Land Army veterans see sculpture tribute

Four women, dressed in their 1940s uniforms of green jumpers and corduroy breeches, joined sculptor Pater Naylor at a firm in Hull where the new memorial is being made. The sculpture, commissioned by the Land Army Memorial Scotland, is destined for a site between Aberdeen and Inverness, overlooking a distant view of the Moray Firth and the Highlands.

It captures seven women, their hair done up 1940s-style, waving and smiling from their perch on the rails of a six-barred gate, on top of a grassy knoll.

Dorothy Taylor, 83, who travelled from Bridlington to W. Campbell & Son Ltd, where a laser machine has cut the sculpture out of Corten steel, said: “We are all in agreement that it’s about time that the Women’s Land Army is recognised by everyone – not just a few people. Peter has done an absolutely lovely job of it.”

Mrs Taylor met her husband while working at Easton Farm in Bridlington, now a garden centre. She added: “It does make us all look happy and yet I have yet to come upon somebody yet who said they have said they didn’t have a happy time once they got used to the work and living in the country.”

The Women’s Land Army was created to fill the gap left by the tens of thousands in the armed forces. It came into its own again when U-boats were destroying many merchant ships bringing food from America.

Mr Naylor created the popular tribute to the men of the 158 Squadron at Lissett in East Yorkshire. As at Lissett, people will approach up a track and be able to walk round the sculpture, viewing it and touching it from all angles. It will be unveiled later this year.