Norman Lamb MP On Hand To Reward Bevin Boys 60 Years On

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sat 14th Jun 2008

"I felt very privileged to have been asked to present badges to Bevin Boys from across East Anglia"

Norman Lamb MP presented 42 Bevin Boys from the region with badges finally recognizing their contribution to World War II. Mr. Lamb expressed his honour at being elected to present these men with their badges, "I felt very privileged to have been asked to present badges to Bevin Boys from across East Anglia. It was a wonderful occasion. The badge is long overdue recognition for the massive contribution made by Bevin Boys to the war effort."

The ceremony took place at Sheringham Methodist Church on Saturday 14th June and followed an official presentation at 10 Downing Street to Fakenham resident Mr. Geoff Rose. The Bevin Boys were named after national service minister, Ernest Bevin, who originally created the lottery system that sent these young men down the dangerous mines rather than the battlefields of Western Europe. After the war the Bevin Boys struggled to find work and were shunned in favour of returning war veterans. It is only now that their effort has been truly recognised and rewarded.