A 91-YEAR-OLD woman who travelled to France to nurse wounded soldiers fighting in Dunkirk during World War II is still doing her best to help service men and women today. Every year Scottie Maclean, of Inns Close in Stevenage, sells poppies during the Pop

A 91-YEAR-OLD woman who travelled to France to nurse wounded soldiers fighting in Dunkirk during World War II is still doing her best to help service men and women today.

Every year Scottie Maclean, of Inns Close in Stevenage, sells poppies during the Poppy Appeal, to raise funds for the Royal British Legion - the nation's leading armed forces charity.

This year she can be found in Waitrose in Stevenage Old Town, where she mans a charity stand for three hours every day.

The 2009 Poppy Appeal is emphasising the need to help the Afghan generation of the armed forces and their families.

Mrs Maclean was called up in 1939, aged 20, and sent to France to serve as a nurse on casualty clearing stations during World War II.

She said: "I went before Christmas and came back in May. I nursed the Dunkirk boys - I only did what anybody else would have done."

Asked if she was frightened, she said: "When you are young you don't think of these things."

Mrs Maclean added: "My biggest thrill was meeting Clark Gable. A buddy during the war knew him - they were both in the air force."

After the war, Mrs Maclean, who has four children and has lived in Stevenage for 50 years, joined the Territorial Army for three years, before signing up to the regular army for four years.

Today she wears her own medals proudly alongside those belonging to her husband, Alexander. He was blown up and badly wounded in 1943. His back was broken in three places, and he sustained injuries to his arms, legs and skull.