War heroes help raise £3k towards Land Girls statue

(Front, left to right) Iris Bird, Paddy Reed and Peggy Worsfold proved "popular" with guests at The Suffolk Women's Land Army Memorial Trust's fundraising event on Sunday

Three Suffolk war heroes helped historians raise thousands of pounds, as part of a new campaign celebrating the county's Land Girls.

The Suffolk Women's Land Army Memorial Trust held a special event at Saxham Hall, Great Saxham, on Sunday, as trustees officially kick-started a new fundraising project.

Co-founders Nicky Reynolds and Vicky Abbott want to build a £100,000 statue in the county to honour the legacy of the Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps.

During the four-hour event, guests enjoyed a 1940s-style afternoon tea and marvelled at horses and vintage tractors, raising £3,000.

There was also an exhibition featuring historic uniforms and World War Two memorabilia inside the hall.

The money raised will go towards the trust's project, which will also see a roll of honour featuring the names of women who served established online.

The Suffolk Women's Land Army Memorial Trust wants to honour the legacy of the county's Land Girls

Ms Reynolds said: "It was absolutely fabulous and the most wonderful day.

"Suffolk was a very important county during the war - we had about 2,500 women who worked here and they were responsible for feeding the nation.

"It is important that generations to come realise the men did an amazing thing, but the women did as well.

"This event was just the first of many exciting things to come."

Suffolk war hero Paddy Reed, who served in the Women's Land Army, attended the fundraiser on Sunday

The day's special guests were three of Suffolk's very own Land Girls - Iris Bird, Paddy Reed and Peggy Worsfold, who were presented with certificates commemorating their efforts during the conflict.

"They were the queens of the afternoon and proved so popular," added 57-year-old Ms Reynolds, who has collected Women's Land Army memorabilia for 30 years.

"They have clocked up nearly 300 years between them, but they were just incredible and amazing."

Ms Reed was enlisted to help keep the country fed throughout the war when she was just a teenager.

She said: "I don't think I realised at 17 what capabilities I had, nor did I realise I had the strength to be able to work with wonderful Suffolk horses, which I loved doing."

The Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps continue to be heralded for their work in the agriculture and forest industries during World War Two.