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Saving Bletchley Park
Imagine a Britain where the most important sites of historical significance are replaced with housing estates and supermarkets. Imagine a Britain without Bletchley Park, where Alan Turing and a team of codebreakers changed the course of World War II and where thousands of women inspired future generations with their work in the fields of computing and technology. Now imagine a group of extraordinary people, who—70 years after the birth of the modern computer at Bletchley Park—used technology to spark a social media campaign that helped secure its future and transform it into the world-class heritage and education center it deserves to be. This is a story about saving Bletchley Park. But it is also the story of the hundreds of people who dedicated 20 years of hard work and determination to the campaign that saved it. It is a testament to the remarkable and mysterious work during World War II that made it a place worth saving. It is a book about campaigners, veterans, enthusiasts, computer geeks, technology, Twitter, trees and Stephen Fry stuck in an elevator. And finally, it is a story about preserving the past for the generations of tomorrow.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2015
21 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Sue Black
3 books56 followersI'm an award winning tech evangelist, I LOVE technology and its ability to help create positive change in the world.
Saving Bletchley Park is my first book. I would really love to know what you thought of it.
I love reading, social media, knitting and doing what I can to make the world a better place.
Saving Bletchley Park is my first book. I would really love to know what you thought of it.
I love reading, social media, knitting and doing what I can to make the world a better place.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
May 15, 2016
What a fascinating story. I love how the story of the history of Bletchley Park is told between the story of Dr Black's efforts to save it. Truly an inspirational book and proof that individuals can make changes that matter. Definitely need to visit Bletchley some day!
April 25, 2016
So often these days, news headlines are pock-marked with nasty tales of hacking incidents, online trolling, bullying and abuse that are setting a lot of people off from participating with any social media platform. But now and then, examples of how fantastic, caring and beneficial social media can be comes into public awareness and forces us to not ignore the good of this medium for all. When I read Saving Bletchley Park, I was given a re-newed, awe-inspiring hope about the state and potential of social media.
This fascinating story reveals how Twitter, and the power of digital and social media, strengthened and was instrumental in saving a near derelict World War II codebreakers headquarters at Bletchley Park.
If you are looking for that ray of sunshine that will get you back onto social media or help you explain to others why it is of value, this is a must read. In this book as well is history of World War II events, told in a way that will not bore you. I marvelled that it is a tale where old technology is saved by new technology, where modern Twitter, and other social channels, play a crucial role in helping preserve the place where modern computing took root, being the birthplace of Colossus and the work base of Alan Turing, who was key in cracking the codes generated by the Enigma machine.
In the book, the author shares so much about the step-by-step evolution of this valiant and dedicated effort of her, and colleagues, years of work to make sure it was not eradicated physically from the UK’s places of historic interest. Hundreds of people sought to preserve Bletchley Park over 20 years. It is likely that many in the UK, and beyond, will know that Bletchley Park is credited for having brought World War II to an end, two years earlier than expected, and to have saved an estimated 22 million lives with the top secret work of codebreaking. Nearly 10,000 people worked in cloaked roles, many being women, and all signed and sworn to a strict secrets act preventing them from speaking about their labour at the place. Sir Winston Churchill said of the codebreakers that they were “the geese that laid the golden egg and never cackled.”
What many may be surprised to learn is how decayed and near demise the site of this crucial turning point for the war was facing not long ago, until its rescuers became activists for the historic venue’s survival. What Dr. Black’s book reveals is a combination of historic information, human anecdotes, and a really good case study for how social media can flip a forgotten relic into public consciousness, over time.
Along the way, Dr Black, using Twitter, along with blogging and other social media channels, found that the digital generation’s freely available tools could help her make people care, and do something to save Bletchley Park. In her tale, you’ll read about how some of the UK’s popular Twitter aficionados like Christian Payne (@documentally), Jamillah Knowles (@jemimah_knight), Mike Sizemore (@sizemore), the Tuttle Club, and more, played a role in raising awareness for the Bletchley Park cause. So much so, that the effort won the attention of celebrity Stephen Fry and, also attracted support and attention from various members of the Royal family, and executives from Google.
Sure, social media wasn’t the only contributing factor, but, as you will find out in the book, it was a major catalyst and turning point for the campaign. The book includes Dr. Black’s tips and real-life, reality based, proven approaches to using social media, and her own journey from intrepidation and low confidence with the medium, to being a fearless advocate of its powers.
