A great-gran who once helped track Nazi Rudolf Hess’s flight to Britain, to open peace talks in the Second World War, has celebrated her 100th birthday in Trowbridge.

Jean Pakenham, now of Rood Ashton, received a commendation for tracking Adolf Hitler’s deputy, who landed in Eaglesham, Scotland, in a Messersch-mitt 110. He was arrested.

Mrs Pakenham, who was in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, was given a book of her life by son Henry Marsh at a party in their family home, Red Cottage.

Mr Marsh, a member of 1970s band Sailor, said: “A telegram from the Queen arrived at around 10.30am. My son Ollie was reading it to her and showed her it was signed by the Queen.

“My mother said, ‘She’s got more time than sense, sending me that,’ which made us all laugh.”

Mrs Pakenham, originally from Hayling Island in Hampshire, was one of four children and married first husband Kenneth Marsh, who served in the RAF, in June 1942.

They lived at Potticks House, Bradford on Avon, with children Henry and Karen. Mr Marsh ran Kenneth Marsh Antiques.

He died in 1971 and Mrs Pakenham married Peter Pakenham in 1973, but he died in 1984. She now has five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mr Marsh, who lives with partner Dee Dee Wilde – a member of Pan’s People – said: “My mother was the first person who brought music into my life and supported my career.

“If you live as long as she has, you are bound to have interesting experiences. For example, she still remembers the first car coming to Hayling Island and that just shows the technological advances we’ve encountered in the last 100 years.”