A WYTHALL woman received an MBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List following her work to help promote and highlight the country’s code-cracking endeavours during the Second World War.
Charlotte Webb, known as Betty, was awarded the honour ‘for services to remembering and promoting the work of Bletchley Park’.
In 1941 Betty joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (now Women’s Royal Army Corps Association) and, after initial training, she worked in the Second World War at Bletchley Park, where the Government Code and Cypher School was based.
It is widely believed she, and her fellow ATS colleagues based at Bletchley, helped save Britain from another two years of war.
Then she was drafted to The Pentagon in Washington until after the end of the war with Japan.
Following her achievements and despite now being in her 90s, Betty has delivered more than 100 talks about her time at Bletchley Park.
She regularly gives presentations on the subject in local schools and she also appears in print, on TV and on the radio to highlight the crucial work that was done.
In 2011 Betty published a book about her experiences at Bletchley Park and her work at the Pentagon, paraphrasing decrypted Japanese messages.
As well as shedding light and raising understanding on the incredible activities that went on at Bletchley Park and its contribution to the war effort, she has also inspired children to take up science, maths, and language subjects.
Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid paid Betty a visit to congratulate her on the prestigious accolade.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted Betty has been recognised through this much deserved award.
“Betty has led a remarkable life and contributed so greatly to our country as well as to our community here in Bromsgrove.
“On behalf of all Bromsgrove residents I would like to say thank you.
“I am honoured to call Betty my friend and we are all very proud of her marvellous achievement.”