I was provided this book by the publisher Unbound in exchange for an honest review.
This fascinating story reveals how Twitter, and the power of digital and social media, strengthened and was instrumental in saving a near derelict World War II codebreakers headquarters at Bletchley Park.
If you are looking for that ray of sunshine that will get you back onto social media or help you explain to others why it is of value, this is a must read. In this book as well is history of World War II events, told in a way that will not bore you. I marvelled that it is a tale where old technology is saved by new technology, where modern Twitter, and other social channels, play a crucial role in helping preserve the place where modern computing took root, being the birthplace of Colossus and the work base of Alan Turing, who was key in cracking the codes generated by the Enigma machine.
In the book, the author shares so much about the step-by-step evolution of this valiant and dedicated effort of her, and colleagues, years of work to make sure it was not eradicated physically from the UK’s places of historic interest. Hundreds of people sought to preserve Bletchley Park over 20 years. It is likely that many in the UK, and beyond, will know that Bletchley Park is credited for having brought World War II to an end, two years earlier than expected, and to have saved an estimated 22 million lives with the top secret work of codebreaking. Nearly 10,000 people worked in cloaked roles, many being women, and all signed and sworn to a strict secrets act preventing them from speaking about their labour at the place. Sir Winston Churchill said of the codebreakers that they were “the geese that laid the golden egg and never cackled.”
What many may be surprised to learn is how decayed and near demise the site of this crucial turning point for the war was facing not long ago, until its rescuers became activists for the historic venue’s survival. What Dr. Black’s book reveals is a combination of historic information, human anecdotes, and a really good case study for how social media can flip a forgotten relic into public consciousness, over time.
Along the way, Dr Black, using Twitter, along with blogging and other social media channels, found that the digital generation’s freely available tools could help her make people care, and do something to save Bletchley Park. In her tale, you’ll read about how some of the UK’s popular Twitter aficionados like Christian Payne (@documentally), Jamillah Knowles (@jemimah_knight), Mike Sizemore (@sizemore), the Tuttle Club, and more, played a role in raising awareness for the Bletchley Park cause. So much so, that the effort won the attention of celebrity Stephen Fry and, also attracted support and attention from various members of the Royal family, and executives from Google.
Sure, social media wasn’t the only contributing factor, but, as you will find out in the book, it was a major catalyst and turning point for the campaign. The book includes Dr. Black’s tips and real-life, reality based, proven approaches to using social media, and her own journey from intrepidation and low confidence with the medium, to being a fearless advocate of its powers.
I was provided this book by the publisher Unbound in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2019
Read this after hearing Sue Black speak at a conference as she was such an engaging and genuine speaker and her enthusiasm for Bletchley Park was infectious. This book is half about the campaign to raise money to save Bletchley Park - the use of Twitter was especially interesting and has made me think again as I don't really use that just now - and half about the people who worked at Bletchley Park, many of whom were young women. It is the real life stories from these people that really make this book - don't want to give any away but they are really worth a read and bring it all to life. Amazing that with so many working there they were able to keep it all completely secret until relatively recently.
One other effect of this book is that I am dead keen to visit Bletchley Park itself now!
One other effect of this book is that I am dead keen to visit Bletchley Park itself now!
November 16, 2016
A fantastic and fascinating book about Dr. Sue Black's campaign to save Bletchley Park, which was where the various codes used by the German forces in World War II for communication were broken. This allowed the Allied forces to know what the Axis forces were up to, contributing to the success of the Normandy landings and the eventual shortening of the war itself, and possibly saving numerous lives.
The book has two parallel stories, mostly alternating in chapters (and in the font used) in the book. The first one tells the story of the setting up of Bletchley Park as the home for the codebreakers. This part mainly focuses on the many women, mainly teenagers, who were called to come to Bletchley Park, sworn to secrecy, and then put to work breaking codes or, later, maintaining the numerous machines created by people like Alan Turing and others. It tells of the physical and emotional hardship they had to endure during the war for they had to keep their work secret from outside people and live in poorly maintained housing.
It ends with the closing of Bletchley Park after the end of the war. With secrecy still important, the women now had to live the rest of their lives unable to tell people just what they did. Worse still, the equipment used at Bletchley Park was destroyed, including the plans, all in the name of secrecy.
