A WOMAN from Wootton Courtenay has received a medal for her top-secret work at the Government Code and Cypher School during the Second World War.
Pamela Hodder-Williams joined the Wrens as a 17-year-old in 1941 and after two years at Gayhurst Manor in Essex, where she was one of the girls of C Watch, the codebreakers for the famous German Enigma machine, she was promoted to leading Wren and posted to Bletchley Park.
The work required huge concentration, and the girls were constantly reminded that any mistakes they made could cost lives.
Pamela, now Lady Biggs-Davison, recalls: “We did eight-hour shifts, got awful food and were always covered in oil from the machines!"
Because of The Official Secrets Act, her family knew nothing of the vital work she did for half a century.
She has now received a medal from The Government Code and Cypher School, together with a certificate signed by Prime Minister David Cameron.
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