Bletchley Park

September 2014In this final highlight from last year’s sell-out day of talks, Codebreakers’ Legacy, Dr. Joel Greenberg talks about the vitally important work of another lesser known figure from GC&CS, Gordon Welchman.Welchman designed changes to Alan Turing’s Bombe Machine which was used throughout the war to find the daily settings for Enigma. He also drew up the organisational plan for Bletchley Park which ultimately would enable it to become a “Codebreaking Factory”.Joel is a Guide & Historian at Bletchley Park & undertook with the support of the Welchman family to write his biography; Gordon Welchman Bletchley Park's Architect of Ultra Intelligence which are available to buy at http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/shop/p.rhtm/130822/764256-GordonWelchmanBletchleyParksArchitectofUltraIntelligenceJoel_Greenberg.htmlIf you would like to attend a similar event at Bletchley Park, then please go to http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ & look in the What’s On section. The world's only fully-operational Bombe rebuild can be seen at Bletchley Park.Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #podcastday, #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #WW2, #codebreaker, #mcfontaine,

September 2014As part of our annual Veteran’s Reunion this year there was a fly past by a Hurricane of the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.14,533 Hurricanes had been built by the end of World War 2, but sadly, today, there are only 12 still airworthy worldwide; only 6 of those in UK. The BBMF is proud to operate two of these historically important and rare aircraft.For more information on The BBMF please go to http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/ The beautiful picture accompanying this clip was taken by Bletchley Park’s official photographer Shaun Armstrong.Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #BBMF, #Hurricane, #Merlin, #WW2Planes

September 2014This month we bring you a special episode of the Bletchley Park Podcast, from the Annual Veterans' Reunion. 2014 is a landmark year for Bletchley Park, marking not only 75th anniversary of the Government Code and Cypher School getting its vital war work underway, but also the completion of £8 million worth of much-needed restoration, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. At this year’s reunion many of the Veterans saw those renovations for the first time.Bletchley Park's CEO, Iain Standen, brings the Veterans up to date on the work that's been carried out in phase one of the restoration of Bletchley Park and answers their questions about the future of the place that's so precious to them.We also talk to the official Bletchley Park photographer, Shaun Armstrong, about capturing history in the making. He's documented the entire restoration, Project Neptune, over the last two years and photographed one or two members of the Royal family along the way. Podcast Producer Mark Cotton and Roving Reporters Kerry Howard and Astrid Specht were also at large at this year's Reunion, talking to visitors as well as the most important guests, the Veterans themselves.Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com See more about Shaun's experience of photographing the Duchess of Cambridge and work at Bletchley Park at https://mubstablog.com/2014/06/24/hrh-the-duchess-of-cambridge-bletchley-park/#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma, #Turing

September 2014As well as marking the 75th anniversary of the Government Code and Cypher School getting its vital war work underway, this year’s annual Veterans’ Reunion will give many their first chance to see how Bletchley Park has been transformed.2014 is a landmark year for the Bletchley Park Trust, marking not only 75 years since the Codebreakers got cracking on the task of breaking enemy codes and ciphers, but also the completion of a much-needed £8 million restoration project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.At this year’s Veterans’ Reunion, many former workers of the Government Code and Cypher School will see the new Block C Visitor Centre, lovingly restored Codebreaking Huts 3 and 6 and the reinstated landscaped parkland for the first time.Visitors too can experience the World War Two atmosphere and feel what it was like for the thousands of men and women whose work at Bletchley Park and its outstations helped shorten the war, saving countless lives. On Sunday the 7thof September, they will have the rare opportunity to walk among some of those extraordinary men and women.By the time the Codebreakers arrived at Bletchley Park in 1939, a small number of Huts had already been built among the existing buildings on this Victorian country estate. The first delegation, codenamed Captain Ridley’s Shooting Party, had spent around a month setting up communications on the site in 1938.Picture: ©Bletchley Park Trust#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma

September 2014Professor Jack Copeland talks about ‘one of his greatest heroes’ Tommy Flowers, from his early life & career leading to working with the Bletchley Park Codebreakers.Jack explains the task faced when in mid-1942 the German High Command started to use a new encryption device, the Lorenz SZ40/42. The attack on Tunny, as it was dubbed by GC&CS, would involve some of the greatest codebreakers we had, Alan Turing, Bill Tutte & Max Newman. It would culminate in Tommy’s greatest achievement, the invention of Colossus, the world's first programmable electronic digital computer.The world would never be the same again.This talk was recorded at last year’s sell-out day of talks, Codebreakers’ Legacy. If you would like to attend a similar event in the Bletchley Park Presents series, then please go tohttp://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ & look in the What’s On section.A rebuild of Colossus can be seen at The National Museum of Computing, a separate site on the grounds of Bletchley Park.Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #Tunny, #WW2, #codebreaker, #mcfontaine, #TNMOC

August 2014In July, as part of the Bletchley Park Presents series of talks, four women whose diverse roles within the Government Code & Cypher School during World War Two give a rare insight into the inner workings of this top secret organisation.One of those women was WREN Gwendoline Page who worked first in the Naval Section at Bletchley Park, indexing U-boat signals & later on the Japanese vessels index based in Colombo.After her talk, at the end of a very long day, she was still kind enough to sit down with us to tell our listeners more about her service. Two of Gwendoline’s books, "We Kept the Secret" and "They Listened in Secret" are available from the Bletchley Park Shop.https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/shop/p.rhtm/130822/765789-WeKepttheSecretGwendoline_Page.htmlhttps://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/shop/p.rhtm/130822/238204-TheyListenedInSecretByGwendolinePage.htmlPicture: ©Gwendoline Page / Bletchley Park Trust#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma

