Farmers who joined forces during the Second World War to maximise food prodution forthewar effort continue to meet every month. Bruce Unwin reports.

FARMERS who set up a group to help Britain beat the Nazis are continuing to meet nearly 60 years after the end of the Second World War.

The threat of domestic food shortages led to the formation of a number of so-called "agricultural discussion societies" throughout the country.

They helped to increase in production levels during the later war years, and then after the end of hostilities when rationing remained in place.

But, while most groups were wound up and fell by the wayside by the 1950s and 1960s, Durham Agricultural Discussion Society continued to thrive long after the war - becoming a monthly social event for people in the farming community.

Members, including the only surviving founder, 80-year Dick Wade, still gather on the first Tuesday of each month, at the Salutation pub, in Framwellgate Moor. There is usually a guest speaker, talking on a range of subjects - often with little connection to rural matters.

Mr Wade said there were still about 50 members in the Durham area, most of whom gathered at the Whitworth Hall Hotel, near Spennymoor, for a 60th anniversary celebration dinner.

"It's quite an achievement. We have a strong pool of members and we've managed to keep it going once a month.

"The venue has changed over the years, but it has become a regular meeting date that people look forward to.

"The society was set up to promote discussion to help improve farm yields, so we could produce more of our own food and rely less on food being brought from abroad.

"I don't think the farming community has ever received the praise it deserved for its contribution to the war effort.

"Food production had really dropped off in the 1930s and a lot of farms were lying under-used and redundant.

"We only provided 30 per cent of our own food, but, by the end of the war, we were providing something like 80 per cent of it."

Mr Wade, the youngest of four sons of a farmer, runs a mixed cattle and arable holding at Primrose Side, New Brancepeth, near Durham City.

His wife, Pauline, a regular at society meetings for 47 years, baked a cake for the anniversary party, on the theme of the four seasons.

Helping to cut the cake was chairwoman Betty Reay, from Lanchester, County Durham -a former Land Army girl.