Friday 27th June is National Veteran's Day and John Mann MP for Bassetlaw is organising a veterans celebration on 27th June which is being hosted by the Buchanan family at Hodsock Priory, Blyth, Worksop Notts.  Our hosts are Sir Andrew Buchanan, the Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire and his son George who now hires out the house for weddings and similar celebrations.

This is the fourth veterans event that John Mann has organised.  This event will be particularly special because for the first time Bevin Boys and Land Girls will also be honoured guests.

Two of the Land Girls who will be attending served at Hodsock Priory during WWII and they are particularly excited at being given the opportunity to re-visit Hodsock and see once again where they lived and worked. The two women have already spoken of their warm memories and experiences at Hodsock Farm.  They slept in dormitories in the loft space of the old house and these have not been changed or re-decorated since that time.  The Buchanan’s are kindly allowing the women to re-visit these which should evoke many more memories for the women.

John Mann said "Veteran's Day is a very special event as this is our opportunity to give recognition and to thanks all those who have served this country in the armed forces. This year I am very pleased that Bevin boys and Land Army Girls will also be attending as their commitment during WWII played a critical and memorable role.

I very much appreciate Sir Andrew's and George's invitation and wish to thank them for opening up their home for the day.  I know that the occasion will be made even more enjoyable because it is such a special place for some of our Land Girls".

Earlier this year the MoD released a pin badge for all those who served down the pit as Bevin Boys during WWII and DEFRA will shortly be honouring Land Girls with a badge in recognition of their work as farm hands during this time.