Bridgwater land girl's close encounter with the Queen (From This is The West Country)

Bridgwater land girl's close encounter with the Queen

8:00am Thursday 12th November 2009

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A DREAM came true for former Bridgwater land girl Renee Stone when she sat just a few feet away from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Renee and 89 other guests from around the country were invited to a special service to honour all those who worked on the land during the Second World War, as previously reported in the Mercury.

After enjoying lunch at the Royal Opera House in London with Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, Renee, aged 85, of Parkway, sat down for tea with the Queen.

But after there was no sign of Her Majesty for a few long moments, Renee was starting to think she might be left disappointed. But then she turned round and who should be stood just a few feet away?

Renee said: “I couldn't believe it when the Queen appeared with the Duke of Edinburgh right next to me - I was the first land girl she would have seen and she just smiled.

“It was such a thrill when we pulled into the palace, and the tea and sandwiches were beautiful. My son, who accompanied me, summed it up perfectly when he said it was just so typically English.”

Renee, who worked on a farm in Spaxton milking the cows for three years during the war, is also researching the history of land girls in Somerset and hopes to eventually publish a book.

She added: “Since the last article in the Mercury I have had so many responses from former land girls all over the country I am having to think about making the book even bigger.”

IF you have any information on the history of the land girls, contact Renee on 01278-422414.

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