Former Bletchley Park codebreaker celebrates 100th birthday in Scarborough

A Scarborough woman has celebrated her 100th birthday with a visit from the Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, John Senior.

Mrs Willgrass was born in Morecambe on April 16, 1926.

Family photograph left front to right - great granddaughter Enya, granddaughter Porsche Staverley, son Tony Willgrass, Daughter-in-law’s Moriah and Wendy, great-grandson Otis Willgrass, grandson Alex Willgrass, DL John Senior with Elva in the centre.

placeholder image — Family photograph left front to right - great granddaughter Enya, granddaughter Porsche Staverley, son Tony Willgrass, Daughter-in-law’s Moriah and Wendy, great-grandson Otis Willgrass, grandson Alex Willgrass, DL John Senior with Elva in the centre.

She joined the Cypher and Code breaking team at Bletchley Park in 1944, where she worked as a telegraphist, although she is not forthcoming on any details -“it’s all Secret,” she says. However, she did play a key role in helping to defeat the Nazis in WW2.

Mrs Willgrass won Miss Morecambe twice and later settled in Scarborough with husband Sidney Willgrass, where the couple raised three children, Karen, and twins Paul and Tony.

Deputy Lieutenant John Senior presents Elva with her 100th birthday card from King Charles and Queen Camilla

Sidney ran a successful jewellery company in the town and after he retired the couple moved to Spain and the Channel Islands.

Mrs Willgrass now resides at St Bernadette’s Nursing home in Scarborough.

DL John Senior attended the birthday celebrations, and as the monarch’s representative, read a commemorative message from King Charles and Queen Camilla to mark the occasion. He said: “Elva has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who she adores, and from what I saw …they adore her too!”