Events

Thursday 29th May 2008.  Event starts promptly at 6.00pm.

AGM, "The Codebreakers - Enigma, Bletchley Park & The Battle of the Atlantic"

followed by Brewery Tour.  Includes buffet and refreshments

Please Note: Registration for this event is now closed.  We are unfortunately unable to accept any additional attendees.

Shepherd Neame Brewery

17 Court Street
Faversham
Kent   ME13 7AX  

Dr Mark Baldwin MA MSc PhD

Synopsis: One of the Second World War's most fascinating stories is that of the Enigma machine, a portable encryption device widely used by the Germans, which they believed to be totally secure.  Nevertheless, by mathematical analysis and modern technology (and a certain amount of good luck), the Allies devised techniques for 'breaking' Enigma codes, and thus read hundreds of thousands of German messages, providing a wealth of reliable intelligence.

Much of this work was carried out at Bletchley Park, today open to the public as a museum site, which explains and illustrates the history of the attack on Enigma, initiated by the Poles in the 1930s, later perfected by the British.

The intelligence gained was of immense value to the Allies in virtually every theatre of war, but nowhere more so than in the Battle of the Atlantic, that fierce conflict which lasted nearly six years and cost over 60,000 lives. Dr Baldwin uses the Battle of the Atlantic to exemplify the importance of codebreaking in winning the war.

After the lecture, the audience are invited to take part in a hands-on practical demonstration of one of the few surviving Enigma machines. Only about 200 are known to survive worldwide; of these, only about a dozen are in public collections in Britain. There is no other machine on tour, so Dr Baldwin is providing a unique opportunity for the audience not just to view, but also to operate, an original 4-rotor Enigma machine, made for the U-Boat service in 1944.  This is of particular interest, as there is no working machine on permanent public display anywhere in England north of Bletchley Park, and nowhere at all in Wales, Scotland or Ireland.

Profile: Dr Baldwin has travelled widely throughout Britain giving over 200 presentations on codebreaking and Intelligence in the Second World War to a variety of audiences - professional, educational, commercial and the general public – including many in theatres, arts centres and festivals. In 2004, he gave 28 presentations including four in Poland. In 2005, he spoke in Germany and Northern Ireland amongst other venues, and in 2006 was asked to mount interpretative hands-on Enigma displays at the Imperial War Museum's travelling exhibition in Shrewsbury, and at the Air Open Day at RAF Cosford, and also gave a series of presentations on board a cruise liner. In 2008, he presented a series 'The Secret War' on board a cruise liner.

This event is open to BCS members and their guests  Members may bring one guest free-of-charge.  For any additional guests, there will be a charge of £20 per head.

For directions to the Brewery, see: http://www.shepherdneame.co.uk/company/maps/index.html.  Faversham railway station is a short walk from the Brewery.

Places are limited, and available on a first come, first served basis.  If you would like to attend, please could you let us know via email. Our email address is kentbcs@btopenworld.com.