Bletchley Park

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 G

July 2014 This 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-Bletchley_Park_Presents__Guy_Burt_and_Sarah_Harding.html Picture: ©ITV #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #enigma, #ladynerds

June 2014 McAfee, 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 2014 On 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 B

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.

May 2014 Bestselling 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 to http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ & look in the What’s On section. Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #BletchleyPark, #Enigma, #WW1, #WW2, #codebreaker, #mcfontaine

May 2014 Bletchley 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

May 2014 The 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

May 2014 This 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

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 2014 On 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-Bletchley_Park_Presents__The_Real_Women_of_Bletchley_Park.html Picture: ©Mubsta #BPark, #Bletchleypark, #ww2veteran, #enigma

April 2014 The 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 2014 Prof. 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-Ticket_20_April_Christy_Campbell_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 go

April 2014 Volunteer 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