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Winnie Wilkinson's diary for 7 May 1945 shows life's contrasts.

It starts: "Unofficial news came through at 3pm that all Germany had surrendered." And it ends: "Went to night school and made ginger biscuits."

Mrs Wilkinson had "joined up" at the age of 17 and was to spend six years in the Women's Land Army. She worked on farms in Wales and later returned to Pendle, where she helped produce food for a hungry nation at Duerden Brothers' market garden in Kings Causeway, Brierfield.

The move back home gave her the chance to take up her old hobbies of hiking, dancing and drama - she was a member of the old Walverden Players. The drama group had an active social side, and after church on Sundays they often set off for hikes.

Mrs Wilkinson recalls: "We arranged, when VE Day was announced, which would only be on the evening before, we would meet at Nelson Station to get the 7.38am train to Skipton, and from there a connectionto Bell Busk.

"We then planned to walk to Malham, but it was not to be as the rains came down, and we sheltered in the Victoria Hotel in Kirkby Malham for four hours, had lunch, played darts and dominoes and, with the rain still pouring, walked to Bell Busk for the train home."

But the best was yet to come, she says.

"We all went down to the Imperial Ballroom to the Victory Ball.

"The atmosphere was tremendous, everyone in a happy lively mood, dancing and jiving to the tunes of the day.

"On the way home, there were crowds at Nelson Centre, singing, dancing and letting off fireworks.

"It was a fantastic memorable day. I still have my diary of that year, which statesthat I had to go to work the following day, when nearly everyone else had a holiday, and as there were no early buses I had to walk there.

"We had to get a wagon-load of rhubarb cut and bunched ready for a jam factory in Liverpool. We did, however, get double pay and a Victory present."

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