大象传媒

On a brilliant November morning, a large American car, flying the Stars and Stripes, crossed the border into Warwickshire at Mickleton and was stopped by two members of the Land Army from Marston Hostel who welcomed to Warwickshire the First Lady of America. From there all the way to Oldberrow House Hostel. Henley-in-Arden. Land Girls stood at signposts at every cross road and every turning.
On arrival, Mrs. Roosevelt drove slowly up the drive, between a Guard of Honour of volunteers, all with at least one year's service, who broke into cheers as the car approached. Lady Denman, Mrs. Fielden, Lord Dudley (Regional Commissioner) and Mr. Hughes (Chairman of the W.A.C.) welcomed Mrs. Roosevelt as she stepped from her car and the company, with Mr. Clyde Higgs and Mr. Tickle (N.F.U.) added to their number, mounted a tractor-drawn trailer and settled themselves in state on trusses of hay, covered with horse rugs. Driven by Margaret Browett. the tractor negotiated some tricky turns and gateways and arrived at Oldberrow Court Farm where girls were busy threshing. thatching, silage making and milking by hand and machine. Mrs. Roosevelt spoke to the volunteers and was obviously interested in all the demonstrations.
Followed by the Press on another tractor, the party then moved on to a nearby field where ploughing (with a caterpillar tractor from U.S.A.), kale cutting and mangle pulling were in progress, and then returned to the hostel, where Mrs. Roosevelt thanked Margaret Browett, spoke to more volunteers, signed autograph books and was extensivelv photographed before entering the hostel which she inspected with the Warden, Mrs. Concannon. Coffee and cakes followed and then Irene Birch, one of Warwickshire's first recruits, presented to Mrs. Roosevelt on behalf of the W.L.A. of England and Wales, an album of Land Army photographs, bound in red deerskin, with the L.A. badge on the cover.
Amid cheers. Mrs. Roosevelt then drove off. leaving behind memories of her charm and warm interest in our work and a feeling that yet another link of friendship had been forged between our two countries. For the volunteers it had been a day of days, a great reward for the many hours of hard work, weariness and disappointment which every Land Girl knows. Having Lady Denman with us was an added treat, especially when we discovered that it was her birthday. Warwickshire was glad lo be the County to offer her "Many Happy Returns of the Day" in person.
Before Mrs. Roosevelt left this country she sent the following telegram to Lady Denman.
The Exhibition which the Land Army arranged for me of its work at Oldberrow. was one of the most interesting features of my visit to Great Britain and I should be grateful if you would thank all those concerned and convey my congratulations and good wishes to all the members of the Land Army.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT.

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