Veteran lauded for helping preserve history and legacy as well as vital role played during second world war The Bletchley Park code breaker Charlotte “Betty” Webb has died at the age of 101 the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association (WRACA) has confirmed Arriving at Bletchley from the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) aged just 18 Webb spent four years during the second world war at the code-breaking centre working in various roles Webb, from Wythall in Worcestershire, intercepted German police messages which revealed the beginning of the Holocaust and paraphrased decoded Japanese messages for the Pentagon in the US the WRACA said on Facebook: “Betty inspired women in the army for decades and we will continue to take pride in her service during WWII and beyond This article includes content provided by Facebook We ask for your permission before anything is loaded as they may be using cookies and other technologies Webb admitted she was unaware of the significance behind the complex codes she was breaking “The messages were in groups of five letters or figures in morse code – nothing was clear at all so senior people could call on a date or message at any time Webb was appointed MBE in 2015 and Knight of the Légion d’honneur in 2021 a prestigious order of merit awarded for both military and civil service in France She was president of the WRACA Birmingham branch Bletchley Park said her contributions to the estate’s work during the second world war and to ensuring its legacy They said: “Betty was not only a member of the incredible team at Bletchley Park during world war two but she also dedicated much of her life to raising the profile of Bletchley Park in more recent years “Her tireless efforts in bringing the history of Bletchley Park to a wider audience through sharing the stories of those who worked here helped ensure that the vital role of Bletchley Park during world war two and its impact on the conflict was recognised “Betty’s passion for preserving the history and legacy of Bletchley Park has undoubtedly inspired many people to engage with the story and visit the site Betty’s impact at Bletchley Park will be remembered for many years to come.” I was lucky enough to hold her hand yesterday as she gently glided to another place She is one of the most remarkable woman I have ever known.” Betty Webb MBE, Bletchley Park and ATS veteran, an exceptional person who grew in old age, has died aged 101. Betty was the very best. I was lucky enough to hold her hand yesterday as she gently glided to another place. She is one of the most remarkable woman I have ever known pic.twitter.com/n9bKs8XcUP A German speaker, Webb’s job was taking decoded messages and reordering the unencrypted wording to be sent to allied commanders, so that if intercepted by the enemy, they would not discover their transmissions were being deciphered. She was 18 and studying at domestic science college near Shrewsbury in Shropshire when she and several others on her course decided to serve. She completed her basic training in Wrexham at the Royal Welch Fusiliers’ barracks before being taken to London for an interview and then immediately to Bletchley Park. Webb never told anyone about her work and it remained a secret until 1975. She was never able to tell her parents as they had already died. From then, she gave talks to schools and other organisations and wrote a book about her experiences. Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker who live just 10 minutes apart and served as codebreakers at Bletchley Park Kathleen Morris and Gwenfron Picken only recently found out recently that they had both worked at the secretive intelligence facility They were part of a team decoding enemy communications and their work remained classified for decades after the war ended from Port Talbot joined First Minister Eluned Morgan at a local church to share their memories of Bletchley Park ahead of VE Day on the 8th of May Kathleen received a letter to go to the Foreign Office when she was 18 and was given a typing test and an interview but then then received a letter to go to Bletchley Park and signed the Official Secrets Act "It was mind-baffling really," she said about the experience "I decoded morse code and passed it to the next person I didn’t even tell my husband about my job until years later," she added Gwenfron was also 18 when she was called for an interview in London and was told to go to work at Bletchley Park she added: "It was very strange to start with to say the least "All of a sudden you were in this place which was full of people We had to go into training to start with and they tested us on speed and accuracy on a normal typewriter "When you passed that they taught us Morse Code and when we were sufficiently proficient at that they introduced us to the machine we'd be working on." a cipher machine used to encrypt and decrypt messages including those intercepted from German Enigma machines "I didn't realise at that time we'd become so important," she added said: "It's an honour to meet these extraordinary women whose work at Bletchley Park was vital to our wartime effort “Their story reminds us of the many unsung heroes who served in silence for decades Kath and Gwenfron represent the very best of Welsh contribution to the war effort." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know.. Two Welsh women who served as code breakers during the Second World War have been celebrated by the First Minister for their crucial work who live just 10 minutes away from each other only found out recently that they had both worked at the secretive intelligence facility were part of a team decoding enemy communications which helped shorten the war and saved many lives Their work remained classified for decades after the war ended Kath from Neath and Gwenfron from Port Talbot got together at a local church to share memories of their time at Bletchley Park with each other and Eluned Morgan The celebration of their efforts during the war comes ahead of VE day on the 8th of May which marked the end of World War Two in Europe after Germany’s unconditional surrender Kath Morris said: “I was eighteen when I received a letter to go to the Foreign Office I was given a typing test and interviewed but I had no idea what it was about I then received a letter to attend Bletchley Park and I signed the Official Secrets Act “I decoded morse code and passed it to the next person I didn’t even tell my husband about my job until years later.” Gwenfron Picken said: “I was eighteen when I was called for an interview where I was asked what I wanted to do to support the war effort but I received a letter saying I needed to go to London for an interview After that I was told to go to Bletchley Park where my work started I made friends there and had a promotion during my time at Bletchley Park.” said: “It’s an honour to meet these extraordinary women whose work at Bletchley Park was vital to our wartime effort.” “Their story reminds us of the many unsung heroes who served in silence for decades.” “Kath and Gwenfron represent the very best of Welsh contribution to the war effort.” Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" The part Bletchley played in defeating the nazi is immense and these ladies all did astounding work that went unreported for security reasons for decades The podcasts are superb and you can hear many of the ladies explain what they did in their own words https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/ Impressed by how those two ladies remain sharp at 101 Politicians and other “leaders” would do well to take life lessons from them Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal Enter your email address to receive instant notifications of new articles All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018 In 2017 Nation.Cymru was launched after raising £5000 from a crowdfunding campaign Today it is one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK attracting over 1.5 million visitors a month We are not backed by billionaire owners or hidden behind a paywall but we depend on our readers' support to continue our work If everyone who visited the site over the course of a month donated at least £1 we would have enough funding for the next eight years To guarantee our future please consider making a donation today. cubic meters of safely disposed contaminated land West Midlands Trains’ Bletchley Train Maintenance Depot is undergoing a £72 million redevelopment to become the principal maintenance base for the new Class 730/2 electric fleet and diesel units This ambitious initiative sets new standards in rail infrastructure and sustainability paving the way for a greener future.  Central to the redevelopment is a commitment to sustainability The new solar farm at Bletchley will produce 170 kW of power This aligns perfectly with our broader decarbonisation agenda supporting West Midlands Trains’ goal of growing passenger use of rail services The extension of the existing shed by 45 meters and the addition of six new electrified rails along with the refurbishment of accommodation areas blend the old with the new to futureproof rail infrastructure.  supported by a larger interface team across other sites embodies the spirit of collaboration and innovation we are overcoming challenges such as the lack of road access and historical site issues to create a seamless and integrated rail network Detailed planning and coordination ensure minimal disruption to the surrounding area.  The Bletchley Depot project is more than just a construction endeavour; it is a story of resilience and forward-thinking our team has safely disposed of 20,000m³ of contaminated land ensuring the depot meets current standards and is prepared for future demands.  As we approach the completion date in autumn 2025 Bletchley Depot will stand as a beacon of the UK’s plans for a net-zero railway supporting sustainable and efficient rail transport for decades to come North-West and Central (NW&C) regional portfolio energy assessment Birmingham New Street station refurbishment Home / News / Hop to Bletchley Park this Easter for fun-filled activities Amazing Machines’ tour is suitable for families with children aged 5-14 It lasts approximately 45 minutes and takes place outside Children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the tour And your general admission ticket acts as an Annual Pass – giving unlimited free returns for a year More: https://bletchleypark.org.uk/ You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any point by clicking the link at the bottom of this website.Newsletters are sent on a monthly basis Site designed by ilk.Agency. Copyright Destination Milton Keynes 2025. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe newsletter. Sitemap, Privacy Policy, Accessibility When I’ve completed a long book, like The Enigma Girl for the truth is that the book is always so very different to what was hazily in my mind at the outset as he once told me during a photoshoot for a magazine he plans every scene on index cards before he starts writing and knows exactly what happens right up to the denouement I have almost no idea of the way things will unfold which means there are lots of surprises and many unnecessary diversions along the way—one reason I had to reduce the book from 180,000 to around 135,000 words over the winter of ’23 to ‘24 Themes and subplots emerge as I allow myself to dive down rabbit holes during my rather haphazard research These excursions are often a waste of time but sometimes they become very important to the book My obsession during the last days of lockdown with the Bronze Age archaeological sites of eastern England looked like a classic Porter dead end But soon after returning from looking at the 3,000-year-old log boats near Peterborough and the Sea Henge in Norfolk – an ancient circle made of tree trunks that have been precisely dated to the spring of 2049 BC –  I knew that the hero of The Enigma Girl And from her experience on that dig came important themes about loss and death a Polish theme began to develop after my first visit to the UK’s wartime codebreaking centre at Bletchley Park I travelled the 40 miles from my home in the Cotswold to Milton Keynes with a rough idea that the New Town planned in the Sixties might be an original setting for a story involving my young MI5 undercover specialist I didn’t know until I reached Milton Keynes that it contained Bletchley Park the site of the heroic British effort to crack the Enigma enciphering machine during World War II After crisscrossing the town in dense fog and becoming intrigued by the thoroughly un-British grid of boulevards I had time to spare and decided to visit the Bletchley Park museum The story of the frantic work conducted in the huts that were hastily erected around an ugly Victorian mansion in the then village of Bletchley has become one of the key myths about Britain’s war against Germany Miraculous feats were achieved at Bletchley especially Alan Turing’s work on computing and the construction of the world’s first programmable electric computer – Colossus But not until I wandered into the courtyard of the old stable block beside the mansion did I become aware of the vital role of Polish cipher experts in cracking Enigma there is memorial of an open book with the names Jerzy Rozycki Research on my phone while I was standing in front of the memorial revealed that during the 1930s the trio used mathematics to reverse engineer the commercial version of the machine and developed a mechanical device to calculate the Enigma settings that changed the German cipher every day possibly after their favourite ice cream desert or because the machine made the sound of a ticking bomb Alan Turing and the arrogant genius Dilly Knox which was to be set in the present day and was about the struggle between journalists bent on revealing the truth and the government and Big Money who want to bury it I had the idea of a news website that was based in Milton Keynes and staffed by the descendants of people who worked at the Government codebreaking centre during the war – a gene pool of talent and brains that worries the authorities that she came directly from a line of spies some of them Jews whose families had assimilated into Polish middle classes during the nineteenth century Those three Polish mathematicians were excluded from the work at Bletchley but just after the invasion of Poland by Germany in September 1939 head of Polish Cipher Bureau’s German section He and a small company of men went behind enemy lines and reached the secret codebreaking facility at Pyry where all the evidence of the Polish success with the Enigma machine was waiting to be seized by the Wehrmacht If the Germans had discovered that he and his colleagues had broken Enigma a crucial advantage would have been lost and the war would certainly have taken many different turns The radio mast used to intercept German radio transmissions was blown up all the secret papers and equipment burned and the Enigma rotors and machines were spirited away by Ciężki my unplanned visit to a deserted museum provided many fundamentals of the book and I knew that this was precisely the sort of action Slim’s ancestors would have taken I was discovering my hero in history that long preceded her existence which is a strange way of building a  backstory yet it was how I came to know the forces that were responsible for her courage and sense of justice which seemed particularly cold and damp even for Britain I hiked through the dismal countryside near where I live to an old prisoner