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Bletchley Park codebreaker marks 100th birthday

BBC Betty Everest is wearing a crown and a sash to celebrate her 100th birthday. Ms Everest is smiling at the camera while wearing a white blouse and a teal cardigan.BBC
Betty Everest celebrated her 100th birthday on Wednesday

A woman who worked as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park during World War Two has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Betty Everest, from Peterborough, marked her birthday on Wednesday surrounded by her family and she received a card from King Charles.

During the war, Ms Everest's son said she analysed signals intercepted from European embassies at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes.

Ms Everest said: "I feel so happy and pleased that all these people have come to say hello to me. It is a lovely card from the King. He seems to be a very nice man."

Family handout A black and white photo of Betty as a toddler holding a flower, she is being helped to stand by a woman who is behind her. Family handout
Betty Everest was born in Hertfordshire and has lived in Peterborough for 40 years

Bletchley Park was home to the British codebreaking operation during World War Two.

Ms Everest's son, Chris Monk, from Norfolk, said his mother's job involved analysing signals intercepted from European embassies to and from Tokyo.

Her job was to look out for key words and then flag the signals up to higher levels of the park, her son said.

Mr Monk said his mother went on to code machines.

Family handout A letter from Bletchley Park to Betty. The card reads: "This is to certify that Bletchley Park Trust hereby grants free access to Bletchley Park while it is open to the public to Betty Everest in recognition of her contribution to the work undertaken at Bletchley Park during World War II." Family handout
Betty Everest used to work as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park during World War Two

The 100-year-old has lived in Peterborough for about 40 years and the party was held at the care home where she lives.

Ms Everest has four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She said: "I was so pleased to see them because I don't get to see them very often."

"It is lovely to have a family."

Chris Monk wearing glasses and looking at the camera. He is wearing a beige jacket and dark shirt.
Chris Monk, 75, from Norfolk said Betty Everest is a "brilliant" mum

Most of her family had come to Peterborough to spend the day with her, travelling from a variety of places such as London and Gloucester.

Guests were treated to a live brass band from the Salvation Army.

Mr Monk said: "My mother used to go to the Salvation Army quite a lot and my sister is an officer working in Uganda.

"So she has a strong connection with the army and they very kindly agreed to play for her."

Ms Everest has been a part of the Salvation Army's congregation for about 50 years.

Mr Monk said: "She's had a long and varied life with ups and downs like most people, have but she's had a little longer to have the ups and downs."

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