Women, 87 and 99, awarded veterans badge at International Women's Day event in Scarborough

Two female veterans were honoured at a special event in Scarborough last week for International Women's Day.
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Alice Gullon, 99 and Wynne Crowhurst, 87, were presented with veterans badges at the event on Friday, which was organised by First Light Trust, the UK-wide charity which supports veterans locally.

The charity's cafe on Newborough in the town centre hosted the ceremony and an afternoon tea.

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Women the charity works with in the community were also invited to attend as a way of thanking them for their work throughout the year.

Alice Gullon, 99, at the event. Picture: JPI Media/ Richard PonterAlice Gullon, 99, at the event. Picture: JPI Media/ Richard Ponter
Alice Gullon, 99, at the event. Picture: JPI Media/ Richard Ponter

Armed Forces veterans badges can be applied for for those who have service in any of the UK armed forces.

Alice, from Sleights, who turns 100 this year, served for three-and-a-half-years in the Women's Royal Naval Service during World War Two in the catering side.

She spent most of her service in Great Yarmouth before moving to the Royal Marine Depot in Deal, Kent after the war where she was demobbed in 1946.

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Alice went on to work as a domestic worker and stayed with the same family for almost 50 years until her retirement.

Wynne Crowhurst, 87, at the event. Picture: JPI Media/ Richard PonterWynne Crowhurst, 87, at the event. Picture: JPI Media/ Richard Ponter
Wynne Crowhurst, 87, at the event. Picture: JPI Media/ Richard Ponter

She never married, saying "there was nobody good enough".

Alice now knits and crochets blankets for premature babies at the Special Care Baby Unit at Scarborough Hospital, knitting by touch as her eyesight is limited.

Of receiving the medal, she said: "I didn't expect anything like this."

Wynne, 87, served in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps as a nurse from 1953 to 1956.

Alice Gullun during her time in the WRENs. Picture from Alice.Alice Gullun during her time in the WRENs. Picture from Alice.
Alice Gullun during her time in the WRENs. Picture from Alice.
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She was posted in Egypt and Nairobi, Kenya, where she met her husband who was serving with the Army.

At the time, women couldn't remain in the Forces after marrying so following her wedding Wynne was demobbed but remained abroad with her husband.

They moved to Scarborough in 1970 when he was posted here.

Wynne enjoyed her time in the forces and would have liked to stay in if it had been possible.

She said: "Being away from home was very unusual for women, I didn't have anybody spying on me and I had more freedom."

Honouring Our Heroes Campaign

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In April of last year The Scarborough News launched our Honouring our Heroes campaign, asking readers to tell us about veterans, particularly those who may not have received the recognition they deserved.

In this special year - the 75th anniversary of VE Day - we are still seeking out those men and women who served in the Forces, or played a key role at home, whose stories deserve to be told.

If you know of someone from the Second World War or later, who deserves recognition, or if your business can help with our campaign, contact Corinne Macdonald on - 01723 860164 or [email protected]