By Greta Romaine

Greta taking a rest

Photo from WRVS Heritage Plus Archive

Due to the fact that I loved gardening when I was young, all I wanted to do when I left school was to go into some sort of related occupation where I could be outdoors all day.

I had plenty of energy and didn't mind getting my hands dirty so I persuaded my parents to let me take a job vacancy in a local nursery garden. This was against my parents' better judgement as girls were expected to have a ladylike occupation in a cosy office with every comfort.

My old uncle was a gardener to a big mansion in Kendal in the Lake District where I was evacuated during the war so he influenced me a great deal because I used to spend time with him in the garden of the big house, watching him taking cuttings and helping him pick the fruit in season.

I found that my gardening job stood me in good stead, keeping me extremely fit and healthy giving me a wonderful knowledge of plants and trees.