A Kidlington resident who received and transmitted morse code messages during World War Two has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Rachel Millard marked her century on July 8, surrounded by her family and staff from Lincroft Meadow Care Home, where she lives.

Born in St John's Wood, London, in 1924, she spent her childhood near Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, attending a farm school where games were replaced by tending to the animals, which she loved.

Rachel MillardRachel Millard (Image: Lincroft Meadow Care Home)

After leaving school, she worked for the Special Operations Executive during World War Two.

Based at Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire, she worked as a wireless operator, sending messages to French resistance and agents until France's liberation.

Her training for the work took nine months, in various parts of the UK, and for much of that time she was not told what she would eventually be doing.

After the war, she returned to work as a secretary at a school and married Richard Millard in 1949.

They had two children, Martin and Fiona, and lived in Whiteleaf, Buckinghamshire from 1958.

Following Mr Millard's death in 1997, she moved to Lincroft in 2021.

Throughout her life, she has been involved with charitable organisations including SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, and her local church, St Dunstan’s.

Her children describe her as a wonderful cook, dressmaker, gardener, and stylish dresser with a great interest in wildlife and history.