October 8, 2009

Randolph Churchill visits Bletchley Park 

MK NEWS (10 July 2009) – Bletchley Park, whose codebreakers were praised for their secret but vital endeavours in Sir Winston Churchill’s famous analogy, hosted its ninth event dedicated to the wartime Prime Minister.

The annual Churchill weekend saw a series of talks, including a short speech by his great-grandson, Randolph Churchill.

The 44-year-old descendant told a packed Ballroom that he was speaking to MK NEWS last week when he found out that a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of nearly £500,000 was to kick-start a transformation of the decaying buildings.

“I must say, it really brought a tear to my eye,” he said.

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“Bletchley Park does represent everything that’s best in this country – completely dedicated, committed, hard-working people who thought more about the nation than their own personal needs or interests.”

 A special exhibition told the story of Sir Winston becoming First Lord of The Admiralty, 70 years ago.

His Rolls Royce was even parked outside the Mansion for all to see.

The former Prime Minister only came to the Park officially on September 6, 1941 to thank the codebreakers, dubbing them ‘the geese that laid the golden eggs – but never cackled’^*.

But since 1993 the Park has had a permanent tribute, Jack Darrah’s personal collection of memorabilia, including everything from Churchill-themed playing cards to furniture.

Mr Darrah, whose hoard of Churchilliana started with a first edition of his novel, Savrola, said: “I’ve no idea how many pieces I have. It was just a hobby. We travelled all over Europe and brought pieces back from all over the world. Wherever he had been, we tried to go there. Since we’ve been here, we have had thousands of visitors. It’s great to have events like this that celebrate this great man.”

* Quoted in Ronald Lewin, Ultra Goes to War, The Secret Story, London, 1978, page 64. 

© Milton Keynes News at MK-NEWS.CO.UK