Patricia Ponder (née Viney)

Patricia Ponder (née Viney)
Patricia Viney at Sherwins Farm, Gt Wigborough, Colchester,Essex 1950

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.

Patricia Viney, at Abberton Reservoir, on the way home from Sherwins Farm, Gt Wigborough. 1950

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.

Marg Briand, Helen Sawyer, Irene Shepherd, Patricia Viney taken at Sheepen Road Bypass, Colchester, Essex in1947.
Patricia Ponder (née Viney).

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.

Patricia Viney, Vera Waller, Dorothy Jones, Pat Hayes, at Eight Ash Green, Colchester, Essex in January 1948.

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.

Patricia Viney andVera Waller, taken at Eight Ash Green, Colchester, Essex in January 1948.

Contributor Information

Name: Maureen Chapman

Relationship to Land Girl: Daughter

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