August 2014 This month’s episode is all about Inspiring Women. We first take you to the launch of McAfee’s Cyber Security Exhibition and Computer Learning Zone which was held in the ballroom. The focus is on Online Safety for all ages, but especially children, as well as encouraging more women to Cyber Security. We have highlights of the speeches from McAffee’s Ross Allen & Raj Samani, Natalie Black of The Cabinet Office & Bletchley Park Trust Chairman Sir John Scalett, as well as interviews with our own Online Education Officer Nicola Halls & Veteran Betty Webb. You can find out more at https://www.workingwithbletchleypark.co.uk/ Next we bring you a Q&A session held at the end of our most recent Bletchley Park Presents Event – The Real Women of Bletchley Park. Historian & Bletchley Park guide Bob Horner, put questions from the sell-out audience to four Veterans, Ruth Bourne, Gwendolyn Page, Jean Valentine & Betty Webb. Finally we bring you a truly serendipitous & heart-warming conversation between the Architect who led the restoration of Bletchley Park and the Hut 6 Veteran who inspired her. Architect Janie Price literally bumped into Veteran Jane Fawcett during the recent visit of HRH The Duchess of Cambridge. Jane was Janie’s tutor in building conservation at the Architectural Association and was an expert in historic flooring. A message from mcfontaine * The sound on The Real Women Package is not up to our usual high quality due to a technical problem that was completely out of our control on the day, but we have improved it as much as possible & felt we should include it because of the importance of the content. We hope it doesn’t spoil your enjoyment. Picture: Janie Price meeting HRH The Duchess of Cambridge ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com In memory of Jane Fawcett, who passed away on 21 May 2016. #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma, #McAfee, #cyberhero

August 2014As the centenary of World War One is marked, Bletchley Park looks back at the early intelligence career of one of its lesser-known geniuses.In this extract, recorded at the Codebreaker’s Legacy Talks in November 2013, bestselling author and Bletchley Park Trustee Michael Smith charts the World War One service of John Tiltman, Bletchley Park's Chief Cryptographer, who was awarded the Military Cross fighting in the trenches. After being badly wounded in the Battle of Arras he transferred to military intelligence beginning a brilliant codebreaking career that was to last more than sixty years. Bletchley Park became the World War Two home of the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS), which was formed shortly after the allied armistice with Germany in November 1919. GC&CS was the outcome of a merger between the two significant codebreaking and signals intelligence departments of the then recent war: Room 40 or I.D. 25 (part of Naval Intelligence located within the Admiralty) and MI1(b) (a sub-section of Military Intelligence located within the War Office). A number of individuals who played important roles in codebreaking during World War One, went on to perform prominent roles at Bletchley Park during World War Two, such as Alastair Denniston, Dilly Knox, Frank Birch, Oliver Strachey, and Nigel de Grey.The great accomplishments of the GC&CS during World War Two owe a great deal to the first official government codebreaking and signals intelligence departments that were established just after the outbreak of World War One. This story will be explored in an exciting new exhibition due to open in 2015 co-sponsored by BAE Systems Applied Intelligence and Ultra Electronics.Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #WW1centenary

July 2014On 26 and 27 July 1939 one of the most important events in the history of intelligence took place in the woods outside Warsaw. Just three weeks before the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) moved to its War Station at Bletchley Park, its Head, Alastair Denniston, and its Chief Cryptanalyst, Dilly Knox, travelled to Warsaw to meet their Polish and French equivalents to share all they knew about Enigma. At a commemorative ceremony in Warsaw held earlier this month, BBC Security Correspondent, Gordon Corera spoke to the GCHQ Departmental Historian, on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.Many thanks to the BBC for letting us share this interview.Gordon’s original article can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28167071 Picture: GC&CS Commander Alastair Denniston’s passport shows he travelled through Nazi Germany to the meeting in Poland and is on display in his office in the Mansion at Bletchley Park. ©Bletchley Park Trust#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #enigma

July 2014 HRH The Duchess of Cambridge visited Bletchley Park on the 18th of June to mark the officially opening of the 8.5 million pound restorations, but she also had a much more personal reason for her visit as both her paternal grandmother & great aunt worked in Hut 16 at The Government Codes and Cipher School during World War 2. Lady Marion Body worked alongside the twins, Valerie and Mary Glassborow and one of the highlights of the Royal Visit was when the Princess sat down with Lady Body to find out more about what her ancestors had done during the war. In this EXTRA’s episode we bring you both an interview that Podcast host Katherine Lynch recorded with Lady Body a few weeks before the special day and one from Gareth Lloyd of BBC 3 Counties Radio, a few minutes after her meeting with HRH. Thanks to Nick, Gareth, Nia and Mark from BBC Three Counties for allowing us to bring you their interview. Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma, #BritishMonarchy, #BBC3CR

