World War Two veteran celebrates 105th birthday

A woman who intercepted messages from the Nazis during World War Two has celebrated her 105th birthday.

Dorothy Smith was serenaded by schoolchildren and presented with a card from King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the party in Cambridgeshire.

During the war, Mrs Smith passed on key information to codebreakers at Bletchley Park, near Milton Keynes, while serving with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF).

Her grandson Andy Smith said she had had a great day, singing along and tapping her foot to the music.

She was given 105 cards from the community during the celebrations at Bottisham Airfield Museum.

Her son Jeff Smith said his mother was "still fearful" about saying anything related to the work she did for the top secret codebreaking hub in case she would be "in serious trouble".

He added his mother "never talked" about the work she did for Bletchley Park during World War Two.

Bletchley Park was home to the British codebreaking operation and nearly 10,000 people worked in its wider organisation, according to Bletchley Park museum.

By 1945, 75% of the staff there were women.

Andy Smith calls his grandmother "Rally Driver Gran" because she liked to drive to places quickly.

Despite being a bit apprehensive about how the day would go, he said she had really enjoyed the celebrations.

"She's singing along - it's really, really nice what everyone's doing," he said.

"She's had Covid and the next thing we know she's bouncing back, she's had pneumonia - she's indestructible."

He said he had learned how to make banoffee pie from his grandmother, but added: "You can't really drive after one of her sherry trifles, she puts in too much booze."

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