Henley-on-Thames Week 2

During World War Two about 10,000 people worked at Bletchley Park to decode messages which the German forces transmitted, most notably by Hitler to the German high command. The cracking of the codes used, the use of the intelligence gained and the subsequent related actions of the Allies is said to have shortened World War Two by two years, saving many lives.

Bletchley Park is also the birthplace of the computer. The world's first programmable, digital, electronic computer: Colossus was invented and built at Bletchley Park during World War Two to speed the reading of encrypted German messages.

Bletchley Park

An enigma machine used for encrypting messages

       

Colossus – one of the first computers    Internal electronics – mock up

   

     Recognise any of these? – I do     Sue at Bletchley Park Post Office

 

  

 

The whole place is chock full of machinery used in the decoding of messages

Gas mask belonging to lan Turing. He was an English mathematician, wartime code-breaker and pioneer of computer science. He worked at Bletchley throughout the war and was at the heart of the establishment. He was seen wearing the gas mask when cycling to work in the summer. He suffered from hay fever. He chained his mug to the radiator so no one else could use it!

     

Whilst at Henley we had two groups of visitors. The first (left) was Sue’s sister Pam and Richard and on the following day Jennifer and Brian, who live not too far away. It was lovely to see everyone.
    

Out and about near Henley

                    Stoner Park                       All Saints’ Church, Bisham
 

We left the River and Rowing Museum to our last full day in Henley. We wish we had visited earlier because the ticket lasts for a year and there was too much to see in one visit. Highly recommended.

The International Rowing Gallery  - it’s difficult exhibiting some of the these boats so hanging them from the ceiling is the best way.

   

The Henley Gallery, showing Eva an umpires launch from the 1870’s.

   

Having a go on a Greek Trireme – a bit of a squeeze

 

Oldie Photo – Holland 1975

Henley-on-Thames Week 1

In early September we went to Four Oaks Caravan Club site just on the edge of Henley. Henley is a small town with a population of 10,500 and is most famous for the Henley Regatta (early July) and the Leander Rowing Club.

By the river in Henley

 

Our first visit out was to the National Trust property Hughenden Manor. It is a red brick Victorian mansion, located in High Wycombe. In the 19th century, it was the country house of the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli.

During the Second World War, Hughenden Manor was used as a secret intelligence base code-named "Hillside". The UK Air Ministry staff at the manor analysed aerial photography of Germany and created maps for bombing missions, including the famous "Dambusters” raid.

Sue and I were surprised to see that two of the photos on show were of Dortmund and Munster, both places we have lived in.

The photos were taken from a slide show hence the poor quality.

 

The first weekend in Henley was ‘Heritage Open Days’. I had booked a visit to the Ercol factory in Princes Risborough. We enjoyed the visit, but because of the factory noise, early on in the tour, we didn’t hear all that was said.

        

In the quieter part of the factory they were steaming and bending the wood for seats, backs etc. I was surprised to see that it was very hands on.

   

On the Friday we knew that David Walliams was passing through Henley on his epic 140 mile swim down the Thames. I was returning from a cycle ride down the Thames Path to be met by a couple of thousand people cheering David on. He can be seen here at the Leander Club who fed and watered him. I am pleased to say that David reached his goal despite Thames Water dumping raw sewage into the Thames close to his route.

  

On the Sunday we headed for Marlow, 8 miles away. They had quite a few offerings for the Heritage Weekend. Most of them are available all the time, but on this weekend there are people about to give the history and background of the structures, statues etc.

Marlow Place – now used as offices     

     An old Gestetner:  some of you might remember them as very messy.

 

Marlow town bridge – the only suspension bridge over the non tidal part of the Thames. It is a smaller version of the suspension bridge over the Danube in Budapest.

                                                       View from the bridge

We found a lovely little garden with this wonderful sundial.

Oldie Photo

Berlin 1970’s - Sue in front of the Berlin Wall and the Brandenburg Gate (which was in East Germany)

Scare-the-Crows

In early September there was the Bisterne Scarecrow Festival. As usual an enormous amount of work had gone into the scarecrows. Can you really call them scarecrows or works of art? As far as I’m concerned these beat Tracey Emin or Damien Hirst.

African Theme

      

Sue with the Fat Controller ( the builder of this Thomas the Tank Engine work said ‘that it it is no longer PC to mention ‘fat’’). It took him 10 months to build this!

  

Ladies Day at Goodwood with a difference. The horses watch the ladies run and jump. The lady on the right was called ‘One too many’.

   

                                    Sue eventually received the wedding invitation.

 

          Ringwood Old Folks                                  Mr Badger

   

A couple of collages showing most of the photos.

 

Action Packed Days

We went to Poole quay to watch the RNLI go through their paces. This year they set light to a tramp steamer (not really) and had to rescue the sailors, who just happened to be wearing dry suits. The day went very orange for a while.

     

Later that week this area hit the headlines for the amount of rain that fell on Thursday. This was the first day of the Air Festival at Bournemouth – they haven’t had much luck over the past few years. At home I managed to get to our garage which is all of 5 paces from the front door. It was a horrendous day. Here are a couple of pictures from the Bournemouth Echo.

         

In contrast the weather on Friday was superb and just right for the Air Festival. We bagged our free parking spot at 1000 in Boscombe and walked down to where the show was going to be. The council had done a marvellous job of clearing up and the only problem we could see was that part of the beach had been washed away by the flood.

There was a good crowd on the beach and there were a few warm up events before the start at 1330.

 

The Memorial Flight – Lancaster Bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane

Breitling wing walkers – spectacular stuff

         

Red Arrows - as usual fantastic

         

Sadly, the following day, Red 4 crashed after the show, killing the pilot

On the way home – Sue at Boscombe beach huts

Quite some time ago I had been asked by Sally, in the turquoise, to lead a ramble for some of her family when they were staying in Fordingbridge, for a family celebration. Graham, in the yellow, had asked me about geocaching, as it happened we were passing one of my caches so I gave them the task of finding it. Sally, with a little help, found it.

Sue and I had been well looked after, by Sally and family, and had a really good breakfast. Sue had come along, but was returning by bus which stopped close by. We spotted the bus stop on arrival, BUT when she went to leave, the bus stop had been decommissioned. With 5 minutes to go to the bus arrival there was nothing Sue could do, but wait. The bus came, Sue thrust her hand out and low and behold the bus stopped.  The driver said ‘ If it had been tomorrow I wouldn’t have stopped!’

Another ‘oldie’ taken at Prince Rupert School Mess in 1972 or 73.