July 2014 This month we take you behind the scenes during HRH The Duchess of Cambridge’s visit on 18 June, meeting the Veteran who worked with her grandmother and some of those involved in the transformation of Bletchley Park. Valerie Glassborow, The Duchess of Cambridge’s paternal grandmother, worked as a Foreign Office Civilian, towards the end of the war, alongside her twin sister, Mary, in Hut 16. They went on to marry the Middleton brothers. But before that, they shared a very special moment in history with their friend and colleague, Lady Marion Body, who met The Duchess and told her all about it. Also in this month’s episode, the school holidays are fast approaching and if you’re wondering how on earth to fill the long, hazy days, look no further. Bletchley Park will hold Family Fun Wednesdays throughout the summer holidays, with spy and craft workshops, special trails, guided tours for children and the chance to handle artefacts. We listen in on Volunteer Guide Derek Cullen’s special tour, for a taste of what’s in store this summer. Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma, #BritishMonarchy

July 2014This September, Bletchley Park Presents Guy Burt and Sarah Harding, the creative partnership which brought us the second series of the hit ITV drama, The Bletchley Circle. As part of the prestigious Bletchley Park Presents lecture series, Guy will tell the story behind this ripping yarn, exploring how he created the strong female characters and why he based their lasting bond at Bletchley Park during World War Two.Sarah Harding, Director of the second two-part story in series two of The Bletchley Circle, will discuss her highly personal connection to the Bletchley Park story. After filming on site last year, Sarah told the Bletchley Park Podcast what it meant to her.For tickets please go to https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/shop/p.rhtm/130872/777790-BletchleyParkPresents_GuyBurtandSarah_Harding.htmlPicture: ©ITV#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #enigma, #ladynerds

June 2014McAfee, part of Intel Security, today announced the official opening of its international Cyber Security Exhibition and Computer Learning Zone at Bletchley Park, as part of its five-year collaborative partnership with the home of the World War Two Codebreakers. Sir John Scarlett gave a speech on the impact and importance of Bletchley Park, online safety and the role of women in Cyber Security.Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #enigma, #McAfee, #AudioMo,

June 2014On Wednesday 18 June, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge visited Bletchley Park to mark completion of the eight million pound, Heritage Lottery Fund supported restoration project. This uniquely historic site has been restored to its wartime glory, enabling visitors to experience what it was like for the Codebreakers who worked here and creating a permanent and fitting tribute to those extraordinary men and women. Among the honoured guests was Nick Coffer from BBC Three Counties Radio, who broadcast his entire afternoon show from a great vantage point next to the Oval. Thanks to Nick, Gareth, Nia and Mark from BBC Three Counties for allowing us to bring you highlights of their show.Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com#BPark, #Bletchleypark,#AudioMo, #ww2veteran, #enigma, #BritishMonarchy, #BBC3CR

June 2014 The transformation of Bletchley Park is now complete & on the 18th of June, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge will visit to launch the completed restoration. In this month’s episode we take you inside Code breaking Huts 3 and 6 & the new Block C Visitor Centre with the first people to see them restored to their wartime glory; the Veterans themselves. We join RAF Veteran Sergeant Bernard Morgan when he met his modern day equivalent, RAF Aerospace Battle Manager, Flight Lieutenant Vikki Thorpe, on a recent visit to Bletchley Park. He shares his D-Day memories with us & finally gets to use the once Top Secret Type X machine that he used to help direct aircraft in the days following the Normandy landings; that he thought he would never see again. The importance of Bletchley Park’s role in the D-Day deception should not be underestimated. Senior Archivist, Richard Lewis & founding member of the Bletchley Park Trust, Peter Wescombe, explain how messages decrypted at Bletchley Park showed that the feint had been swallowed whole, leading Germany to believe that the invasion would be at the Pas de Calais rather than Normandy. A new exhibition, Secrets Revealed - Introducing Bletchley Park, uncovers the Government Code and Cypher School’s involvement in D Day in depth. Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #AudioMo, #DDay70, #WW2, ##BritishMonarchy, #enigma,

June 2014 The importance of Bletchley Park’s role in the D-Day deception should not be underestimated. Messages decrypted at Bletchley Park showed that the feint had been swallowed whole, leading Germany to believe that the invasion would be at the Pas de Calais rather than Normandy. Katherine Lynch talked to Bletchley Park’s Senior Archivist, Richard Lewis, and historian and founding member of the Bletchley Park Trust, Peter Westcombe. Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #enigma, #DDay70, #WW2, #Overlord, #AudioMo,

May 2014 The Duchess of Cambridge will visit Bletchley Park, on Wednesday 18 June 2014 to mark the completion of the year-long restoration project, which has restored the site to its World War Two appearance.Her Royal Highness will view the restored location, tour the WW2 Codebreaking Huts and will hear about the achievements of the Codebreakers whose work is said to have helped shorten the war by two years.During the visit, Her Royal Highness will meet Codebreaker veterans who worked at the Government Code and Cypher School during WW2, where encrypted messages sent by the Navy, Army and Air Forces of Germany and its allies were decrypted, translated and analysed for vital intelligence.In our next monthly episode we will take you inside Huts 3 and 6 and the new Block C Visitor Centre with the first people to see them restored to their wartime glory; the Veterans themselves. This recording gives you a taste of some of the reactions at that 1st VIP Preview. Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma, #BritishMonarchy

