They may have dubbed themselves the forgotten army during World War Two, but the "land girls" of Northumberland took centre-stage yesterday, for a trip down memory lane. A morning dedicated to the women behind the book Land Girls of Northumberland was held at Bolam Lake Country Park, near Ponteland, to give them a chance to reminisce. Surviving land girls, now in their 70s and 80s, had travelled from across the region to remember how they kept Britain's agricultural effort going while the men went off to war. Connie Curle, 80, one of the women featured in the book, was there yesterday to catch up with old friends. Now living in Norham village, near Berwick, Connie is in the "romance" chapter of the book as she met her husband, Gordon, while working on his farm. Visiting Bolam Lake brought back a lot of memories for 86-year-old Jo Browne, of Amble, who worked there in the timber corps for four years with her sister, Monica. She said: "It was hard work, but we didn't really mind doing it, because we were helping the war effort. It was great fun as well." Muriel Sobo, author of the book, also went to Bolam yesterday to meet up again with women she had already spoken to and to make new contacts. The retired teacher and local history enthusiast, from Ponteland, has spent the last few years collecting memories, stories and photographs of the Land Army girls. Her research led to the first book telling the Northumberland women's story. She is also building up an archive in pictures and words that will be accessible to future generations. She said: "Sadly, these women are now a dying breed. I realised if something wasn't done now, their memories and stories would be lost." The Women's Land Army, made famous in the film Land Girls staring Anna Friel, was set up because 60pc of Britain's food was imported when war broke out, making it vulnerable to enemy attacks. Women aged 17 and over could join. They did everything from hay-making to picking potatoes and pest control. | 
