[R]are Opportunity in Appleby to hear first hand the experiences of a Land Girl working in Eden and from a local young person growing up in the area in WW2 in aid of charity.
The story of the Land Girls in WW2 is well documented – at its peak in 1944 80,000 women formed the ‘Women’s Land Army’ which played a key role in increasing land in cultivation and growing more food, to replace the food which was being imported before war broke out. Sands Methodist Church in Appleby On Sunday 22 July at 3pm will be the venue for a rare opportunity to hear from two of Appleby’s senior residents of their experiences, working as part of the Land Army and growing up in the area at the time.
Ruby Brass came from Bradford in Yorkshire to volunteer as a land girl in Embleton near Cockermouth after 3 months training in Newton Rigg College.
Sarah Parkin grew up in Hilton near Appleby during the war.
Together they will give an accurate, informative and amusing account of their experiences.
The event is being held to raise funds for Samara Aid – a charity formed in 2014 to help displaced local people in Iraq following the effects of IS attacks. Since then 94 consignments of aid have been sent out, two not for profit hospitals have been opened and a further hospital is being planned for Syria.
Admission will be free with no need to reserve tickets and light refreshments will be available. There will be a retiring collection for the charity. Ruby and Sarah are well known for their presentations at local schools in the area but this is a very rare public opportunity to hear their stories.
Rev. John Morton, Minister of Sands Methodist Church, Appleby commented “We are grateful to Ruby and Sarah for agreeing to speak about their experiences. I believe it will be an entertaining and informative session and raising funds for Samara Aid is a very worthwhile purpose.”
