presented with a badge of honour - 60 years after she first campaigned for official recognition. The 82-year-old, who spent four years as a Land Girl, said that she was "thrilled to bits" when the long-awaited badge arrived in the post at her home in Davenport Road, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton.

"I went outside and I asked the postwoman if it was here and when she said it had arrived she was almost as excited as I was," Sylvia said. "I asked for one 60 years ago when the Land Army Association started up. It was a long time coming but it was definitely worth it."

Widow Sylvia said she had fond memories of her time spent as a Land Girl, which saw her posted to Wales and, later Cornwall. "They were the happiest days of my life because it was during that time I met my husband," she said. Sylvia met Welshman Hugh, who was on leave from the RAF, when she was working at country estate Glynllifon belonging to Lord Newborough in Carmarthen. He died four years ago aged 81.

In 1943 there were around 80,000 Land Girls working on the land from dawn till dusk to provide food for the nation during the war.