May 2014Bestselling author & Bletchley Park Trustee, Michael Smith discusses the life & work of John Tiltman, whom many consider may have been Britain’s greatest ever code breaker.For these highlights we have concentrated on the lesser known parts of Tiltman’s life, both before & after his time at Bletchley Park.This talk was recorded at last year’s sell-out day of talks, Codebreakers’ Legacy. If you would like to attend a similar event in the Bletchley Park Presents series, then please go tohttp://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ & look in the What’s On section.Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #WW1, #WW2, #codebreaker, #mcfontaine

May 2014Bletchley Park CEO Iain Standen has told a new support hub for businesses how focusing on the fascinating story of World War Two Codebreaking helped transform Bletchley Park from a ramshackle, derelict site into a vibrant heritage attraction.Velocity, a new growth hub for ambitious small and medium-sized enterprises across the South East Midlands, was launched in the newly-restored Block C Visitor Centre at Bletchley Park on Friday 23 May. It will help businesses unlock their potential by helping them to find funding and support. Bletchley Park was the ideal launch location as it is in the final stages of completing an £8 million restoration programme; £5 million in Heritage Lottery Funding and £3 million match fund raised by the Bletchley Park Trust.Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #VelocityGrowth, #MK

May 2014 When Elizabeth Marshall, nee Tatham, was recruited to Bletchley Park in 1944, she was told “This is a very, very secret place. You must never breathe a word of what you do here.” Every one of the ten thousand or so men and women who worked for the Government Code and Cypher School, a mixture of military and civilians, was sworn to lifelong secrecy. During a visit to Bletchley Park, Elizabeth recalled “We were told ‘your family and your friends must not know.’ We sat there absolutely agog, wondering what we had let ourselves in for.” Her parents died soon before the veil of secrecy was lifted in 1974. She says “I was absolutely horrified, I don’t mind telling you. My great friend rang me up and said ‘Have you heard, they’re talking all about Bletchley. It’s all over the papers.’ I said ‘What! We were told never to talk about it.’ I still find it extremely hard to take in that everything that was locked in my head for so long is now common knowledge.” You can hear the full interview with Elizabeth in the May episode of the Bletchley Park Podcast https://audioboo.fm/boos/2149628-the-bletchley-park-podcast-e22-a-very-very-secret-place The Bletchley Park Trust is dependent on Veterans themselves and their relatives to register for their rightful place on the Roll of Honour. The Trust is also in a race against time to gather Veterans’ memories first hand in its Oral Archive. http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/news/v.rhtm/FindaCodebreaker-719559.html Picture: ©Bletchley Park Trust #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma

May 2014The Loebner Prize is making Bletchley Park its permanent home. The competition is modelled on Alan Turing’s famous test, which suggests that a thinking computer’s responses would, in conversation, be able to convince a panel of judges that it is human.The Loebner Prize was founded and is sponsored by Dr Hugh Loebner, a New York philanthropist. He says “The competition is the longest running Turing test.” Since the competition’s inception in 1991, no computer has yet managed to win anything other than the Bronze Medal prize.The Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation of Behaviour (AISB), the world’s oldest Artificial Intelligence society, has this year taken over the running of the competition, guaranteeing its continued success. This year’s competition will be held at Bletchley Park on 15 November.In addition to the the $100 000 grand prize and gold medal, the competition offers a $25 000 Silver Medal prize for a program able to fool a majority of judges, and an annual Bronze Medal prize to the most human-like computer.Picture: ©Mubsta#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #LoebnerPrize, #TuringTest

May 2014This month, we learn about the doomed German plans to invade Britain in 1940 with Historian & founding member of the Bletchley Park Trust, Peter Wescombe as we join him in the Bletchley Park Archive. We also take you to the launch of the biography of one of Bletchley Park’s lesser known geniuses, Gordon Welchman. Joel Greenberg has been reading up on & researching Bletchley Park’s World War Two history since the 1970s. He is a Volunteer Tour Guide & works part time at Bletchley Park. His book, Gordon Welchman, Bletchley Park’s Architect of Ultra Intelligence, was launched in the Mansion in the presence of Welchman’s family, who formally handed over artefacts and documents, some of which had been in boxes in his son Nick’s loft for 25 years before Joel started his research.Get a taste of what’s to come at the Bletchley Park Presents series of Sunday afternoon talks & hear from three of the real women of Bletchley Park, Jean Valentine, Ruth Bourne & Betty Webb in a short interview with Bremont Watches founder Giles English.Finally we bring you a Wren’s memories of the absolute secrecy impressed upon her when she arrived. Elizabeth Marshall, nee Tatham, who lives in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, recalls “We were told your family and your friends must not know.’ We sat there absolutely agog, wondering what we had let ourselves in for.”Picture ©Bletchley Park Trust#BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #ww2veteran, #Bremont, #mcfontaine

May 2014 As the 70th anniversary of D-Day approaches, original Bletchley Park Trust member & Historian Peter Westcombe, compares the meticulous planning which preceded the Normandy landings with the doomed German plot to invade Britain much earlier in World War Two, Operation SEALION. You can hear more of this interview with Peter in the next episode of the Bletchley Park Podcast, out on the 10th of May. ©Crown. Reproduced by kind permission, Director, GCHQ #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #enigma, #DDay

