Out & About Summer 2021

Out&About leisure

a gallery of exhibitions of paraphernalia from the time, an area dedicated to Alan Turing and an explanation of the roles played by the many people who worked there during the war years. And there were many people. When Sir Hugh first opened Bletchley up, it housed around 200 recruits, brought up from London to set up proceedings. By the end of the war there more than 9,000 people working on the site – some of who were to go on and meet after the war, and even get married without even realising that they had been working at the same place during the war. In fact, extraordinarily, people who worked there were not allowed to talk about their roles until 2009, when the government finally lifted restrictions. For more than 60 years, they’d kept their secrets and many, of course, have died without ever divulging their role in the codebreaking activities. Once the ban on talking about it was lifted, the historians and archivists at the park have been able to gather more information about activities during the war years and where possible compile recordings from people who worked there. From the visitor centre there is plenty more to see. You are given a map of the site and can also pick up an audio guide and then head outside to the many huts and blocks that housed all the different operations and to the main house itself. At the outset, the mansion was the core of the operations and some of the rooms have been re-created exactly as they were 80-plus years ago. Old photographs on the wall are mirrored by the furniture and fittings around you as you immerse yourself in the rich history of the build- ing. The mansion also houses a new exhibi- tion Early Days, which covers the events from 1938 to late 1939. It is laid out in the drawing room and gives an easy to understand overview of the early days. There are lists of recruits – including potential recruits who didn’t make the cut, such as one JRR Tolkein – what happened to him? Maps, emergency procedures and rules on protocol give a flavour of what was expected at the time. And the exhibition also includes some hands on activities. Not as many as had first been planned, but there are opportunities around the

for many important recruits, including Turing. And it was here that they made the first breakthrough in cracking the German Enigma codes. The garages house some of the contem- porary vehicles, including a motorbike – we are reminded that messengers travelled daily to and from London, delivering vital information. And you can also see one of the vehicles used in the film Enigma , based on the book by Robert Harris. The vehicle is on loan from Mick Jagger, one of the producers of the movie. From here you can then make your way around the huts, some of which house individual exhibitions demonstrating the work that went on. They are laid out as they were at the time and – you get a sense of the bustle Continued on page 29 Dilly Knox worked in the cottages here, and was responsible for many important recruits, including Turing. And it was here that they made the first breakthrough in cracking the German Enigma codes.

five areas of the exhibition to immerse yourself in the period and feel like you are taking part. All the activities are Covid-compliant and cleverly laid out for participants of all ages to have a go. Outside, it is easy to imagine the civil- ians and members of the armed forces congregating on the lawns. An old tennis net is still in place and in front of the mansion is a large lake, with picnic areas around it. Soundscapes have been installed so you will hear voices and contemporary scenes being enacted out as you wander around the lake – people playing cro- quet, spotting a Spitfire or just enjoying some leisure time. Behind the mansion is the stableyard, where one of the key figures at Bletchley – Dilly Knox – was based. He worked in the cottages here, and was responsible

O&A SUMMER 2021

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