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Prime Minister says 'thank you' to our Women of Steel - VIDEO
"WELL done!" Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed our Women of Steel into Downing Street to thank them personally for their service to the country.
And Mr Brown heaped praised on The Star for our massively successful campaign.
The women who kept South Yorkshire's steelworks and factories going during World War II finally received official recognition yesterday for their dedication as well as personal thanks from the very top.
Our delegation took London by storm and hit the national headlines during an extraordinary day organised by Sheffield MP Richard Caborn.
Kathleen Roberts, Kit Sollitt, Dorothy Slingsby and Ruby Gascoigne were given VIP treatment at the Ministry of Defence, Parliament and No 10.
The Prime Minister said: "I am delighted to welcome Sheffield's 'Women of Steel' to No 10 and to have the chance to thank some of these incredible women in person for their sterling service during WWII.
"We are extremely grateful for the huge contribution they made to the war effort. Their striking stories show the crucial role they played in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions.
"South Yorkshire and the whole country is proud of these true 'Women of Steel'."
Find out more about the Women of Steel's incredible day out in London
Our campaigners, aged between 87 and 90, were also the subject of an Early Day Motion by Clive Betts MP recognising their "enormous contribution" to the war and highlighting The Star's work.
The pensioners took their cause to Minister for Veterans Kevan Jones who presented them with official letters of thanks from the Ministry of Defence.
"It is great and fitting that the vital work that these women did has been recognised. Without their efforts the war wouldn't have been won," he said.
Kathleen, who sparked the whole campaign with a phonecall to The Star, was overwhelmed by the warm response from everyone they meet.
She said: "The whole day was just beyond my wildest dreams. It wasn't about us, it was about all of the other ladies who worked in the steelworks and we hope that their families will be proud of what they did."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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