WARTIME mementoes belonging to a Malvern woman are part of an unusual art installation celebrating the role of women in the Second World War.

Artist Alex Gordon has recreated a 'typical grandma's sitting room' at Worcester Cathedral, including a standard lamp, a bag of knitting and hundreds of white tags tied to the furniture.

These represent the 400,000 women involved in war including Alex's 80-year-old mother, Irene, whose belongings from that period are also included in the installation.

Mrs Gordon, of Matthias Close, joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) as a driver in 1941, aged 17, and spent five years driving to bases all over the country.

She was photographed for the Sunday Mirror after her vehicle narrowly avoided being attacked by an escaped PoW who shot the tyres of the car in front, causing it to plunge over a cliff. She was also nicknamed 'The Red Rebel', due to her bright red hair and reluctance to take orders.

Alex, who was artist-in-residence at Worcester Cathedral in 2003, decided there was not enough emphasis placed on the role played by women like her mother.

"I've shown it in a stereotypical situation to highlight the fact that there are women like my mum who look like stereotypical grandmas, but there's so much more behind the faade," she said.

Mrs Gordon, who was 80 on Wednesday, said: "She's put a lot of work into it and it makes me feel, at my age, that there's some recognition for what I've done."

The display will be at the cathedral until May 21.

WARTIME mementoes belonging to a Malvern woman are part of an unusual art installation celebrating the role of women in the Second World War.

Artist Alex Gordon has recreated a 'typical grandma's sitting room' at Worcester Cathedral, including a standard lamp, a bag of knitting and hundreds of white tags tied to the furniture.

These represent the 400,000 women involved in war including Alex's 80-year-old mother, Irene, whose belongings from that period are also included in the installation.

Mrs Gordon, of Matthias Close, joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) as a driver in 1941, aged 17, and spent five years driving to bases all over the country.

She was photographed for the Sunday Mirror after her vehicle narrowly avoided being attacked by an escaped PoW who shot the tyres of the car in front, causing it to plunge over a cliff. She was also nicknamed 'The Red Rebel', due to her bright red hair and reluctance to take orders.

Alex, who was artist-in-residence at Worcester Cathedral in 2003, decided there was not enough emphasis placed on the role played by women like her mother.

"I've shown it in a stereotypical situation to highlight the fact that there are women like my mum who look like stereotypical grandmas, but there's so much more behind the faade," she said.

Mrs Gordon, who was 80 on Wednesday, said: "She's put a lot of work into it and it makes me feel, at my age, that there's some recognition for what I've done."

The display will be at the cathedral until today (May 21).