Patricia Ponder (née Viney)
General Information
First Name(s): Patricia Margaret
Unmarried Surname: Viney
Married Surname: Ponder
Date of Birth: 13/11/1926
Place of Birth: Manor Park, London
Date joined WLA: About 1945
Date left: 1950
Previous occupation: Tailoress
Reasons for joining: Not sure but I think it was to do something for the war effort and immediately after.
Employment
Employed by: County War Agricultural Committee
East Mersea, Essex (Summer 1947)
Moorhouse Farm, Dedham, Essex (1947)
Warrens Farm, Eight Ash Green, Colchester, Essex (January 1948)
Layer Marney Towers, Essex (Autumn 1947)
Mr McNairs Farm, Fingeringhoe, Colchester, Essex (1948)
Birch Aerodrome, Colchester, Essex (1948)
Cants, Stanway, Colchester, Essex
Jack Fisher, Sherwin’s Farm, Gt. Wigborough, Colchester, Essex (1950)
Farm Name, village and county: Colchester area, Essex
Type of work undertaken: Mainly working on arable farms and market gardens.
Work liked most and least: I seem to remember her dislike of hoeing. She enjoyed most of her jobs in the WLA.
Best and worst memories of time: The fun and camaraderie she had with the other girls was definitely the best. Working out in the cold and wet was probably the worst.
Accommodation
Address: Kingswode Hoe, Sussex Road, Lexden, Colchester, Essex
Names of other Land Girls/ Lumber Jills they worked or shared accomodation with: Doreen Johnson, Marg Briand, Phyllis Lambert, Lilian Drake, Hilda Isherwood, Dorothy Moorhouses, June Bird, Norma Clarke, Vera Waller, Doris Gainsford, Helen Sawyer, Irene Shepherd, Ursula Booth, Pat Hayes, Dorothy Jones, Margaret Williams.
Life after the war
Did they return back to their pre-war occupation? Yes, but not until the 1950s. She continued to work on the land privately for another employer until about 1952.
What was their occupation after the war? Tailoress.
Did they stay on the land? She married a pig and poultry farmer.
How did work in the WLA / WTC effect their life? My mum always referred to that time with affection. She made lifelong friendships during her time in the WLA and it began her love of the countryside.
Contributor Information
Name: Maureen Chapman
Relationship to Land Girl: Daughter
