St Catherine’s resident, Agnes Armstrong, has received an official badge of honour for her service in the Women’s Land Army over 70 years ago.
Agnes, together with her husband, Tom, who also lives at St Catherine’s, was awarded the badge and certificate by Newcastle MP, Chi Onwurah, during a special wartime commemoration event organised at the home by activities coordinator Richard Dobinson.
Presenting the award to Agnes Chi said: “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to share in honouring people who served and to say how grateful we are for the contribution made during the war by everyone.”
She added that the work of land girls, like her own aunt, not only enabled the country to survive at that time but had also played a great part in highlighting the changing role for women in society by proving that they could work for a living on the land and in factories.
The certificate, which Richard arranged to be sent for Agnes by DEFRA, reads: “The Government wishes to express to you its profound gratitude for your unsparing efforts as a loyal and devoted member of the Women’s Land Army at a time when our country depended on you for its survival.”
The residents’ lounge was decorated with wartime memorabilia, bunting and posters from the era which had been collected from relatives and friends of the home. Fr Ted Featherstone, who was an evacuee during the war, began the commemoration event with a reading of the World War I poem In Flanders Fields written by soldier John McCrae in 1915. Before the Last Post was played he reminded everyone about the lives lost on all sides.
Representatives from Beamish Museum, Dave Smith and Ian Wilson, brought some artefacts including gas masks, powdered egg and Land Army dress and evoked some wartime reminiscences while children from Kenton Bar School performed a moving song about going to war.
“It was lovely to see Agnes receive the badge and certificate surrounded by her family who have come from around the country to be here for this special event,” said Richard.
Richard is now planning another commemoration event at St Catherine’s for the D-Day landings anniversary in June.