April 2014On the 20th of July 2014, Bletchley Park proudly presents four women whose diverse roles within the Government Code and Cypher School during World War Two give a rare insight into the inner workings of this top secret organisation. Ruth Bourne, Gwendoline Page, Jean Valentine and Charlotte (Betty) Webb will each give a personal glimpse into their time at Bletchley Park and WW2, followed by a Q&A Session.For more information and tickets got to https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/shop/p.rhtm/130872/777785-BletchleyParkPresents_TheRealWomenofBletchleyPark.htmlPicture: ©Mubsta#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma

April 2014The biography of one of Bletchley Park’s lesser-celebrated geniuses, Gordon Welchman, has been launched with the handover of personal documents and possessions to the Bletchley Park Trust. They include letters and documents which had been in Welchman’s son Nick’s loft until he was approached by the author, Dr Joel Greenberg.Tickets are on sale now for Bletchley Park Presents Dr Joel Greenberg; a talk about Gordon Welchman, on Sunday 18 May.#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #enigma, #Bombe

April 2014 Foundations believed to be of a house that predated the iconic Mansion have been found as part of the restoration of Bletchley Park. Water Hall was built in 1711 but by the late 18th century it had fallen into disrepair and was demolished by 1806. Bletchley Park's Media Relations Manager & Podcast Host, Katherine Lynch, spoke to Helen Legh on BBC Three Counties Radio Friday 18 April. Thanks to BBC3CR for use of this recording. Image: ©English Heritage Detail from the 1718 Estate Survey (reproduced with permission from the Centre for Bucks Studies, Ma299/1) #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #enigma, #BBC3CR

April 2014Prof. Barry Cooper discussed Alan Turing’s life and work at last year’s sell-out day of talks, Codebreakers’ Legacy.Book now for Bletchley Park Presents Christy Campbell on Easter Sunday.https://bletchleypark.org.uk/calendar/d.rhtm/758932-Bletchley-Park-Presents---Christy-Campbell.html Book now - https://bletchleypark.org.uk/shop/p.rhtm/130872/762467-Ticket20AprilChristyCampbell_Talk.html Picture ©Mubsta.com #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #AlanTuring, #Turing, #ATY, #mcfontaine

April 2014 The Bletchley Circle makes a welcome return this weekend on America’s Public Broadcasting Service. Series two of the hit ITV drama attracted more than 4 million viewers per episode on ITV in January and from Sunday 13 April it will be shown on PBS. You can hear more from the cast as well as the series Writer and Creator, Guy Burt, and Executive Producer, Jake Lushington, in our special December episode. https://audioboo.fm/boos/1803303-bletchley-park-podcast-extra-the-bletchley-circle-returns Picture: ©ITV #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #enigma, #ladynerds

April 2014 This month, we take you inside the 1940s Boutique, a new event which helps you recreate wartime glamour. We hear from the daughter and granddaughters of a woman who may or may not have worked at Bletchley Park but who, family legend has it, knew her brother had been killed in action when the rest of her family could only be told he was missing. We take a sneak peek inside the soon to be opened Codebreaking Huts, taken back to their wartime glory as part of the £8 million restoration of Bletchley Park, meeting the volunteer actors who have become part of the way we tell this incredible story. We find out just how close we came to losing those wooden huts altogether. We also hear from a woman who, 70 years on, says her work in the Y service nearly drove her mad. Margaret Reardon (nee Chapman) recalls “Quite a few people broke down. There was a joke about one man who drew ducks on the blackboard and was feeding them - he had to be carried off. It really got into you.” The music you can hear in this episode is from those brilliant Bletchley Park supporters The Three Belles. Find out more about them at http://thethreebelles.com Picture ©Elbow Productions #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #livinghistory, #TheThreeBelles, #mcfontaine

April 2014Volunteer actors from the local community will help bring Codebreaking Huts 3 & 6 to life through their projected images & voices, created by Elbow Productions.You can hear more about this project in the next episode of The Bletchley Park Podcast, out on the 10th of April.Picture: ©Elbow Productions#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma

April 2014 Margaret Reardon, ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service), Royal Signals, recalls her time listening to enemy radio messages on the Isle of Man during World War Two. You can hear more from Margaret in the next episode of The Bletchley Park Podcast, out on the 10th of April. #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma

March 2014 Captain Jerry Roberts MBE, one of Bletchley Park’s last Codebreakers, died this week at the age of 93. Jerry was one of the original members of The Testery working on cracking Tunny, the German High Commands code, used by Hitler & his top Generals. Their work warned the Russian’s of The Kursk Offensive, allowing them to defend until the Germans called off, what would be their last major offensive on the Eastern Front. Winston Churchill said “Stalingrad was the end of the beginning, but the Battle of Kursk was the beginning of the end”. In this Bletchley Park Podcast Extra, we bring you the interview we recorded at Jerry’s home, in February 2013 after being awarded an MBE. It is followed a short interview Katherine recorded on the day he received his MBE from Her Majesty The Queen. Sir John Scarlett KCMG OBE, Chairman, Bletchley Park Trust, paying tribute to Jerry said: “Captain Jerry Roberts MBE was a true gentleman and - to the last days of his long life - an outstanding ambassador for Bletchley Park. In World War 2 he was a key member of the team who deciphered the most secret communications of Hitler and his top commanders, work of incomparable importance for the outcome of the War. Unfailingly modest about his own achievements, he was committed to the end to achieving recognition for the work of his colleagues and the contribution of all those who worked at Bletchley Park. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his devoted wife, Mei." Picture: ©mubsta.com #bletchleypark, #bpark, #tunny, #ww2, #jerryroberts #wonder88

