Wokingham Today

Former MI5 secretary celebrates her 100th birthday

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AWOKINGHAM­woman who worked forMI5 during the SecondWorl­dWar celebrated her 100th birthday last week.

Peggy Booth, who lives at Lord Harris Court care home, celebrated her birthdaywi­th a 1920s themed party.

Peggywas given bunches of flowers and residents tucked into a cake made by the home’s chef.

She said she was delighted to receive a card from the Queen. And her familywere also able to visit in the home’s new Covidsecur­e visitor pod.

Peggywas born and raised in Hammersmit­h, on Saturday, July 24, 1920. At school she was a brilliant netball player, despite not being very tall. And as a young woman she worked as a secretary at Austin Motor Company in London.

She met her beloved late husband, Jimmy, just before the start of the SecondWorl­dWar and theymarrie­d in 1941.

Jimmywas a Spitfire Pilot, and Peggywas a secretary for MI5, dispatchin­g decoded messages to TheWar Office.

For a year, she worked in the basement ofWormwood Scrubs Prison, joined by cockroache­s. And later, she was based at

Blenheim Palace.

Peggywas also involved when Rudolph Hess, Adolf Hitler’s deputy visited Scotland in 1941.

She took the phone call from MI5 in Scotland afterMr Hess landed, and she called Downing Street to advise them of the news.

The event has since been described as one of the most bizarre episodes of the Second WorldWar.

Mr Hess parachuted from his plane, landing in a field near Eaglesham, Glasgow.

Why he made the journey remains unclear and has been the subject of many conspiracy theories.

After theWar ended, Peggy worked for a stockbroke­r until her son was born.

In later years, she and Jimmy worked together, running a newsagent and Post Office in Bromley, Kent.

Peggy now has two grandchild­ren and two great granddaugh­ters, who she adores. She is known in Lord Harris Court for her great sense of humour and love of slapstick comedy.

Her family said the secret to her long life may be the regular tipple of Sherry.

On her long and happy marriage, Peggy said: “Be patient, trust one another and always be honest and truthful. You have to work hard to build a relationsh­ip, but if you love somebody then everything will work out just fine.”

Steve Stace at Lord Harris Court, Sindlesham said: “It was an honour to celebrate Peggy’s 100th birthday at our home. She is a wonderful ladywho is much loved.”

 ?? Pictures: Lord Harris Court ?? Peggy celebrated her bithday with a 1920s-themed
party and a vist from her family in the covid-secure visitors room
Pictures: Lord Harris Court Peggy celebrated her bithday with a 1920s-themed party and a vist from her family in the covid-secure visitors room

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