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At the start of the war I volunteered for war work and began by manufacturing aircraft parts for the undercarriage of Lockheed bombers for the Lockheed Hydraulic Company at their factory on the Narborough Road in Leicester.

Over the war years I progressed to become Group leader and Inspectress Instructor for newly manufactured and repaired undercarriage parts.

As the only female doing this inspection work I covered both daytime shifts, from 8am in the morning to 8pm in the evening (12 hours in total), 7 days a week, with one day off per month.

Following the end of the War in Europe, I was notified by the Ministry of Aircraft production in June 1945 that His Majesty the King “has been graciously pleased to award you on the occasion of the King’s birthday, 1945, the British Empire Medal (Civic Division)” in recognition of “outstanding contribution to the war effort”.

Along with the British Empire Medal I also received a personal note of congratulations from the King at Buckingham Palace, the Minister of Aircraft Production and the Chair for the Council of Swadlincote Urban District Council.

I completed my working career with over 30 years service with the Leicester |permanent Building Society.

Ivy Draycott B.E.M. (Age 86)

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