101-year-old WWII veteran to hold International Women’s Day talk in Harrogate

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A 101-year-old war veteran will recount her life at a talk in Harrogate this week.

Sheila Pantin, one of the first British service women to enter a German concentration camp in April 1945, was a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) – the women’s branch of the British Army during World War II.

After being demobbed, Sheila went on to become a PE teacher and is now an active member of the St Peter’s Church congregation.

In aid of International Women’s Day, ‘In conversation with Sheila Pantin’ will give people the chance to hear her incredible life story.

The event will kick off local International Women’s Day celebrations and will be held St Peter’s Church in Harrogate.

Harrogate Film Society, Harrogate Town AFC and Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District have partnered to bring a 12-month programme called Winning Women to life. It will celebrate the lives and stories of many local women.

‘In conversation with Sheila Pantin’, which will be held on March 7 – the day before International Women’s Day - is the first of the Women Winning events.

The event is free to attend, but you can RSVP by clicking here, and it will run from 2.30pm until 4.30pm. 

The news comes after Sheila also launched the war memorial's centenary commemorations in 2023. You can read more about that here.