Bletchley Park

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

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/

Picture: ©shaunarmstrong/mubsta.com

#BPark, #Enigma, #BremontWatchCom, #codebreaker, #TheThreeBelles

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