Bletchley Park

By Bletchley ParkHistory

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Bletchley Park episodes

March 28, 2014 Bletchley Park Podcast Extra - E34 - Captain Jerry Roberts MBE
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
30 min
March 10, 2014 E20 - A Proud Moment
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
46 min
March 10, 2014 The Bletchley Park Podcast - E20 - A Proud Moment
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
46 min
February 27, 2014Extra - E33 - Sarah Harding – Bletchley Circle Director
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
32 min
February 27, 2014 Bletchley Park Podcast Extra - E33 - Sarah Harding – Bletchley Circle Director
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
32 min
February 10, 2014 E19 - I hope she will smile, feel recognised & proud
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
57 min
February 10, 2014 The Bletchley Park Podcast - E19 - I hope she will smile, feel recognised & proud
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
57 min
January 30, 2014 Extra - E32 - Audrey Wind
January 2014
In 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
37 min
January 30, 2014 Bletchley Park Podcast Extra - E32 - Audrey Wind
January 2014
In 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
37 min
January 10, 2014 E18 - You Must Not Mention This Conversation
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
55 min

About Bletchley Park

From the publisher's feed

Bletchley Park is the home of British codebreaking and a birthplace of modern information technology. It played a major role in World War Two, producing secret intelligence which had a direct and profound influence on the outcome of the conflict. The site is now a museum and heritage attraction, open daily.