Second World War codebreaker broke her silence as she received medal

A SECOND World War codebreaker broke her silence more than 60 years after helping to defeat the Nazis, in November 2009.

Margaret Fick was one of the youngest operatives when she was sent to work on the world-famous Bletchley Park Ultra Secret project.

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After being sworn to secrecy for 50 years under the Official Secrets Act, the 85-year old could finally tell her story after being bestowed a special honour by then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

As a teenager Mrs Fick, from Redcar, east Cleveland, joined the secret German Intercept Service, based at what is now Menwith Hill listening station, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

She intercepted countless German coded messages from across occupied Europe.

For the last six months of the war, she was seconded as an ATS sergeant operator to the now world-famous Bletchley Park – Churchill's Secret Intelligence and Computers HQ, near Milton Keynes. It was here that the German's Enigma code machine was cracked – shortening the war and saving thousands of lives.

As a mark of respect, Mr Brown sent a scroll of thanks and a gold and blue enamel badge to Mrs Fick.

Another Second Wolrd War veteran, celebrating his 90th birthday on Remembrance Day 2009, helped to judge a model trench-making competition.

Fred Blakelock, 90, travelled to Our Lady and St Bede's School, in Stockton, to judge a contest to design and build a model trench.

He told the children some of his war stories and was presented with a birthday cake.

Rachel Cullagh, the school's arts officer, said: "Mr Blakelock spent quite a bit of time looking at the entries.

"We do this every year to celebrate Remembrance Day and the children absolutely love being involved."

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A rare sheep, thought to be the only one of its breed in the UK in November 2009, feared it could be condemned to a life of celibacy if a mate could not be found.

The lonely four-year-old Mouflon ram grazed on a farm near Masham, North Yorkshire, for most of its life.

Farm tenant Lisa Walton said the animal, known as Muffie, was becoming a destructive influence in the field, resorting to headbutting other animals in his longing for a mate.