OVER 100,000 VISITORS FLOCK TO BLETCHLEY PARK HOME OF THE CODEBREAKERS

 

In 2009, the seventieth anniversary of the outbreak of WW2, the Bletchley Park Trust achieved a landmark conquest – for the first-time ever it welcomed an amazing 100,000 visitors through its gates, providing vital income for the museum.  This was a remarkable 30% increase on 2008 visitor numbers due to unprecedented media interest into some key national events involving Bletchley Park.  This demonstrates that, at last, Bletchley Park is quite rightly becoming known as the ‘national treasure’ it is.

 

The most significant milestone of the year was the long-awaited announcement in September that Bletchley Park Trust had secured a first-round pass with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) making available a development grant of £460,500 to be used to develop plans for transforming the venue into a world class heritage and educational centre.  Once the plans are complete and match-funding of £1,000,000 has been raised, the Trust will progress to the second stage of the HLF application process and apply for approximately £4.1 million to go towards the overall figure of £10 million that is needed for the whole development project. 

 

The year had commenced with a boost from actor and comedian, Stephen Fry, in February urging his Twitter followers to support the campaign to preserve Bletchley Park.  In March, Bletchley Park was announced in an online public vote as the building the nation was most proud of and the TV presenter, Tommy Walsh, visited the Park to present the award.  The same month Milton Keynes Council, having gone to the public vote, announced they were to partner and match-fund the English Heritage pledge of £300,000 for essential repairs.

 

In May, the same month that operational assistance for the Trust by the Government was rejected in the House of Lords, Stephen Fry paid a visit to Bletchley Park and called for Government recognition for its veterans.  This came to fruition in July when David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, announced that Commemorative Badges were to be presented to Bletchley Park veterans.  HRH The Duke of Kent, the Trust’s Chief Patron, celebrated this announcement at Bletchley Park alongside some specially invited veterans and volunteers.  At the same time, Phil Willis MP tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling for Government operational funding for Bletchley Park, attracting the support of many MPs.  Another event that will long remain in the memory of those who took part was the arrival of the BBC Antiques Roadshow on a sunny Sunday in July, which attracted 3,500 visitors, one of the Park’s largest crowds of the year.  The event was considered so successful by the BBC that it was broadcast over two episodes in November. 

 

In August, Bletchley Park Trust received hundreds of messages of support after the Prime Minister responded to the 22,000 signatures on a petition on the official Number 10 Downing Street website calling for Government assistance saying that none would be forthcoming.  However, September was the most remarkable month of the entire year for Bletchley Park for reasons additional to the HLF announcement.  Another Number 10 Downing Street petition requesting a Government apology for the treatment of Alan Turing received enormous media interest and support with Bletchley Park featuring on BBC’s Newsnight.  The Trust welcomed Gordon Brown’s subsequent apology to Turing.  To help celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the arrival of the Codebreakers at Bletchley Park in 1939, over one hundred veterans attended the Annual Enigma Reunion weekend in September.  One of the main attractions was a unique exhibition of rare Enigma and other cipher machines – the largest ever gathered together in one place.  For some veterans, this was the first time they had seen the very machines whose codes they had helped to crack. 

 

October saw a special ceremony at Bletchley Park hosted by the Director of GCHQ and attended by 35 veterans, selected by ballot, who were presented with their badges by the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband MP.  Miliband praised the wartime work of the veterans and said that of all the decisions that land on his desk, the one to commemorate the veterans was the easiest to make.  He added, “What took us so long!”

 

In November, a brilliant comedy benefit performance for Bletchley Park Trust, “Boffoonery!” took place at London’s West End Bloomsbury Theatre.  High-profile, famous comedians and presenters generously gave their time for free including Stephen Fry, Johnny Ball, Punt and Dennis, Maggie Philbin, Dave Gorman, Robert Llewellyn, Laurence and Gus, Simon Singh, Robin Ince and John Finnemore.  The hilarious, sell-out performance was a resounding success and an audio recording will be available from the Trust later this year.

 

Simon Greenish, CEO of the Bletchley Park Trust, summed up 2009, saying, “This has been an incredible year for the Trust in terms of the huge levels of support we received in moving forward our exciting plans to create a world-class heritage site.  We very much hope this support will continue as we now embark on raising the match-funding needed for the Heritage Lottery Funding bid.”

 

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