Mrs Down's Diary

Despite her dementia, we have managed to explain the award to John's mother, Rosie, and she is tremendously excited about the prospect of the medal.

She may have very little recollection of day-to-day events and recognition of those around her, but her time as a Land Girl is still vivid in her memory '“ especially as it was the time she first met up with John's father, who was managing a dairy herd for a local landowner.

To claim the medal, John has to send off to Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) for an application form to validate his mother's claim. Your heart sinks at the thought: Defra in charge.

Wonder if it will take as long as our single farm payment to sort out. They are still trying to finalise our 2005 payment, despite recognising that it was their error that has delayed the payment.

But, perhaps this will be an easier matter, although, to judge by the comments on the website of people trying to apply, mainly for their parents, they have had little luck so far.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette February 6