March 2014 Children’s TV presenters Dick & Dom came to Bletchley Park to film a programme about Alan Turing. Absolute Genius with Dick & Dom will be on CBBC on the 12th March. We caught a quick word with them between takes. Battlefield History TV is making a fascinating documentary about the Bletchley Park story which will soon be available on DVD. We bring you a taste of what will be in the finished programme with Iain Standen interviewing Veteran Bombe Wren Sue Winn & Bletchley Park Historian Joel Greenberg talking about his new biography of Gordon Welchman, Bletchley Park’s Architect of Ultra Intelligence. The official histories of Huts 3 & 6 were written shortly after the war was won by the actual people who worked in them during WW2. Historian & founding member of the Bletchley Park Trust, Peter Wescombe, gives an insight into the minds of ordinary men & women doing extraordinary jobs. We take you back to February 1941 as actors brought the mansion to life with The Living History Project. The actress playing the Wren had a personal connection to the Bletchley Park story as her grandfather was a Bombe maintainer at Eastcote & Stanmore. Eric Hume came all the way from Devon to see her in action & we interview a proud grandfather. Picture: ©mcfontaine #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #dickanddom, #livinghistory, #audiowrangler, #mcfontaine

February 2014 This is the full length version* of our exclusive interview with Sarah Harding, Director of the second two-part story in series two of the hit ITV drama, The Bletchley Circle. In this month’s Bletchley Park Podcast & the first part of this EXTRA Sarah tells us about her mother, Dorothy Harding (nee Thompson) who was a Wireless Operator / Morse slip reader at Bletchley Park 1943-1945. It was a happy coincidence that Sarah had that personal connection to Bletchley Park when The Bletchley Circle script landed on her desk. Sarah has had a long and distinguished career directing theatre, film & TV dramas including Coronation Street, Queer as Folk and Agatha Christie’s Marple & Poirot, to list just a few. We talk about her life behind the camera & how the service given by Veterans such as her mother led to her generation having the freedom to pursue such careers. Now, her mother has enjoyed the series & hopes “she will smile, feel recognised and proud.” If you have already listen to this month's main Podcast, then the new material starts at 15:48 into this episode. Image ®ITV #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #ITV, #TheBletchleyCircle, #ladynerds, #audiowrangler, #mcfontaine

February 2014 This month we join Bletchley Park Veteran Margaret Roland as she was asked to be the special guest at a ceremony to mark the completion of refurbishment work at White Spire School in Bletchley. We take you behind the scenes at rehearsals for February half term’s exciting Living History project, where Sorrel Meechan, one of the actors helping bring the buildings to life, tells us about her personal connection to the Bletchley Park having grown up knowing her grandfather worked as a Bombe Maintainer during World War Two. Hear the intriguing – and entirely coincidental – family connection Sarah Harding, the Director of the hit ITV drama, The Bletchley Circle had with the Home of the Codebreakers as her mother Dorothy Harding, nee Thompson, was a Wireless Operator & Morse slip reader at Bletchley Park. Michael Portillo, former Defence Secretary turned TV presenter came to Bletchley Park for an episode of Great British Railway Journeys. Between takes he shared a few insights into the absolute secrecy surrounding this place during World War Two & how some people, flying in the face of popular opinion, can keep secrets in this day and age. Finally our roving reporter Kerry Howard interviews Veteran Betty Webb, who did the tricky job of paraphrasing decrypted messages before they went out to commanders in the field, helping to cover up the very existence of Bletchley Park & how at the Pentagon she continued her ultra-secret job till the end of the war. Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #ITV, #TheBletchleyCircle, #ladynerds, #audiowrangler, #mcfontaine

January 2014In this episode we bring you the entire interview we recorded with Veteran Wren Bombe Operator, Audrey Wind, who recalls how she was plucked from filthy cleaning jobs in basic training & recruited to do a very, very secret job. Audrey was posted to Eastcote, an outstation of Bletchley Park, where she operated Bombe machines. She says “The pressure was enormous. It took me a long time after the war to get over it and I’m sure it did for everyone. It was terribly stressful.”Audrey’s story will be featured as a DVD extra, when the second series of the hit ITV drama, The Bletchley Circle is released.Image ®ITV#BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #ITV, #TheBletchleyCircle, #ladynerds, #audiowrangler, #mcfontaine

January 2014 This month we take you exclusively behind the scenes during filming of The Bletchley Circle, hearing from the Producer, Standby Art Director & Bletchley Park Trust staff who were cast as supporting actors, to safeguard machines which belong to GCHQ. We hear from Veteran Audrey Wind, whose story is featured as a DVD extra, who was told when she was recruited: “You must not mention this conversation to any living person.” Years after the war, she was spotted by a fellow alumnus of Bletchley Park & the secrecy they shared caused all sorts of suspicion about their relationship. This month’s Podcast also lets you in on the plans for the fragile wooden huts being restored as part of the £8m, Heritage Lottery Funded restoration, with details of how their stories will be told. Hear about how actors will bring Bletchley Park to life with the Living History Project. Liv Spencer tells us what she will be looking for during the auditions. Picture ©mcfontaine #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #ITV, #TheBletchleyCircle, #ladynerds, #audiowrangler, #mcfontaine

