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When war broke out I was at school in Stockport. There were no bombs dropped near us but I remember the red glow of the Manchester blitz one Christmas eve. If we forgot our gas masks we were sent home to get them. I always loved the country and animals so I joined the Land Army as soon as I was 18.
First I went to Sutton Weaver near Warrington, then Tabley near Knutsford. As the war ended these closed down and I came to Audlem. I lived in the hostel in Cheshire Street and cycled on my Land Army bike to College Fields farm at Buerton every morning. That was hard work for a start!
There were strict rules in the Hostel, for example you were not allowed to approach the house by the front drive if you were in your working clothes, you had to go round the back. You can imagine we needed good washing facilities when we got back from work. There were two bathrooms, one with a large bath that would take four at a time.
Many of the girls were employed at Bonell’s on the threshing machines. I looked after the young stock and moved the milk from the shippon to the dairy where we made butter. The farmer was Mr Arthur Holdcroft and his brother (see photo).
I remember Mrs Dutton of Williams’ shop. She was always very motherly to the Land Girls. I had my 21st birthday party at the Combermere Arms but I didn’t go there regularly.
When the Land Army was disbanded my father was ill. As my other brothers and sisters were away I went back to Stockport and looked after my parents and also my brother until they died. As soon as I could I came back to the area to work in the country again
and have lived here ever since.

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