"The story began one day in January 1943 when Mr Galbraith, Superintendent of the Factory where I worked, sent for me and told me that Dame Laura Knight was coming to the factory on February 1st to paint me while I was working. Dame Laura was delayed a number of times and eventually turned up in the Factory on March 1st.

I was wearing my blue dungarees, a pink blouse and my green safety hair-net, and one of Dame Laura's first remarks was how nice the colours looked and asked me to continue to wear the same while she painted me, which I did.

Dame Laura watched me working for a day, making rough sketches of me all the time. Then at the end of the day she decided which one she liked best, which was one full of "GO" as she put it. Once decided, Dame Laura went ahead at full speed.

Next morning she arrived with canvas, charcoal, paints etc. and before that day was out, Dame Laura had the picture completely sketched and rough painted. The next day Dame Laura started with oils. After that the picture grew slowly but surely. There was an awful lot of work, time and paint put into the picture. It was three weeks of real hard work for Dame Laura.

While the picture was being painted we had quite a lot of visitors to see it. They included the Mayor of Newport and his wife and some Australian Air Force officers who were touring the Factories in England and Wales.

At last the picture was finished bar the few touches which have to be put on at a studio. Before the picture left the Factory, Harold, John, Mother and Auntie Lucy came into the Factory to see it. Then it was taken away and I was told it was going to the Academy so I made arrangements to go to London for the weekend, to go to the opening with John’s father and sisters.

Then came a very big surprise on April 28th. Two days before the Academy opened, Mr Galbraith sent for me again and told me that I was wanted in London so that I could make a news reel film [British Paramount News] with Dame Laura. So at 5.30 a.m. on the next morning, we (Mr Galbraith, Miss Holland - his secretary, Mrs Florence Vanstone - Welfare Officer, Mrs Prosser - her helper and me) set off by car to London, for I had to be at the Piccadilly Hotel by 11 o’clock.

We arrived about 10.45 a.m. From the Piccadilly we were taken straight to the Academy where the film was taken. Then we all had lunch and then Dame Laura took Mr Galbraith and myself to meet Mr George Black himself. After that very exciting day I went to Kitty’s for the night.

The next day proved to be more exciting than the one before, for it was the private view day at the Academy and Dame Laura introduced me to a great number of people. They included Lord Aycliffe, Sir Charles Lamb and a Count, and so many others, I can’t remember.

We were interviewed by a number of press people in the Academy and also we had a lot of photos taken, but it was after we left the Academy and we were taken to a cocktail party at the Ritz.

There was Sir Charles McLaren, Mr Galbraith, Dame Laura Knight, her husband Harold Knight, some other people from the Ministry of Supply and THE PRESS. It was one round of answering questions, having photographs taken etc. Altogether it was rather frightening until I got used to it.

Mr Galbraith and I lunched together at the Casa Pépé, a small Spanish restaurant. Afterwards we met Miss Vanstone’s sister and all of us, Miss Vanstone and party etc. went to the Liberal Club to tea with Sir Charles McLaren, Dame Laura Knight and friends.

Since this all took place I have married so my name is now Ruby Green née Ruby Loftus
October 17th 1943."