December 2013In this EXTRA episode we look back at what turned into another busy year at Bletchley Park, but also ahead to the return of the ITV drama The Bletchley Circle.The thrilling series based on the lives of four extraordinary & brilliant women who worked at Bletchley Park during WW2 returns to UK screens on ITV for a four-part series starting on Monday 6th of January 2014.Over the next few Podcasts & EXTRA episodes we will be bringing you exclusive interviews with the cast & crew, to give you a unique look behind the scenes that you will find nowhere else.To start us off we bring you interviews we recorded at the official Press Screening with three of the stars of the series, Rachael Stirling, Julie Graham & Hattie Morahan, who were joined by Executive Producer, Jake Lushington & series Writer & Creator, Guy Burt. Bletchley Circle image ®ITV #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #ITV, #TheBletchleyCircle, #ladynerds, #audiowrangler, #mcfontaine

December 2013 This month, we join Bletchley Park historian Dr Joel Greenberg & AS Level history students from Milton Keynes College as they discover hidden treasures under The Mansion car park. Footings of what the Bletchley Park Trust believes were the first few wooden huts built at the outbreak of World War Two were found when the tarmac was removed. We find out what happened at a specially set-up monitoring station in the National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park, when AMSAT-UK launched FUNcube-1, a 10cm cubed satellite weighing less than a kilogram, over Russia. We have an exclusive interview with Professor’s Barry Cooper & Jack Copeland who spoke about some of the lesser known heroes of Bletchley Park at the day of sold-out talks, Codebreakers’ Legacy. They talk about the continuing interest in Alan Turing & what also what they think about the forthcoming film of his life. Yet again we have the honour of interviewing one of our Veterans. Cynthia Legge (nee Mould) was a Wren Bombe Operator based at Stanmore during WW2. She shares her recollections with us including blind dates, Doodlebugs & the job with tweezers she describes as hell on earth. You can find AMSAT-UK at www.amsat-uk.org Picture ©mcfontaine #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Bombe, #Enigma, #Veterans, #AMSAT_UK, #FUNcube-1, #audiowrangler, #mcfontaine

December 2013In this month’s Bletchley Park Podcast we brought you some highlights of the day we spent with two amazing Veterans, Norah Boswell, a Wren Bombe Operator who was stationed at Stanmore & Joyce Roberts, a WAAF Teleprinter Operator at Bletchley Park. In this extended version join tour guide Mike Chapman as we roll back 70 years for these two amazing ladies & listen in as Norah gets her revenge on The Bombe & Joyce finds a dear old friend in the Hut she worked in.It is times like this that make producing the Bletchley Park Podcast such an honour.#BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Bombe, #Enigma, #Veterans, #audiowrangler, #mcfontaine

November 2013In October Cyber Security Challenge UK & Raytheon held an event called Today, Then & Tomorrow. It looked at the role of women in cyber security, celebrating the Bletchley Park Veterans, leading figures of today & a look into the future. Here is a flavour of the day featuring Natalie Black, Stephanie Daman, Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, Dr Brooke Hoskins, Clare McBrearty, Lucy Robson & Bletchley Park Podcast’s, very own, Kerry Howard.#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #cybersecurity, #thentodaytomorrow, #Raytheon, #CyberChallenge, #mcfontaine

November 2013Mavis Batey, one of Bletchley Park’s leading female Codebreakers, died this week at the age of 92. Mavis’s work on Enigma was crucial to the Royal Navy’s victory at Matapan in 1941 and the success of the D-Day landings in 1944. She was part of Dilly Knox’s team, working on as-yet unbroken codes and ciphers. In this Bletchley Park Podcast Extra, we can hear her chatting with Bletchley Park historian and author Michael Smith.Many thanks to Michael Smith, Matt Rawlinson & The Open University for allowing us to share this with you.#bletchleypark, #bpark, #enigma, #ww2

November 2013This month, with so much happening at Bletchley Park recently, we have to bring you an extended episode.First we grab Hard-Hats & Hi Viz Jackets to join Conservation Architect Janie Price & Site Manager Rob Davies to get an in-depth update on the HLF Restoration of Bletchley Park, from floorboards to granite floors, via the roof.In October Bletchley Park hosted Are You Listening? The event looked at the history of communications. We spoke to members of Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society, the British Vintage Wireless Society & the Vintage & Military Amateur Radio Society.Also in October Cyber Security Challenge UK & Raytheon held an event called Today, Then and Tomorrow. It looked at the role of women in cyber security, celebrating the Bletchley Park Veterans, leading figures of today & a look into the future. Katherine spoke to Natalie Black of the Cabinet Office, after we found out just what her job title was. We will bring you the rest of this fascinating day in Podcast EXTRA’s – E29 (out on 24/11/13).Final join us as we walk around with two amazing Veterans, Norah Boswell, a Wren Bombe Operator who was stationed at Stanmore & Joyce Roberts, a WAAF Teleprinter Operator at Bletchley Park. Look out for Podcast EXTRA’s – E30 (out on 31/11/13) for even more from what was a great day for us all.You can find … Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society at www.mkars.org.uk British Vintage Wireless Society at www.bvws.org.uk Vintage & Military Amateur Radio Society at www.vmars.org.ukPicture: ©mcfontaine#BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Bombe, #radio, #AmatureRadio, #ham, #hamradio, #MKARS, #BVRS, #VMARS, #thentodaytomorrow, #audiowrangler, #mcfontaine

