Newmarket William Tutte features on Royal Mail VE Day stamps

William Tutte, from Newmarket, helped to decrypt the German Lorenz cipher at Bletchley Park during the war. 

His efforts, which went unknown until the mid-1990s as a result of national security, were described as “the greatest single intellectual feat of the Second World War”. 

Now, Mr Tutte will feature on a set of special stamps being issued by the Royal Mail to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. 

One of 10 special stamps which is being released by the Royal Mail (Image: Royal Mail/PA Wire) Other figures who will feature on the stamps include George Arthur Roberts, the first black man to join the London Auxiliary Fire Service, in 1938, and Mary Morris, whose diaries describe how she nursed troops returning wet and wounded from Dunkirk. 

Emma Gilthorpe, chief executive of Royal Mail, said: “Behind every victory of a nation there are countless unsung heroes whose courage and sacrifice shaped the future of the world.

“On VE Day, we remember not only the leaders and generals, but the silent warriors whose contributions echo through history.

“For the 80th anniversary of VE Day, Royal Mail is proud to issue these stamps honouring the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who fought for freedom and peace.”

A mini-sheet of stamps which has images of Dame Vera Lynn from different aspects of her wartime career has also been created. 

Royal Mail will be creating a VE80 postmark on stamped mail in the week of the anniversary in May. 

The stamps and a range of collectible products are available to pre-order from Thursday and will go on general sale from May 1.