of war camp that was hurriedly built at the same time as the sprawling network of huts at Bletchley Park It was never used for German POWs but instead became the home of hundreds of displaced Polish soldiers and their families after the war Just a few hundred yards from where I write now there is a cemetery with a section reserved for the people who never returned to Poland and died at the camp I find it rather moving that over fifty years after the closure of what became known as the Northwick Park Resettlement Camp fresh flowers are still placed on the graves of the people who lived in the camp hidden from the track by a low stone wall and privet hedges I had often passed the small enclosure but never ventured inside How glad I am that I went in and crouched down to read a plaque dedicated to servicemen and their families who lived at the camp “started with deportation to Siberia in 1940 they contributed greatly to the Allied Victory of World War II In 1942 most of the civilians were separated from the soldiers in Persia and transferred to East African countries to be returned in Great Britain during 1948.” Those few lines contain one of the great forgotten stories of the war – a whole army and thousands of civilians seized and imprisoned by Stalin then let go when Germany attacked Russia in 1942 Thousands of Polish men and women walked across the Soviet Union then boarded ships to cross the Caspian Sea only to begin another journey through present day Iran the soldiers became a ferocious fighting force Some of them choose to stay in Palestine and fight for the nascent Israel others joined the Allied forces in the Italian campaign and fought all the way up Italy many being decorated for the bravery at Monte Cassino And when this epic journey ended in the quiet English countryside in 1945 these extraordinarily brave and hardy Polish soldiers were forced to wait another three years to be reunited with those family members who had survived a Siberian ordeal of their own The resilience of both men and women is astonishing What relevance does this have to a thriller set in 2025 about a spy sent to infiltrate a troublesome website Everything I have written here was used in the book Apart from giving Slim what I believe to be a rich backstory I was pleased to be able to write about the forgotten heroes who cracked the commercial version of Enigma who saved the secret from the clutches of the Nazis and who crossed Russia and the Middle East to fight for freedom again I never know where I’m going to find material I am constantly aware of the things I must be missing whole stories which may be out there but are lost to me because I failed to follow my nose or look behind a stone wall and some privet hedges on a rather dismal day in Gloucestershire Masthead About Advertisers: Contact Us Privacy Policy Become a member for as low as $5/month Join the global and diverse home for digital CITP validates technical expertise and professional behaviours in the tech industry whether you're starting out or looking for a career change Over 100,000 professionals worldwide are certified with BCS Improve your digital skills so you can get on in today's workplace Bletchley Park’s government-funded The Age of AI is gorgeously designed informative and — most importantly — interesting I’m guided through the maze that is Bletchley Park by Marketing Manager Melanie Owen whose enthusiasm for the new exhibition is infectious and I’m excited to explore what she promises is a colourful diversion in the midst of Bletchley’s wartime aesthetic Set in a small gallery in Block A which totals maybe 30 foot by 20 this exhibition is packed full of more thought-provoking questions and fascinating facts than you might think its small size would allow who offer their opinions on key issues in the future of AI Facts and figures about the role of AI in sustainability are also threaded through The room’s centre is filled by three pyramids which present a history of AI — their peaks detailing the foundations of the field and moving forward in time as the shapes widen their bases conveying current developments This is an effective and engaging way to convey the field’s exponential growth in recent years — and in terms of exhibition design provides an additional point of interest if the main circular route is busy the exhibition covers a broad spectrum of topics without losing focus; the main theme current and future applications of AI and its impact is clearly and effectively contextualised within the history of the development of AI Including the role of Bletchley park itself is also well done — it would have been odd to omit it The exhibition’s design is clear and easy to follow allowing a relaxed ‘dip in and out’ approach The key intentions of The Age of AI are to inform and to spark discussion about how AI impacts our lives already and how it might continue to do so in the future The target audience for this exhibition is ‘teenagers and people their parents’ age’ a combination which intrigued me at first — but having seen the space I can see how encouraging both generations to reflect on the issue simultaneously is an excellent way to spark conversations with varied perspectives Be part of something bigger, join BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT The exhibition hits all the right notes; it’s highly informative without being an information dump leaving enough room for imagination and individual judgment to provide a jumping off point for the discussions it hopes to provoke — not only about what could happen but about what we want (and don’t want) to happen placing the expert talking heads at the end of the designed route has the effect of allowing attendees enough time to engage with the issue themselves before absorbing other viewpoints this sidesteps a wider problem with the constantly available omnipresent onslaught of (mis)information that is the internet: thinking critically and forming an opinion before being influenced by others is increasingly difficult Additionally, it’s the right level of interactive. Many museum exhibitions now offer constant interactivity The interactive elements here are well chosen and entertaining The game of spotting which images and videos are AI generated and which are real is fantastic managing to be simultaneously entertaining and sobering It would be interesting to gather data on whether there’s a generational difference in success spotting AI vs real images — perhaps a missed trick The exhibition does an excellent job of meeting its target audiences where they’re at offering information readable enough to target the youngest of teens and interesting enough to absorb an interested person of any age the colour scheme (on which more later) doesn’t make the fatal mistake of being too childish for a teen audience — bright and engaging without being overwhelming After I finish exploring the exhibition I chat with Tilly Davis Exhibition and Interpretations Manager at Bletchley Park Smiling at my comment that the exhibition is gorgeously designed she tells me that the colour scheme was actually generated by AI with the core colours based on those found inside a data chip pleasingly mirrors the colourful language of programming This is a great touch; not only because it’s — well but because as the exhibit highlights how AI already surrounds us without us realising it’s impactful that the exhibition itself joins in An effective, engaging spark for discussions, it’s easy to imagine the conversations sparked by the exhibition echoing around the rest of the now-tranquil birthplace of the age of AI. Entrance to this temporary exhibition is included with the price of admission to Bletchley Park. The title image for this article was generated by AI and sourced fro Adobe Stock Images. who lived in the same block of flats