A WEST Somerset woman who saw service as a ‘Wren’ during the Second World War has celebrated her 99th birthday.

Peggy Sussex has seen nearly a century of remarkable history and now lives in Minehead Care Home, in Periton Road.

She celebrated her birth day surrounded by family, friends, and fellow care home residents with a birthday party and afternoon tea in the home’s gardens, making the most of the warm weather while sharing memories and laughter with loved ones.

Born in Surbiton in 1927, Peggy was an only child and enjoyed a happy childhood.

Peggy Sussex in her wartime Wren's uniform in London.
Peggy Sussex in her wartime Wren's uniform in London. (Contributed)

One of her proudest early achievements was being crowned the May Queen during her local May celebrations, a traditional rural event marking the arrival of summer.

During World War Two, Peggy served in the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRENS), playing her part in the war effort.

Known as the ‘Wrens’, the Navy’s women’s branch carried out more than 200 vital shore-based roles during the war, including in codebreaking and intelligence, and as telegraphists, radar plotters, electricians, meteorologists, and aircraft mechanics.

There were 74,000 ‘Wrens’ serving at the peak of the British war effort, each allowing Servicemen to perform duties with the fleet.

It was during these years that she met Norman Hughes, who served as a bomber navigator in the war and was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in recognition of his bravery and service.

The couple married in 1951, and Peggy began her career working for a London insurance company.

Starting as a clerk, she steadily progressed through the organisation to become personal assistant to one of the company’s directors, and remained with the business until her retirement,

Away from work, Peggy embraced life to the full.

She enjoyed riding pillion on the back of Norman’s motorbike and taking coach holidays with her close circle of female friends.

Ninety-nine years young Peggy Sussex celebrated her birthday in Minehead Care Home with family and friends.
Ninety-nine years young Peggy Sussex celebrated her birthday in Minehead Care Home with family and friends. (Contributed)

Following retirement, Peggy and Norman moved to Taunton, where they enjoyed travelling together, with favourite destinations including Fowey, in Cornwall, Canada, and Australia.

After Norman’s death in 1994, Peggy found happiness again when she married Peter Sussex three years later at the age of 69 years.

Through her marriage to Peter, she became stepmother to his daughters, Pat and Denise, and his son, Charles.

Today, Peggy is now a proud step great-grandmother.

The couple spent many happy years caravanning across Europe, continuing their adventures well into their 80s before eventually settling in Minehead to be closer to family.

Reflecting on Peggy’s milestone birthday, her stepdaughter, Pat said: “Peggy had a wonderful day surrounded by family and friends, and it was so lucky to be able to get out into the garden in the warm weather.

“Many thanks to the team here at Minehead Care Home for the beautiful birthday tea.”

Minehead Care Home, which is managed by Louise Heppenstall, is part of the Eastleigh Care Homes group.

It provides a range of high-quality care services, including residential, nursing, dementia, elderly, learning disability, care for under-65s, acquired brain injury, and mental health care.