Bletchley Park

September 2013 Earlier 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 exhibit

August 2013 In 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 2013 It’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 2013 In 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 2013 This month it’s all about Timely Visitors Milton 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: ©shaunarms

June 2013 This is the second & final part of BBC Radio Gloucestershire recent series of short programs on both Bletchley Park & GCHQ. This part deals more with the personal lives of some of our great Veterans. Many thanks again to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Anna King & Manpreet Mellhi, for letting us share these programs with our listeners. #BPark, #BBCGlos, #GCHQ, #BletchleyPark

June 2013 Bletchley Park as you know was the home of code breaking during WW2, its official title being the Government Code and Cypher School. After the war this became, as it’s still known now, GCHQ. First based in Eastcote, but in 1951 moving to its current home of Cheltenham. BBC Radio Gloucestershire recently ran a series of short programs in Anna Kings daily show about both establishments and have kindly said we can share them here with our Podcast Listeners. Many thanks to BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Anna King & Manpreet Mellhi. #BPark, #BBCGlos, #GCHQ, #BletchleyPark

June 2013 This month, we have an update on the work to restore Bletchley Park from Site Manager Rob Davies. We give you a taste of the Forties Family Festival which was held in May. Miss Luna Nightingale serenades us, we find out about Auxiliary Units from The British Resistance Archive & Dodging The Doodlebugs keep us laughing during WW2. We also have fascinating interview with WW2 Veteran Marjorie Nichols, who worked for SIS. Picture: ©Sarah Langston #BPark, #Enigma, #Spys, #SIS

May 2013 Martin Davidson’s mother told him a family secret shortly after the death of his German Grandfather. This sent him on a quest to discover the true story of Bruno Langbehn – The Perfect Nazi. In this 2nd & final part, Martin looks deeper into the history of his German Grandfather Bruno Langbehn – The Perfect Nazi. It includes a Q&A session held after the talk. #BPark, #MartinDavidson, #Bletchleypark

May 2013 Martin Davidson’s mother told him a family secret shortly after the death of his German Grandfather. This sent him on a quest to discover the true story of Bruno Langbehn – The Perfect Nazi. This is the first part of a talk given by Martin at Bletchley Park as part of our recent Winter Lecture Season. #BPark, #MartinDavidson, #Bletchleypark

May 2013 This month, Jean Wallace tells us about the Fashion Show at the 40’s Family Festival & showing the Prime Minister her bloomers … Our new Education Officer, Tom Briggs, has Enigma … will travel. In 1926, at the age of twenty, a trainee dentist called Bruno Langbehn joined the Nazi party and as the party rose to power, he was there every step of the way. For fifty years after the end of the Second World War, his family kept this horrifying secret. His British grandson, Martin Davidson, uncovers the truth in his book The Perfect Nazi. Bletchley Park Veteran, Edwin Dockley, shares some of his memories of working at The Home of The Codebreakers. #BPark, #Enigma, #40sFashion *For more information about our Enigma Outreach program go to http://www.bletchleypark.org/edu/visit/outreach.rhtm

April 2013 This is the second and final part of Nick Coffers BBC 3 Counties Show, which was broadcast from Block B at Bletchley Park during the 3rd Enigma Challenge. It starts with Nick being taken on a tour by Bletchley Park guide and historian Joel Greenberg. Thanks again to The BBC 3 Counties OB Team, Emma Smith & Gareth Lloyd, Nick Coffer of course, Joel Greenberg, The Bombe Rebuild Team & The 3 Belles. #BPark, #Enigma, #BBC3CR, #NickCoffer

April 2013 In the last episode of Podcast we gave you just a small flavour of The Third Enigma Challenge that was held in March. For 4 days GCHQ’s Historical Section were based at The Big Bang Fair at London’s ExCel Centre were sending Enigma Coded Messages for the Bombe Rebuild Team to try and crack back at Bletchley Park. On the Friday Nick Coffer of BBC 3 Counties Radio presented his afternoon show from Block B at Bletchley Park and that’s what we will be sharing with you over the next two Extras episodes. So a huge thank you goes to The BBC 3 Counties OB Team, Emma Smith & Gareth Lloyd, Nick Coffer of course, The Bombe Rebuild Team & The 3 Belles. #BPark, #Enigma, #BBC3CR, #NickCoffer

