Wednesday, 11 February 2009

PRESS RELEASE

Members of the Peel Society outside Bletchley Park. Members of the committee by the portrait of Colin Grazier Nigel Morris, wearing a Churchill Homberg, presenting the cigar holder to Jack Darrow.

43 members of the Peel Society braved the snow and ice last week to visit Bletchley Park and Windsor Castle.  The weather did not deter them!

The brains of Bletchley Park, matched to the bravery of sailors like Colin Grazier, shortened the 2nd World War by years thus saving millions of lives.  The group heard the story of how Bletchley Park was acquired by the secret services and developed into a pioneering computer science park whilst deciphering enemy messages.  They also visited huts where up to 10,000 people worked.  It remained a secret throughout the war.

In one of the huts is the Churchill Room, which houses Jack Darrow's outstanding collection of Churchill memorabilia built up since 1947.  During the launch of Phil Shanahan's book "The Real Enigma Heroes" on Easter Sunday last year, Peel Society members Barbara and John Kingslake noticed that it did not have a Churchill cigar holder. The Kingslakes promised Jack Darrow the cigar holder when they next visited.  They asked Nigel Morris, Vice Chairman, of the Peel Society to present the gift on their behalf, which he was delighted to do.

Mr Darrow found a Homberg hat, similar to Churchill's, for the presentation ceremony.  This added to an exceptionally interesting and well organised tour by the volunteers of Bletchley Park.

After the visit to Bletchley Park, the members stayed overnight in Maidenhead and then visited Windsor Castle.  This has been magnificently restored after the fire in 1992 and contains a wealth of paintings, furniture, ceramics and objets d'arts.

Sir Robert Peel served as a minister with four monarchs, Chief Secretary for Ireland with George III, Home Secretary with George IV and Prime Minister with William IV and Queen Victoria.  He had many audiences with these monarchs at Windsor Castle.

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