on December 25 last year Credit: Thames Valley PoliceA 49-year-old man has pleaded guilty to murdering his partner and a neighbour - and trying to kill two other people - on Christmas Day Jazwell Brown stabbed to death his girlfriend Joanne Pearson as well as a teenage boy during the incident Brown appeared in person at Luton Crown Court on Tuesday and spoke only to confirm his identity and admit to two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder during a brief hearing also pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of a knife in a public place and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal It was initially thought that the dog had also died in the incident but police later confirmed it had survived said: "“Jazwell Brown is a dangerous man and I am glad that he has pleaded guilty accepting responsibility for his actions that day but the deaths of Joanne and Teohna cannot be undone "This was a brutal attack on his own partner and neighbour where they should have been able to feel safe and secure." Officers were called to Santa Cruz Avenue in Bletchley while Mr Latter and the teenage boy were taken to hospital with serious injuries said Brown had shown remorse for his actions and was “profoundly sorry” said: "This was an inexplicable attack which has done irreversible damage – robbing two women of their lives and seriously injuring two others "The strength of the prosecution’s case gave Jazwell Brown little choice but to admit his guilt and we are pleased that those affected by this tragic event have been spared the process of a trial "While we may never know why Brown committed such mindless violence we must remember the two lives that were needlessly lost." Mr Justice Kerr remanded the defendant into custody to be sentenced at the same court on 22 May Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know Milton Keynes City Council has launched grant schemes for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Start-ups can apply for up to £2,500 and existing business owners for up to £5,000 The initiative is co-funded by the City Council and the Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Towns Deal and it supports the city council’s vision to drive business growth and create jobs for local people Start-ups will need to prove that they have a business ready to be launched in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford or have been operating for three years or less and need support to develop sustainability measures or IT equipment.  Existing businesses must demonstrate an ambition to grow by introducing new products or services The grant could be used to buy new equipment software development or repairs and maintenance of premises Firms need to have been operating for a minimum of three years in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford.  The grant scheme is now live and will run until March 2025 or whilst funds are available. Further information and details on how to apply are available on the Groundbreaking Bletchley and Fenny Stratford website Home / News / VE Day Celebration Weekend at Bletchley Park Join Bletchley Park in celebrating 80 years since Victory in Europe (VE) with a special weekend of vintage fun Taking place over the weekend of 3rd & 4th May there is a packed schedule of entertainment throughout the weekend activities for families and demonstrations All our exhibitions are open as usual for you to explore how the Codebreakers at Bletchley Park played a vital role in securing victory Walk in their footsteps through refurbished original wartime buildings and hear their stories in their own words Explore interactive exhibits to reveal what life was like at Bletchley Park and discover the impact the intelligence produced had on the conflict You are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy but there are plenty of food and drink options available on site There will be picnic tables set up like a street party for everyone to join together dust off your dancing shoes or grab a deck chair and help us celebrate with the whole family Local people and businesses are being asked to share their thoughts on proposals to create more healthy attractive and thriving town centres in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Following previous engagement with the community Milton Keynes City Council is proposing upgrades to deliver more accessible pedestrian crossing planting and public spaces designed to attract more people to the town centres The project is part of the Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Deal with plans for improvements on Queensway and Aylesbury Street as well as works taking place on Saxon Street to create an accessible gateway into the town centre The consultation is now open until 22 September and people interested in taking part are encouraged to attend a consultation event or view the proposals on the Commonplace platform and share their feedback Further events will be announced on the Commonplace platform the city council will produce a document detailing the feedback received and how it will be incorporated before construction starts next year Online Bletchley Park is widely considered one of the birthplaces of computing and key figures who worked at Bletchley Park during World War Two went on to become pioneers of artificial intelligence This year Bletchley Park opened their new exhibition which examines the rapidly developing role of artificial intelligence in today's society to discuss the contribution of codebreakers from Bletchley Park in the history of AI and how today's Bletchley Park went about creating an exhibition on an ever-evolving topic You do not need any prior knowledge of AI to enjoy this event This festival event is a collaboration between the King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Bletchley Park Register on Eventbrite Tilly Davis is Exhibitions and Interpretation Manager at Bletchley Park Trust Tilly's background is in the management and development of heritage sites Tilly worked in local authority heritage houses Tilly holds a MA in Museum Studies and a BA (Hons) in Archaeology and Anthropology Dr David Kenyon is Research Historian at Bletchley Park Trust He is responsible for historical research in support of all public content at Bletchley Park This includes exhibition material as well as visitor tours He also appears as a spokesman for Bletchley Park on TV and radio Erica Munro is Head of Content at Bletchley Park Trust Erica manages Bletchley Park’s Content team Erica’s priorities are ongoing care for the collections and buildings and interpreting BP’s complex narratives and inspiring stories in an enjoyable and meaningful way This event is part of the King’s Festival of Artificial Intelligence Running from Tuesday 20 May to Saturday 24 May five-day festival brings together a diverse line-up of experts to consider critical questions about artificial intelligence in the context of healthcare Festival events will take place across several King’s venues so please check carefully where the event is taking place Festival event times may be subject to change Any changes will be communicated to attendees via Eventbrite emails which means we routinely overbook to allow for no-shows and avoid empty seats so please arrive in good time to avoid disappointment We will not be able to admit those without tickets or latecomers Milton Keynes City Council has developed a new business narrative to market Bletchley and Fenny Stratford to investors which was prepared in partnership with business representatives tells a compelling story about why the area is attractive for businesses to locate to and invest in As well as the messages in the narrative itself, there are other free to use materials including a photo library and fact-pack that local businesses