April 2013 This month, BBC 3 Counties Radio covered the 3rd Enigma Challenge. Bletchley Park Event’s Manager, Claire Urwin, tells us about some of the forthcoming Summer Events. Author Michael Smith tells us all about his new book, Bletchley Park, the Codebreakers of Station X which had just been released. Project Neptune, the HLF restoration of Bletchley Park is about to start. We take you inside the soon to be restored Huts and Blocks with the people who’ll be running the project #BPark, #Enigma, #HLF, #BBC3CR, #NickCoffer, #TonyFisher Thanks to Nick Coffer & the BBC 3 Counties OB Team for the use of the Enigma Challenge audio & Tony Fisher for the use of his Neptune interviews.

March 2013 In this episode we bring you the longer versions of some of the interviews featured in the last episode of The Bletchley Park Podcast. They were recorded by mcfontaine and our new roving reporter Kerry Howard, after the visit of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. Featuring Aileen Hasdell, Gwen Flavell, Peggy Dorrington & Alba Whiteman. #bpark, #enigma, #bombe, #bletchleypark

March 2013 This month, we hear from some of the veterans* who met Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, when she came to Bletchley Park to learn about the contribution women here made to the war effort. Thanks to Jessica Cooper of BBC 3 Counties Radio for some audio clips. We’ll bring you reaction from senior cryptographer Captain Jerry Roberts after he met Her Majesty The Queen for the second time, as he received his MBE at Buckingham Palace.  We look ahead at some upcoming events & we’ll hear from Bletchley Park guide & historian Joel Greenberg, about his new biography of Gordon Welchman. *The next EXTRA’s episode will feature the full versions of these interviews.  Image: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com #BPark, #JerryRoberts, #Tunny, #Enigma

February 2013 In this episode we have the full interview with Captain Jerry Roberts, who was today (28/02/13) awarded an MBE by Her Majesty The Queen in honour of his 4 year campaign for more recognition for Alan Turing, Bill Tutte and Tommy Flowers. Jerry shares with us what it was like to work in The Testery breaking coded messages from Hitler, his memories of “a great man” Bill Tutte, working as a War Crimes Investigator and setting up the first Marketing company in post war South America. Captain Roberts was one of four founding members of the Testery, named after its leader, Ralph Tester. This team was tasked with breaking Germany’s highest-level cipher system, Lorenz, known by the Codebreakers as Tunny. Captain Roberts worked in the Testery from its inception in October 1941, after Bill Tutte made the first break into the Lorenz system, until the end of the war in 1945. Read Katherine Lynch’s blog about Jerry’s visit to the palace http://bletchleypark.org.uk/news/docview.rhtm/686548

February 2013 This month we talk to Captain Jerry Roberts about being awarded an MBE and his 4 year campaign for more recognition for Alan Turing, Bill Tutte and Tommy Flowers.  We have an update from CEO Iain Standen on the Heritage Lottery Funded restoration programme. Also, an exclusive interview with another Bletchley Park Veteran Nancy Jackson, who worked in the Newmanry, the section led by Alan Turing’s friend and mentor Max Newman. A message from mcfontaine This month’s episode has been late due to the death of my step-dad, Mick Chalkley.  There was a really nice connection for me between Bletchley Park and Mick as during World War 2 he served in the Fleet Air Arm. A large part of which was on escort duty on amongst others, the Russian and Malta convoys. I explained to him the work that Bletchley Park did during the war, how by reading U-Boat Enigma traffic they could re-route convoys away from attack. This was something he didn’t know and like me, had no doubt that they must have hel

January 2013 This week we have the concluding part of Bob Horner’s talk Malta George Cross 1940-42 - The Battle for Survival. During World War II, Malta played an important role owing to its proximity to Axis shipping lanes. The bravery of the Maltese people during the second Siege of Malta moved King George VI to award the George Cross to Malta on a collective basis on 15 April 1942 "to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history. Last week Bob left us at the start of 1942, a very dark time for the survival of Malta. He now continues with the story of one of the most pivotal moments during the resupply of Malta, Operation Pedestal. #Bpark, #Malta, #WW2, #BletchleyPark