Stella Chandler (née Skinner)

General Information

Stella Chandler

First Name(s): Stella Mildred

Unmarried Surname: Skinner

Married Surname: Chandler

Date of Birth: 11/06/1923

Place of Birth: Alverstoke, Gosport

Date joined WLA: 09/11/1942

Date left: 27/04/1946

WLA number: 99938

Previous occupation: Shop assistant in agricultural ironmongers.

Reasons for joining: A friend Ethel Bell had introduced Stella to the Young Farmer’s Club and awakened an interest in farming in her.

Family’s reaction to joining: As far as I know they were encouraging, certainly not hostile. We think they were proud of her contribution to the war effort. 

Treatment by farmers: Poor treatment on first farm. After that fine.

Reasons for leaving: End of war. Training to become a teacher.

Employment

Pre-work training: Four weeks at Cheshire School of Agriculture at Reasheath.

Employed by: Private farmer – Near Macclesfield at first after one year at Holmes Chapel with Mr John Cross.

Dates with employer:

1944? – 1946 – John Cross, Holmes Chapel – market gardening, hens, bees, cows

1943 – 1944 – Jim Evans, Middlewich – MIlking, mucking out, manure spreading, work with horses

1942 – 1943  –     ? , Macclesfield

Farm name, village and county: Holmes Chapel, Cheshire

Type of work undertaken: General farm work, with horses, on the fields, mucking out shippons, milking etc.

Work liked most and least:

Least: Muck spreading and potato digging.

Most: Growing vegetables and flowers, picking and bunching ready for market.

Any accidents: Kicked by a horse and badly bruised on the thigh.

Best and worst memories of time:

As far as I know from her 

  • Falling in love with the farmer’s son but him not being interested in her.
  • The first farm – a dirty bed and loneliness.
  • John Crosses farm – the flowers and marketing them.

Opportunities to meet others: Stella never spoke of others but kept a book from Dorothy, remembering their years in the WLA.

How did work in the WLA/WTC effect their life? Stella always had great empathy with the countryside and horticulture and loved her garden, continuing gardening until she died.

Accommodation

Accommodation in: Private billet.

Life after the war

Did they return back to their pre-war occupation? No

What was their occupation after the war? Teacher – became headteacher in 1960s

Did they stay on the land? No

How did work in the WLA effect their life? Stella always had great empathy with the countryside and horticulture and loved her garden, continuing gardening until she died.

Any outstanding events or achievements in WLA or in later life? Becoming headteacher. Giving vote of thanks at WLA event. Gaining B. ED at Roehampton. (Her teacher training recognised at last)

Stella talking about the breeches issued to her as part of her WLA uniform.

Contributor Information

Name: Ann Heymans

Relationship to Land Girl: Niece

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