{"product_id":"the-story-of-rena-stewart-victoria-walsh-9781036133900","title":"The Story of Rena Stewart: Bletchley Park Girl, Translator of Hitler's Will, and BBC Pioneer","description":"Soldier, journalist and centenarian: a triple badge of honour, especially for a woman. Introducing Rena Stewart (1923-2023), a remarkable, 100-year-old Bletchley Park Girl who translated Hitler's will and blazed a trail for women at the BBC. \u003ci\u003eThe Story of Rena Stewart \u003c\/i\u003enarrates Rena's fascinating tale, in her own words, and is a testament to a life that was seriously well lived.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn graduating from St Andrews University in 1943, Scottish linguist Rena and her friend Agnes decided to 'do something about the war'. They signed up for the Auxiliary Territorial Service and were posted to Bletchley Park, where Rena processed secret German messages. At the end of the war, Rena and her Bletchley chums were sent to Germany, to translate the statements of captured Nazi officers. There, she and another friend, Margery, were also given a top-secret task: to translate Hitler's personal will.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCareer woman Rena had, however, always wanted to work in the media. On her return to England, she managed to secure a position as a lowly clerk at the BBC World Service. She worked her way up from there, including spending ten years listening in to Russian Cold War broadcasts. Finally, she became the first female Senior Duty Editor in the World Service newsroom. 'My greatest achievement, ' she declared with pride, 'has been getting people to recognise that a woman can be as good a journalist as a man'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAlongside Rena's story, this book delves into the lives of her closest Bletchley friends and uncovers intriguing historical mysteries from her remarkable century of life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Victoria Walsh\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1036133907\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781036133900\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Pen and Sword History\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/30\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 160\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover","brand":"Victoria Walsh","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46807212425471,"sku":"9781036133900","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_f2395552-2f7f-4910-9ae1-65f4334a7108.jpg?v=1745378843","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-story-of-rena-stewart-victoria-walsh-9781036133900","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}