Woman involved in WW2 codebreaking turns 102

11 hours ago

Alice CunninghamSuffolk

News image — Hermione Wynn, who worked in an administrative role during the World War Two codebreaking missions, recently turned 102

Care UK An elderly woman sits in a white chair. Balloons in shades of pink, white, gold and orange surround her and there is a balloon in the shape of the numbers 102 next to her. A small circular wooden table rests next to her where there is also a cake with a 102 on it. — Hermione Wynn, who worked in an administrative role during the World War Two codebreaking missions, recently turned 102

A woman who was the centre of a crucial World War Two codebreaking mission has celebrated her 102nd birthday.

Hermione Wynn, who lives at Care UK's Kentford Manor home in Kennett, near Newmarket, Suffolk, marked the occasion alongside family and staff.

Born and brought up in Yorkshire, she later worked at a codebreaking outstation linked to Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire to help decode communications from the enemy.

Asked what her secret to a long life was, she joked: "I have not found it just yet, but I will keep going until I do!"

PA Media The Bletchley Park manor house. It is a two-storey building with large windows and red bricks. A grass lawn is in front of the manor along with a a driveway. — Bletchley Park was once a secret site that housed codebreakers such as Alan Turing during World War Two

During the war Wynn worked as a Foreign Office civilian, based at Broadway, near St James's Park in London, when she was just 19.

It was one of Bletchley Park's codebreaking outstations where the Allies were attempting to decode secret messages from the German and Japanese.

Bletchley Park itself was where Alan Turing and other codebreakers changed the course of the war by deciphering messages encrypted with the German Enigma and Tunny cipher machines.

Getty Images A black and white photo of a man in a white shirt and blazer. — Turing's work helped bring about the end of World War Two

Wynn also worked as a personal secretary in the office of Frederick William Winterbotham.

He had been asked to handle all German and Japanese signals that had been decrypted, and all signals passed through the office where Wynn worked.

As part of the team handling highly sensitive decrypted intelligence, Wynn later received a Bletchley Park commemorative badge.

It is believed those who worked on the secret code-breaking missions were able to shorten the war by two years.

After the war she married Charles, a Royal Navy lieutenant, and they went on to have two sons and four great-grandchildren.

Hannah Nurse, home manager at Kentford Manor, described Wynn as a "truly remarkable lady".

"It is a privilege for everyone here to be celebrating her 102nd birthday with her," she said.

"She has lived an extraordinary life and continues to inspire those around her.

"Days like today are a lovely opportunity for everyone to come together and honour not only a milestone birthday but also the life of someone who has so many fascinating stories and continues to be such a valued part of life here."

Do you have a story suggestion for Suffolk? Contact us below.

Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Stories like this