When the Women’s Land Amy Jills’ came to tea

Dear Ed, EVERY now and again as a local councillor you get to do something that’s incredibly rewarding—like getting a family rehoused or an unjust fine refunded. I had the pleasure last week of attending an afternoon tea to honour the Women’s Land Army. These women during the Second World War went to work in the fields while the men were fighting the war, ensuring the nation could still feed itself

Dear Ed,

EVERY now and again as a local councillor in East London you get to do something that’s incredibly rewarding—like getting a family rehoused or an unjust fine refunded.

I had the pleasure last week of attending an afternoon tea party in honour of the Women’s Land Army. These are the women who during the Second World War went to work the fields while the men were fighting the war, ensuring that the nation could still feed itself. Their contribution, which for too long had been forgotten, has now at long last been recognised.

At the tea party I met 11 of the Land Jills’ as they were known who had all originally come from the East End of London. The stories they had to tell of their war efforts and of course of the East End of their childhood were fascinating and a rare insight into what is now living history.

Well done Tower Hamlets Council for organising such a long-overdue event and a big thank you to the Land Girls I met—and all the Land Girls for their efforts all those years ago.

Cllr Tim Archer (Con)

Blackwall & Cubitt Town ward

Tower Hamlets Council

Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Poplar & Limehouse

Saundersness Road, Cubitt Town, Isle of Dogs