Vivian Edith Broad (née Henning)

General Information

First Name(s):  Vivian Edith

Unmarried Surname: Henning

Married Surname: Broad, married 6.7.1946

Date of Birth: 13.6.1923

Date joined WLA: 1941

Date left: 1946

Place of birth: The Colony, Elmdon, Essex

Previous occupation: From 1939, cooking at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, for people with dietary problems. Then worked as accounts clerk at Barclays Bank, Benet Street, Cambridge.

Reasons for joining: Desire to serve my country.

Family’s reaction to joining: Encouragement from Mother who had been a nurse in Shillong Assam, India in WW1

Reasons for leaving: Marriage on 6/7/1946 to J. C. Broad, of Mill Farm, Hengrave, Suffolk.

Employment

No training. Worked for Mr James Davy Sayer, Brook Farm, Lackford and Hall Farm, Wordwell in Suffolk. The 2 farms were owned by J.D Sayer were in close proximity.

Lived with J.D and E. Sayer at The Old Vicarage Lackford. Moved to live with Mrs Murrell, The Street, Culford.

Worked with Irene, Dorothy Walton, and Winnie all from Yorkshire.

Type of work undertaken: Scything grass in church yard in Home Meadow. All types of farm duties. Heavy horses and cattle.

Work liked most and least: Liked most working with horses. Disliked sheep, sheep dipping and working at the tail of the threshing machine with the chaff.

Any accidents: Pitchfork in foot twice, healed ok, no ill effects. Dr. Bromley in Bury St. Edmonds treated me and also my son Richard for the same injury in the 1960s.

Best and worst memories of time: The comradeship of the other girls The kindness of the farm hands, notably, Reg Fuller, the Head Horseman, who taught me much. Worst – the threshing tackle, dust and rats.

Opportunities to meet others: Dances in village hall at Culford. Tennis matches at Stennet’s Farm at Hengrave. Met future husband, John Christopher Broad there.

Treatment by farmers or market gardeners: Well generally, except for one farmer who she threatened with a pitchfork if he touched her bottom again.

Reactions of local people: Generally good.

Treatment by farmers: Fair – difficult to comment objectively because the employer was my Great Uncle.

Life after the war

Became a farmer’s wife.

Any outstanding events or achievements in WLA / WTC or in later life: Later Life – Operated Bed and Breakfast at Walberswick, Suffolk, until stroke (T.I.A) at age of 80. Learnt to walk, write and speak after this.

Melanoma under thumb nail – possible cause – agriculture chemicals, via sheep dip.

How did work in the WLA / WTC effect your/ their life?

• Strength of character
• Good health
• Always ready to try new experiences
• Ability to handle domestic animals and farm livestock
• Vivacious
• Hospitable

Contributor Information

Name: Perry Broad

Relationship to Land Girl: Son