October 2013 This month we talk to actor Simon Callow, who was filming in Alan Turing’s office in Hut 8 & we discover a secret about his university tutor. Architect Janie Price, brings us a short update on the HLF Restoration of Bletchley Park; where they are looking at floorboards … one by one. Then join Bombe Wrens as they are transported back in time when they see Hut 11 restored to its WW2 atmosphere. Veterans, Ruth Bourne & Joan Tolson tell us what it was like to work on a Bombe Machine & we luckily capture a short story from Bletchley Baby, Josephine Ross. Pictures ©mubsta.com & mcfontaine #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #SimonCallow, #Turing, #Enigma, #Bombe

September 2013Earlier in the year we interviewed some of the original members of The Bletchley Park Trust who gave us an insight into how they started to save Bletchley Park.In this episode we bring you an interview with Doreen Sawyer, the lady, that original trust member Peter Wescombe climbed through the fence to speak to, and that started the ball rolling. Doreen worked at Bletchley Park from 1955 for the CAA and she tells us some of the post war history of the park and about organising the very first Enigma Reunion.Special thanks to BBC 3 Counties Radio for use of their studios to record the interview.Image ©Elle Dunn - http://www.elledunn.com/#Bletchleypark, #BPark, #Enigma, #CAA

September 2013 This month stories from 70 years ago are given a modern twist. The New Enigma event was a chance to find out if you have what it takes to be a Codebreaker, with experts from GCHQ telling us about some truly amazing new technology, which might just confuse a certain podcast producer. Rich storytelling is the key to enjoying a visit to Bletchley Park. Now included in the admission price, as well as a guided tour by a passionate historian, every visitor can take an iPod Touch based Multimedia Guided tour, created by ATS Heritage & our own experts. We take you along to the official launch where we put them to the test with visitors aged from six to eighty six. The Budd twins and their younger brother had a unique childhood, as they lived at Bletchley Park during WW2. We join all three of them as they come back for a visit. Each year we hold the Enigma Reunion for our Veterans. This year some of them were given a sneak peek at what will be the first of our new restoration exhibits to open, Hut 11 and we had the honour to be there with the very women who worked on the Bombe machines, whose story it tells. Pictures ©mubsta.com #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #GCHQ, #Bombe, #ATS_Heritage, #Documentally, #stephenfry

August 2013In this episode we bring you the full interview with former Bletchley Park Code Breaker & Director of GCHQ, Sir Arthur Bonsall. He explains the work he carried out in the German Air Section at Bletchley Park, dispels a few BP Myths & tells us why there was a stone for Winston Churchill to stand on when he visited in 1941. Picture: ©Kate Arkless Gray (@RadioKate)#BPark, #Enigma, #GCHQ, #audiowk

August 2013It’s all about the past & the future this month.Former Bletchley Park Code Breaker & Director of GCHQ, Sir Arthur Bonsall, tells us why there was a stone for Winston Churchill to stand on when he visited in 1941. We talk to science & technology presenter Maggie Philbin about Bletchley Park, her mother’s wartime work & the legacy that war brings to modern tech.Kerry Howard tells us about her research into code breaker Margaret Rock for her new book Dear Codebreaker & the freedom of modern publishing.Also we give you some ideas of how to entertain your own Spy Kids during the summer holidays with the new workshops available at our Family Fun Wednesdays. For more information about Kerry’s book go to http://www.dearcodebreaker.com or http://www.bletchleyparkresearch.co.uk Picture: ©Kate Arkless Gray (@RadioKate) #BPark, #Enigma, #CaptainRidley

July 2013In February this year Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall paid a visit to Bletchley Park to have afternoon tea with around 60 of our lady Veterans.One of those Veterans that I had the pleasure to interview at the time was former WRN Betty Flavell. Her son Tony, who was with her on the day, has recently been in touch to tell us the sad news that Betty unfortunately passed away in June this year. Tony told me that the visit to Bletchley Park was the last time Betty ventured out in the car with him and although it was very tiring day for her, she had a wonderful time. So as a tribute to Betty we are again going to share with you the wonderful interview I had the honour to record with her.Many thanks to http://www.mubsta.com/ for the use of the pictures of Betty.#Bletchleypark, #Bpark, #Enigma

July 2013This month it’s all about Timely VisitorsMilton Keynes South MP & long time Bletchley Park supporter, Iain Stewart goes on a Hard Hat Tour to see some of the Heritage Lottery Funded restoration with the trusts CEO Iain Standen.Then a few days later it was announced that former Bletchley Park Trust director Simon Greenish had been awarded an MBE for services to English heritage in the Queen's Birthday Honours list. We took Simon on his first tour of the restoration work that he had been fundamental in planning.We also give you a taste of the Black Tie, Bremont Codebreaker Watch Launch. We have interviews with two of our amazing Veterans, Jean Valentine and Ruth Bourne. Bremont founders Nick and Giles English tell us why they wanted to celebrate the home of the codebreakers and The Three Belles keep us swinging. For more information about Bremont go to http://www.bremont.com/ For more information about The Three Belles go to http://thethreebelles.com/ Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com#BPark, #Enigma, #BremontWatchCom, #codebreaker, #TheThreeBelles