12/05/2025
🎉 WWII Heroine Celebrates 101st Birthday After VE Day 80th Anniversary 💙
On the eve of VE Day's 80th anniversary, we celebrated an extraordinary woman: Beryl Thornton, a proud WWII veteran and member of the Women’s Royal Naval Service, who turned 101 years old on May 7th!
Beryl, who resides at Camberley Heights Care Home - Avery Collection, was honoured at a heartfelt ceremony attended by family, friends, local dignitaries, Armed Forces representatives, and the Mayor of Surrey Heath.
💬 “It’s been such a privilege to serve my country,” Beryl shared, visibly moved. “To be here today, surrounded by so many wonderful people, is truly a gift.”
Born in 1924, Beryl joined the WRNS in 1943, working as a coder for the Government Code and Cypher School. From Scotland to Ceylon, her encrypted messages helped drive Allied success in the Far East.
💬 “The work we did was crucial,” Beryl said. “It was a tough time, but there were moments of joy too… the camaraderie with the Navy and American forces kept us going.”
Beryl’s birthday celebrations continued over the weekend with a charity dinner in support of the Camberley Branch - Royal British Legion, a cause close to Beryl's heart. 💙
Ian Chandler, Home Manager at Camberley Heights Care Home, reflected, ‘We are incredibly proud to honour her at this significant moment in history. Her story is a reminder of the incredible contributions made by women during WWII, and it is an honour to be part of her journey.” 🏅