We know what you did last summer!        But it's a secret......
   
I would like to tell you that the PGM and Lynne took a small bunch of keen Mark men and their ladies to Milton Keynes to attend the MBF Festival, but I can't. You see, we also visited Bletchley Park, the home of code-breaking in the Second World War, so the visit became Top Secret. But if you promise not to tell anyone, here goes.........but don't forget - loose lips sink ships!
A brilliant step into history
Eric & Tegwen Drinkwater, Geoff & Marion Lee
Hard rock or Mozart ?
Eric & Tegwen negotiating the technology
Sandra takes a moment to rest
Eric does his world-class impression of John Steed
On arrival, we were all entrusted with headphones and a wonderful virtual tour guide, which, being of a more mature age as a party, we did struggle with a bit to start with, but soon progressed to learn all about this fantastic tourist attraction. Even if we did look a little like distracted teenagers!
Peter Connolly and Lynne at Bletchley Park
So you press button A, wait, press again.....
 
oh it turned off
Sandra sits on Winston's stone
The new guard dog
Sandra is a little cracker.....of codes!
Geoff Lee needs help
Winston Churchill visited Bletchley Park on September the 6th 1941 to thank everyone for their efforts, and we were whisked right back to that time as we walked around this magnificent site. Eight million pounds has gone into refurbishing the original huts where the Enigma code was broken, substantially shortening the War, and saving countless thousands of lives. The sound effects outdoors were very effective; we ducked to avoid an enemy fighter, and looked around for the despatch riders, bringing new information to the code-breakers. This was the place where the first computers were born, a giant leap forward in technology, brought about by the need to break an apparently unbreakable code. Even when the code was broken, we kept that fact a secret, and used information gained to mislead our opponents.
Team work with Eric does the job
A previously useful relic, and Bletchley Park
That ceiling would take some painting
Peter & Lynne soak up the atmosphere
Bad news from the front!
Giles scrambles the squadrons
The main house is absolutely magnificent, and used to belong to a single playboy who hosted wonderful parties, so of course we fitted right in!  When the government took over the house for their code-breaking efforts, the thousands of people commuting in and out were explained away by rumours that the house was a lunatic asylum, so of course we fitted right in again! 
The best ceiling I have ever seen
Geoff & Marion relax together
Eric Drinkwater pops the first cork
Pre-dinner drinks - don't mind if I do
Deputy PGM Keith Beardmore
Bill Ainsworth happy to support the event
Tegwen Drinkwater, you shall go to the Ball!
Anyone need a lift?
A short trip back to the hotel, and we prepared for the Festival meeting itself, 500 people gathered together to celebrate the grand total raised by Buckinghamshire for the Masonic Benevolent Fund. The meal was held at the brilliant hotel & function complex used by the MK Dons in the centre of Milton Keynes. The room was very hot, and so was the food, as we dined in our collars to add a sense of occasion to the event. We occupied two tables, proof positive of the wonderful support West Lancs has always given to this Festival, wherever it is held all around the Provinces.  We left the next day, happy to have supported such a worthy cause, and to have done so with such wonderful friends.
June Beardmore, Bill and Denise Ainsworth
Giles & Sandra Berkley loved the whole weekend
Geoff & Marion Lee, Judith & Ian Nairn,
And the PGM makes another new friend! 
happy together
  
 
Words and pictures by
 
Redacted for Security Reasons
You can Visit the Bletchley Park Web Site
 here, but keep it to yourself!