A 91 year old woman has revealed how she met Queen Mary in Nailsworth after being evacuated from Coventry during the Second World War.

Speaking to the SNJ, Mrs Eileen Snowden described how her father, mother and then baby sister were essentially bombed out of their family home in Coventry.

"We completely lost our home and possessions except for the clothing we stood in," said Eileen.

"Dad took us immediately to our friends in Nailsworth, luckily we had just enough money to get there."

Fortunately, the billeting office who dealt with evacuees came to see Eileen and her family.

They then found them rooms in a lovely big house known as The Lawns located in Spring Hill, Nailsworth.

However, it was not all relaxation as Eileen aged 14 at the time was put to work at a factory in Johnson’s Brewery Lane making war munitions such as plug shells and pins.

What the girls at the factory did not expect was a visit from Queen Mary, who at the time was an evacuee herself.

"All us girls from the factory were waiting down brewery Lane when a policeman on his motorbike came along," added Eileen.

"Just behind in a black car was her majesty Queen Mary, who stopped outside our canteen.

"We all ventured inside the canteen which was laid out for our afternoon tea.

"It was amazing, Queen Mary's table looked lovely and was filled with posh china and silver, us girls as usual had standard canteen cups.

"All I can say is it was a very happy occasion and one I remember well to this day."