A quiet evening watching television with her carer became a life-changing moment for 103-year-old Beryl Nevell, a former Wren, who has now been awarded a medal for her service during World War II.

Mrs. Nevell, who lives in Kingston upon Thames and receives live-in care from her Country Cousins carer, Shirley Ndoro, was inspired to seek recognition after Shirley realised she was eligible for a medal. Determined to honour her client’s remarkable history, Shirley worked with Mrs. Nevell’s solicitors, Gowen and Stevens LLP, and her neighbour John, a nonagenarian and former Royal Air Force serviceman, to secure the medal.

The medal was presented last year, and Mrs. Nevell’s wartime story was further celebrated when she was interviewed by the Imperial War Museum. Her account became part of their archives and was unveiled to the public in June 2024.

Mrs. Nevell joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) in 1939 at just 18 years old, inspired by her father, a Lieutenant Commander. Based in Portland Harbour, Dorset, and Plymouth Harbour, she took on critical roles during the war, working in the torpedo shop to strip, clean, and assemble motor torpedo boat engines and other weapons.