A HISTORIAN said she was thrilled to speak with celebrity Michael Portillo on his new BBC show. The episode of Great British Railway Journeys saw Mr Portillo arrive in Tiptree where he visited the Wilkin & Sons farm to discuss its history. Cherish Watton, historian at the Women’s Land Army, had a chat with him about the Land Army girls who cultivated and harvested fruits such as damsons for the war effort. She said: “I was thrilled to be invited to talk to Michael about the vital work of the Women’s Land Army during the Second World War. “Michael showed great interest in finding out more about women’s wartime agricultural work and how they increased the country’s food production.
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Published:
10:30 AM May 4, 2021
From left, Wilkin & Sons chairman Walter Scott with Michael Portillo, who stars in Great British Railway Journeys
- Credit: Wilkin & Son
The women who worked on an Essex fruit farm during the world wars will take centre-stage in a television documentary on BBC2.
Documentary-maker and train buff Michael Portillo filmed at Wilkin & Sons jam factory at Tiptree for an episode of Great British Railway Journeys which airs on Tuesday, May 4 at 6.30pm.
The company’s chairman Walter Scott expressed his delight at the visit.
“It was a great pleasure to welcome Michael Portillo and his television film crew from Great British Railway Journeys to our Tiptree Farm,” he said.