and organisations can download to promote Bletchley and Fenny Stratford. Find them at https://groundbreakingbletchleyandfenny.co.uk/home/business-narrative Produced in support of a strategic effort to attract more investment into the area as part of the Town Deal Fund for the regeneration of Bletchley and Fenny Stratford the business narrative positions Bletchley and Fenny Stratford as a thriving hub of innovation the Town Deal-funded projects are set to create new business opportunities and local jobs This exhibition will invite visitors to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is already part of their everyday lives whilst revealing cutting-edge research projects and examining the opportunities and risks of frontier AI The temporary exhibition at Bletchley Park a museum and heritage attraction in Milton Keynes draws from the site’s unique significance as one of the birthplaces of modern computing and the venue of the first global AI Safety Summit (AISS) hosted by the UK Government Visitors to The Age of AI will learn about the connections between AI and Bletchley Park They will discover how AI is at the heart of groundbreaking advances in the worlds of healthcare while provoking discussion on how reliant on AI we could – and should - be The exhibition targeted at teenagers and people of their parents’ generation will ask what is AI; what effect does it have on our experiences; and how will this change in the future interactives and ‘talking heads’ from industry experts looking at current and cutting-edge applications of AI and explores how we might safely navigate our way through an increasingly AI-generated world The exhibition explores the links between AI today and Bletchley Park’s iconic codebreaking achievements during World War Two Home to the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) during wartime Bletchley Park is considered one of the birthplaces of modern computing due to both the technological innovations and the achievements of the people that took place here during World War Two Codebreakers who worked at Bletchley Park who went on to pioneer ideas around AI Alan Turing was a mathematician and is often considered ‘the father of AI’ - he broke conceptual ground in the fields of cryptography at Bletchley Park and computing before and after his time at the codebreaking site Other notable Bletchley Park Codebreakers include Jack Good and Donald Michie who both published works about AI Bletchley Park was chosen as the venue for the world’s first AI Safety Summit This landmark event resulted in the Bletchley Declaration which and set out the need for collaboration between nations academia and international organisations to make sure AI is developed in a safe and responsible way to ensure that the benefits of the technology can be harnessed responsibly for good and for all The Summit is part of an ongoing global movement and AI is now part of conversations at the G7 and G20 – joining other big issues of today’s world The third AI Safety Summit (the AI Action Summit) is being held in Paris on 10 and 11 February 2025 Bletchley Park Trust is grateful for the support and funding from the UK Government for The Age of AI exhibition The funding was announced following the AI Safety Summit Entry to the The Age of AI exhibition is included with admission. Standard admission tickets to Bletchley Park act as an Annual Pass giving unlimited free returns within 12 months. Under 12s go free. Full details on the Bletchley Park website: https://bletchleypark.org.uk Book your visit here: Bletchley Park | Home MKFM always wants to hear your stories about your city If you've missed the latest on social media here's what we've been up to this month Charity astronomy evening to support life-changing community work Red Bull secured double points after a fierce Max Verstappen claimed his third pole position of the season as both Red Bull drivers reached Q3 ahead of tomorrow's Miami Grand Prix Poor weather created the perfect storm for a chaotic Miami Sprint Race It was mixed emotions for Red Bull Racing during qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix Sprint Race Feedback window for local sports closes on Sunday Track riders implore electric vehicle users: ‘please don’t wreck it again’ Chilly feeling with scattered showers possible Bereaved kids fund calling for support from local businesses © 2020 MKFM Limited - Radio Made In Milton Keynes. Powered by Aiir. An inflatable balloon-dome company, independent cafes and local energy efficiency installers are among 25 businesses in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford who have been awarded grants to drive growth and create new jobs for local people. Milton Keynes City Council launched the grant scheme last year as part of the Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Deal which aims to drive economic growth to the area. Start-ups will receive up to £2,500 and more established businesses up to £5,000. Successful start-ups demonstrated that they have a business ready to be launched in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford, or have been operating for three years or less and need support to develop. The grant will be used for marketing, branding, training, business planning, financial management, sustainability measures or IT equipment.  Existing businesses will receive up to £5,000 to grow their current offer through launching new products, or by scaling up. The grant will be used to buy new equipment, cover consultancy costs, staff training, rebranding, software development or repairs and maintenance of premises.  One of the successful applicants is BalloonyTyphoony, who supply inflatable balloon-domes for events and parties. They will be using the grant to purchase equipment that will help ensure their activities are suitable for children with disabilities. Charlotte “Betty” Webb MBE was from Wythall in Worcestershire. She was one of the last surviving codebreakers at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire The Women’s Royal Army Corps Association said she died on Monday She worked at Bletchley Park as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) indexing German messages and paraphrasing Japanese signals She later paraphrased Japanese messages at The Pentagon in the US and was also awarded France’s highest distinction "We ought to be serving our country rather than just making sausage rolls” Mrs Webb first worked at Bletchley Park as a secretary and said it was “pretty boring but had to be done” until she moved into paraphrasing in F block and her job was taking decoded messages and reordering the unencrypted wording to be sent to Allied commanders they would not discover their transmissions were being deciphered Mrs Webb was 18 and studying at domestic science college near Shrewsbury in Shropshire when she and several others on her course decided “we ought to be serving our country rather than just making sausage rolls” She started volunteering for the ATS in 1941 according to an interview she gave as part of the Bletchley Park oral history project in February 2012 She completed her basic training in Wrexham at the Royal Welch Fusiliers’ barracks before being taken to London for an interview Mrs Webb remembered registering messages immediately without any training and said they were told to just “get on with it” before being taken into a separate room occupied by a “rather severe” Army captain and given the Official Secrets Act to read She said every message that came in had to be registered Around 10,000 messages came into Bletchley Park each day all requiring sorting and storing correctly Mrs Webb was then moved into the Japanese section paraphrasing the translated Japanese messages and was sent to Washington in May 1945 to assist with the Pacific War effort Mrs Webb never