This weekend will see the remarkable life of a Second World War heroine marked at the Groe at Builth Wells.

Violette Szabo was a British-French Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent during the Second World War. Parachuted into France in the days after D-Day in June 1944, Violette was captured by the Nazis, interrogated and tortured. Taken to Ravensbrück Concentration Camp, Violette was killed there by the Nazis in February 1945. She was aged just 23.

Violette was awarded the George Cross posthumously following her heroics as a secret agent for the Allied forces.

Born on June 26, 1921, this Sunday’s commemoration marks Violette’s 101st birthday.

Violette’s daughter, Tania lives in Cilmeri, a village two and a half miles west of Builth Wells. Last year, Tania organised an event on the Groe to celebrate her mother’s centenary. However, owing to the pandemic, the occasion was held amid strict Covid rules. Tania would like this year’s event to be a celebration of Violette’s remarkable life.

Tania said: “This year, on Sunday, June 26, we are going to celebrate my mother’s 101st birthday with ceremony, song and stories.

“For example, at 2pm, there will be a formal ceremony around the Cenotaph with pipers and standards and wreath laying, led by the Rev. Brian Reardon, after which in undecided order author and historian Dilip Sarkar MBE will speak briefly of SOE, and I a little about Violette - it is my honour to say a few words also.

“The songs from Vintage Class trio and Ruby Ann Mann and Heather Mercer possibly along with Doe and her people ‘Doing the Lambeth Walk’. There will be a large gazebo with a display within of a few of my artefacts and a special display by Clive Bassett who runs the Harrington museum that testifies to pilots who took agents to occupied France - often by Liberator and dropped by parachute.”

Tania added: “The afternoon is to be one of fun, the celebration of a young, brave and beautiful woman where people can bring their own picnic or buy refreshments on site.”

The event celebrating the life Violette Szabó will be held this Sunday, June 26 at the Groe, Builth Wells, starting at 2pm.