Re-engage Enfield and Southgate tea party guest Barbara Southerland had two fabulous celebrations recently – one to mark her 100th birthday, and an emotional visit to the famous Bletchley Park World War II code-breaking station.

The birthday celebrations were held at Vicars Moor Lawn Tennis Club in Winchmore Hill, north London, which was also marking its centenary year. 15 guests and volunteers enjoyed a lavish spread, with one or two enjoying a tennis friendly on the courts. There was also a cake made by Re-engage volunteer driver Karen Bennett, complete with a picture of Barbara.

Last month, Barbara and members of the tea party group went to Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes for the annual reunion of veterans who had undertaken top secret work to intercept German coded messages. This was Barbara’s third reunion and one which left her with an endearing memory.

While browsing in the gift shop, two American tourists chatted to Barbara about her decoding work. They returned a few minutes later with a jigsaw portraying celebrations outside Buckingham Palace at the end of the war which they had bought for her.

Barbara explained: “They were appreciative of what I had done. It was such a lovely gesture and right out of the blue. It made it a wonderful day.”

Group coordinator Steph Hutchings said: “It was so nice of them to acknowledge Barbara’s wartime contribution. She was really touched by their kindness.”

Barbara was just 18 and in the Auxiliary Territorial Services, attached to the Royal Signals, when she was posted to a listening station in Harrogate where German messages were intercepted and sent on to Bletchley Park for decoding.

Barbara kept her wartime role secret until she finally revealed all at a Re-engage tea party. Astonished volunteers and guests then made sure she was given official recognition by the government and even paid for a brick engraved with her name to be added to the Bletchley Park wall of honour.