told anyone about her work and it remained a secret until 1975 She was never able to tell her parents as they had already died she gave talks to schools and other organisations and wrote a book about her experiences For services to remembering and promoting the work of Bletchley Park Mrs Webb was also invited to King Charles’s coronation in 2023, for which she had a front row seat. "Betty inspired women in the Army for decades" the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association said: “Last night we lost a proud ATS and WRAC veteran “Betty inspired women in the Army for decades and we will continue to take pride in her service during WWII and beyond Bletchley Park said her contributions to the estate’s work during the Second World War and to ensuring its legacy They said: “Betty was not only a member of the incredible team at Bletchley Park during World War Two helped ensure that the vital role of Bletchley Park during World War Two Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News added: “The Trust was very sad to learn of Betty’s death not only for her work at Park during World War Two but also for her efforts to ensure that the story of what she and her colleagues achieved is not forgotten “She was an unrivalled advocate and supporter of the heritage site that Bletchley Park is today Betty has been involved in spreading the word about Bletchley Park for many friends and all those who were touched by her warmth In February 2023, Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) announced its purchase of the site citing its derelict condition and history of vandalism The property was acquired by the Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP) the independent property arm of the City Council as part of the broader Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Deal project which includes £23 million in government funding aims to rejuvenate the area with significant improvements the MKCC Cabinet approved the Brunel Centre Development Brief after consulting with the local community The brief will guide the site’s future use and design aligning with both the City Council’s and residents' visions for revitalising the town centre The redevelopment of the former supermarket is part of wider efforts to breathe new life into Bletchley including plans to attract events like food festivals to Queensway and offer grants to local entrepreneurs Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources and Customer Experience “We have a real opportunity to deliver a scheme that will benefit people for generations to come It’s thanks to the local community who have helped shape the proposals until now.” The Junior NBL season came to an end in Manchester last weekend with two Breakers teams crowned national champions after emerging triumphant at the Final Fours © 2020 MKFM Limited - Radio Made In Milton Keynes. Powered by Aiir one of the last surviving women to serve at Bletchley Park during the Second World War A key figure in Britain's wartime intelligence effort transcribing decrypted enemy messages – a job that contributed to the liberation of France and eventual Allied victory when the Bletchley operation was declassified that she could even tell her family what she had done during the war Mrs Webb was recruited into the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1941 and later posted to Bletchley at the age of 18 she went to work at the Pentagon after spending four years at Bletchley Mrs Webb was the only member of the ATS to be sent to Washington to work on the Pacific Front where she paraphrased and transcribed decoded Japanese messages she worked as a secretary at a school in Shropshire having to keep her wartime work a secret for the next three decades until it was officially declassified in the 70s.  She was appointed an MBE in 2015 and later awarded France's highest honour, the Légion d'Honneur Mrs Webb remained active in public life well into her later years becoming well-known for the legacy of the work carried out at Bletchley she returned to the Buckinghamshire site to celebrate A Lancaster bomber flypast marked the occasion The Bletchley Park Trust released a statement paying tribute to her decades of advocacy "The Trust was very sad to learn of Betty's death not only for her work at Bletchley Park during World War Two but also for her efforts to ensure that the story of what she and her colleagues achieved is not forgotten," said Iain Standen "She was an unrivalled advocate and supporter of the heritage site that Bletchley Park is today Betty Webb's death marks the passing of another link to a vanishing generation – and to a world forever changed by war Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe to: built around Alan Turing and the Enigma machine most of the work of cracking wartime codes was actually done in Washington because the Americans had essentially unlimited machinery and operators When my mother was in charge of the efforts against a German diplomatic cypher she could call on the use of one tabulating-machine operator at Bletchley the Americans were using 100 against the same cypher the American who coined the term “cryptography” visited Britain in 1942 and was shocked by the materially primitive operation at Bletchley He reported home: “A very great deal of handwork and handwriting is done even at the top their card indexes are terrible to look at — but they have the data on them & they know how to use them They pass important info on dirty little slips of paper or chits & they don’t seem to get lost somehow The rooms they work in are dirty & messy & cluttered up And one should see the cups they drink tea from — well dishwashing facilities are nil & it’s a wonder to me there isn’t rampant trench mouth around.” I’m sure that the Chinese operations now have immaculate toilets and all the most modern office equipment the Chinese were forced to work smarter by the absence of American machinery; unlike the wartime situation this was the result of deliberate American government policy US government sanctions prevent Chinese companies’ getting their hands on the most advanced Nvidia chips which were thought to be essential for really advanced AI it turns out that you can do the work with older chips And what is now left of the American Empire One of the best and most illuminating reporters of the world outside the news is Chris Arnade a former Wall Street banker who now wanders the world talking to a murderer: “I met Ian on my last day in Liverpool and in the last pub of the evening The first pub I’d nicknamed ‘Falling down pub’ after the large shirtless guy who fell down I don’t have his picture because it was painful enough to watch him floundering on the floor like a sweaty bloated larva This is the kind of reporting that newspapers just can’t do any more, largely because it takes time as well as talent. Arnade publishes on Substack My subscription to The Times costs four times as much No wonder what used to be called the “mainstream” media are now known as the “legacy” Letters for publication should be sent to letters@churchtimes.co.uk Letters should be exclusive to the Church Times Your name and address will appear below your letter unless requested otherwise are part of these wartime children’s memories We are a partnership of six diverse and welcoming congregations in the northern districts of Milton Keynes offering a rich tapestry of worshipping traditions – Anglican Are you an experienced leader with a passion for community engagement and collaborative ministry We are a conservative evangelical church with a long history of faithful Bible teaching in the coastal town of Whitehaven in beautiful West Cumbria We long to be passionate disciples’ of the Lord Jesus who are transformed through a deeper knowledge of God’s Word Intercontinental Church Society is an Anglican mission agency with mission partners serving in various locations around the world We seek a full-time Recruitment and Short-Term Mission Manager based in Coventry to lead chaplaincy recruitment and manage short-term mission run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times tickets available This online seminar, run jointly by Modern Church and The Church Times discusses the theology underpinning the drive for growth tickets available Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863 search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention Explore the archive To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe. Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month. (You will need to register.) A 49-year-old man is to appear in court charged with two counts of murder after two women died following a suspected stabbing in Milton Keynes on Christmas Day will appear at High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on Saturday after police confirmed the identities of the female victims as Joanne Pearson Brown has been charged with two counts of murder and one count each of possession of a bladed article in a public place and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal Thames Valley Police officers were called to a block of apartments in Santa Cruz Avenue at around 6.30pm on Wednesday to reports of a stabbing A man in his late 20s and teenage boy were also seriously injured and taken to hospital where they remain in a stable condition The force also confirmed the parties involved were known to each other Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News Police said a dog had also been injured and died but were later informed that it was taken to a vet has survived A large cordon was in place at the scene on Thursday and a forensics team could be seen walking up the stairs of a block of flats Flowers have been left on Santa Cruz Avenue and people in the area have been reacting in shock to the deaths Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. LAST Summer, 101-year-old Betty Webb attending an event at the museum in Wormelow to mark the 80th anniversary of Violette Szabo, a British-French Special Operations Executive, being arrested by German officers. Betty, who was invited merely as a guest was persuaded to talk about her early life being a code breaker at Bletchley Park – and stole the show with her anecdotes of being a vital cog in the Allies' war machine. However, The Woman’s Royal Army Corps Association confirmed that Charlotte ‘Betty’ Webb MBE had died earlier this week. In tribute Rosemary Rigby, the owner of the museum dedicated to Violette Szabo said of Betty: “She was so lively and captivated the crowd who had attended the museum. It wasn’t planned, but she spoke for a long time, and this was followed up with a very interesting question and answer session. “We were mesmerised by her tales, nothing phased her. I’d never met anyone like her. I’m so sorry she has gone. She looked so well last summer.” Iain Standen, Bletchley Park Trust’s chief executive, said Mrs Webb will not only be remembered for her work but also for her efforts to ensure that the story of what she and her colleagues achieved is not forgotten. He added: "Betty's passion for preserving the history and legacy of Bletchley Park has undoubtedly inspired many people to engage with the story and visit the site.” Betty enlightened the Wormelow audience by speaking about her time working at Bletchley Park and explained that she was translating and paraphrasing foreign messages between 1941 and 1945, but admitted she didn’t do Morse code. She said that her mother had taught her to speak German as a child and when she was first taken to her posting at Bletchley Park she remembered being told to read the Official Secrets Act and recalled: "I realised that from then on there was no way that I was going to be able to tell even my parents where I was and what I was doing. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bletchley as we analysed German communications and I now realise that I was part of fantastic team. “I didn’t realise the significance of what we did until we started having reunions and then we understood how important it all was. “After the war I flew to Ireland in a Sunderland Flying boat before heading to the States and working at the Pentagon, doing much the same job as I had done at Bletchley. “It didn’t feel that this was a great privilege at the time, however I did enjoy the food in America, because they were not subjected to rations.” Betty was asked if she had met Leo Marks or Alan Turing at Bletchley, but said she hadn’t, but quipped that she had seen Mr Turing in person as he used arrive at work on his bicycle wearing his gas mask. After the war Betty took up a secretarial post at a school in Shropshire and worked alongside a head teacher, who had also worked at Bletchley. Comments Tel: 01594 820600[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 The Department for Transport had already announced in March that Chiltern Railways will provide the services using six Class 196 units but at the time it did not reveal the start date except that it would be ‘later this year’ The update about a launch came during an event at the Railway Civil Engineers' Association in London yesterday Uncertainty remains about the next stage of the project to upgrade the existing double track line between Bletchley and Bedford which was the only section of the former Varsity Line to escape closure in British Rail days Chiltern has been training crews with special movements between Bletchley High Level which involve reversing at Fenny Stratford The training route includes the single line over Fenny Stratford viaduct and the line is thought to be a candidate for doubling to avoid a bottleneck when services eventually start running between Oxford and Bedford A spokesman for the EWR Co said: ‘The East West Rail Alliance which built and delivered the new infrastructure between Bicester and Bletchley handed the line over to Network Rail on time and on budget Now Chiltern has been officially appointed as their operator,  their driving training programme is now in full swing As your readers will know it takes time to recruit and train the required number of drivers to operate a route and ensure they are fully route trained particularly as this route is complex as it connects with the busy West Coast Main Line ‘Chiltern are also completing fit out work at the stations such as Winslow to ensure everything is in place for the entry into service and are also preparing the Class 196s by applying livery and branding to these units It was always the plan that after the announcement of the operator it would take around 9 months to put everything in place to begin services.’  Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews Moderated comments will be published on this site and may also be used in the next print edition Back to News Use Full Site contact@railnews.co.uk Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Charlotte "Betty" Webb, a Bletchley Park codebreaker who served as an inspiration to generations of women in the Army The Women's Royal Army Corps Association said she died on Monday From 1941 to 1945, Ms Webb played a crucial role at Bletchley Park as a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) Her work involved indexing German messages and paraphrasing Japanese signals contributing significantly to the Allied war effort Her expertise extended beyond Bletchley Park she continued her vital work at The Pentagon In recognition of her exceptional service in the ATS Webb was awarded France's highest distinction Ms Webb's role at Bletchley Park was as a secretary but her skills and abilities soon led her to a more demanding and impactful role in F block Ms Webb's responsibility involved taking decoded messages and restructuring the unencrypted text before sending it to Allied commanders This meticulous process ensured that even if intercepted by the enemy the messages would not reveal that Allied forces were deciphering their transmissions Ms Webb was 18 and studying at domestic science college near Shrewsbury in Shropshire when she and several others on her course decided “we ought to be serving our country rather than just making sausage rolls” She completed her basic training in Wrexham at the Royal Welch Fusiliers’ barracks before being taken to London for an interview and then immediately to Bletchley Park Ms Webb remembered registering messages immediately without any training. She said they were told to just “get on with it”, before being taken into a separate room occupied by a “rather severe” Army captain and given the Official Secrets Act to read About 10,000 messages came into Bletchley Park each day Ms Webb was then moved into the Japanese section For services to remembering and promoting the work of Bletchley Park, she was made an MBE in 2015 Ms Webb was also invited to King Charles’s coronation in 2023 In a tribute, the Women’s Royal Army Corps Association said: “Betty inspired women in the Army for decades and we will continue to take pride in her service during WWII and beyond, and as a champion of female veterans.” In a statement, Bletchley Park said her contributions to the estate’s work during World War II and to ensuring its legacy will “never be forgotten”. It said: “Betty was not only a member of the incredible team at Bletchley Park during World War II, but she also dedicated much of her life to raising the profile of Bletchley Park in more recent years. “Her tireless efforts in bringing the history of Bletchley Park to a wider audience, through sharing the stories of those who worked here, helped ensure that the vital role of Bletchley Park during World War II, and its impact on the conflict, was recognised. “Betty’s passion for preserving the history and legacy of Bletchley Park has undoubtedly inspired many people to engage with the story and visit the site. Betty’s impact at Bletchley Park will be remembered for many years to come.” Betty Webb during service, left, and in later life, right A key milestone for “Connection Stage One” of the East West Rail project has been reached today (Monday 21 October) after a test train successfully completed its first run between Oxford and Milton Keynes Network Rail worked with its partners at Chiltern Railways to operate the first train over the newly rebuilt section of the line between Bicester and Bletchley as part of testing on the route This work brings the rail line a step closer to reopening to passengers for the first time in nearly 60 years a Chiltern Class 168 train made a full journey along the line Winslow and Bletchley before arriving at Milton Keynes Central at 10.25am The journey along the entire route took 42 minutes to complete with the train reaching the full line speed of 100mph on several sections of line Network Rail’s Director of Capital Delivery said: “Today is a huge milestone for the East West Rail project.  I am incredibly proud of the partnership between Network Rail our East West Rail Alliance supply chain partners in successfully completing the construction and entry into service of the new railway between Bicester and Bletchley “The running of our first test train today is a huge achievement and brings us one step closer to restoring train services between Oxford and Milton Keynes for passengers." said: “I am delighted that Chiltern will be running the first series of test trains between Oxford and Milton Keynes." “Working with colleagues at Network Rail and the EWR Alliance this important step in the programme will ensure the infrastructure is ready for passenger service in the future.” said: "This is a fantastic achievement and an extremely proud moment for everyone here at East West Rail “I would like to thank all our colleagues at the East West Rail Alliance who have worked so hard to rebuild this railway and in particular our local communities for their continued patience and understanding during the construction works “We can all now look forward to passenger services beginning next year and delivering the improved connectivity which this region so desperately needs.”   The event not only marks the first time a train was able to use this section of the new railway line but also a major stage of the East West Rail project which is planning to deliver transport connections for communities between Oxford and Cambridge Connection Stage One of the project includes the introduction of services from Oxford to Bletchley and Milton Keynes with the aim of the first passenger services starting in 2025 Services will better connect passengers and will have the potential to help unlock economic growth and create new opportunities across the region Chiltern Railways is supporting both Network Rail and the East West Rail Alliance which is a partnership between AtkinsRéalis and Network Rail, by running test trains as part of technical preparations to open the line Testing and training will now take place over the coming months and the project remains on track to begin passenger services in 2025 will continue to ensure the safety and reliability of the new infrastructure.  The £1.2billion East West Rail project is being delivered by Department for Transport Network Rail and the East West Rail Alliance Key achievements from the project since construction began in November 2021:   to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years This was summer 1941 and she was halfway through a domestic science course at Radbrook College learning to cook and run a household."},"children":[]}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"She was ordered to report to Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire Many years later she enjoyed pointing out the room in which at age 18 she signed the Official Secrets Act Seated behind a large desk was a senior intelligence officer “I remember he had a handgun lying casually beside him … I was told to sign and made to understand in no uncertain terms that I could never discuss anything about my work here with anyone.”"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":200})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"Betty Webb signed up for the Auxiliary Territorial Service because she “wanted to do something more for the war effort than bake sausage rolls” Bletchley Park worker in Japanese section","seoDescription":"Her talent for paraphrasing decoded messages to disguise their origin later took her to the Pentagon","slug":"betty-webb-obituary-bletchley-park-worker-in-japanese-section","categoryPath":"/uk/obituaries/article/betty-webb-obituary-bletchley-park-worker-in-japanese-section-rd906zfg5","__typename":"Article"},"Image:6e25c4b7-a9e3-4472-94c0-1fdc71475318":{"caption":"Webb at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire She struggled to find work after the war as she was unable to discuss her experience at Bletchley Park","credits":"Alamy","title":"Betty Webb The TimesWebb at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire She struggled to find work after the war as she was unable to discuss her experience at Bletchley ParkALAMYThe TimesThursday April 03 2025 The TimesBetty Webb signed up for the Auxiliary Territorial Service because she “wanted to do something more for the war effort than bake sausage rolls” She was ordered to report to Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire “I remember he had a handgun lying casually beside him … I was told to sign and made to understand in no uncertain terms that I could never discuss anything about my work here with anyone.”