The second part is Dr. Black's personal story, starting with her first visit to Bletchley Park in its initial dilapidated condition, and learning just what the place did during the war. Appalled by its condition, she starts a campaign to ask the government to provide funds to help maintain and restore Bletchley Park.
Initially using email, and interviews on TV and radio, she helps to build up interest in Bletchley Park. But the act of using Twitter would prove to be vital for it instantly puts her in touch with a lot of other people and personalities, allowing her to virally spread the message that Bletchley Park needs saving.
And, in the end, Bletchley Park was saved.
Because the historical Bletchley Park chapters concentrate more on the women who worked there, details like how Alan Turing and the other codebreakers actually broke the codes are only briefly covered; but there are other books that cover this. But the brief technical details on codebreaking given in this book is probably enough to give readers an idea of what Bletchley Park did and the pressures they had to work under to keep up to date on what Germany was doing.
The personal chapters on the campaign to save Bletchley Park were an entertaining and interesting look at how a person can run a social media campaign to drum up interest on a topic. However, these chapters assume the reader is already familiar with some of the personalities mentioned (like Stephen Fry) which may or may not be true, depending on the social media circles you are in. But these are momentary interruptions in reading the book.
All in all, an entertaining read about Dr. Black's campaign to save Bletchley Park, along with a glimpse of the lives of the people (mainly women) who worked there during the war. I helped to support this book during its crowdfunding and I proud to be listed at the back of this book as a supporter.
The book has two parallel stories, mostly alternating in chapters (and in the font used) in the book. The first one tells the story of the setting up of Bletchley Park as the home for the codebreakers. This part mainly focuses on the many women, mainly teenagers, who were called to come to Bletchley Park, sworn to secrecy, and then put to work breaking codes or, later, maintaining the numerous machines created by people like Alan Turing and others. It tells of the physical and emotional hardship they had to endure during the war for they had to keep their work secret from outside people and live in poorly maintained housing.
It ends with the closing of Bletchley Park after the end of the war. With secrecy still important, the women now had to live the rest of their lives unable to tell people just what they did. Worse still, the equipment used at Bletchley Park was destroyed, including the plans, all in the name of secrecy.
The second part is Dr. Black's personal story, starting with her first visit to Bletchley Park in its initial dilapidated condition, and learning just what the place did during the war. Appalled by its condition, she starts a campaign to ask the government to provide funds to help maintain and restore Bletchley Park.
Initially using email, and interviews on TV and radio, she helps to build up interest in Bletchley Park. But the act of using Twitter would prove to be vital for it instantly puts her in touch with a lot of other people and personalities, allowing her to virally spread the message that Bletchley Park needs saving.
And, in the end, Bletchley Park was saved.
Because the historical Bletchley Park chapters concentrate more on the women who worked there, details like how Alan Turing and the other codebreakers actually broke the codes are only briefly covered; but there are other books that cover this. But the brief technical details on codebreaking given in this book is probably enough to give readers an idea of what Bletchley Park did and the pressures they had to work under to keep up to date on what Germany was doing.
The personal chapters on the campaign to save Bletchley Park were an entertaining and interesting look at how a person can run a social media campaign to drum up interest on a topic. However, these chapters assume the reader is already familiar with some of the personalities mentioned (like Stephen Fry) which may or may not be true, depending on the social media circles you are in. But these are momentary interruptions in reading the book.
All in all, an entertaining read about Dr. Black's campaign to save Bletchley Park, along with a glimpse of the lives of the people (mainly women) who worked there during the war. I helped to support this book during its crowdfunding and I proud to be listed at the back of this book as a supporter.
December 31, 2016
Wow, history that I can remember. No, not the code breaking efforts at Bletchly park---I mean social media early days, and how Sue Black discovered it could be used to bring about change in the world.
This story is extra interesting for me. We visited BP in 2006, took photos, and later blogged about the situation.
This story is extra interesting for me. We visited BP in 2006, took photos, and later blogged about the situation.
March 29, 2016
As a fan and avid user of social media (Twitter in particular) and a Software Engineer, this book was fascinating. To read accounts of what went on at Bletchley Park from codebreakers themselves to the sheer determination of Dr Sue Black and the use of social media to save this historic site was incredibly inspiring and moving. I can see a visit to Bletchley on the cards very soon. A must read.
February 22, 2016
Definitely worth a read. And then a visit to Bletxhley Park! A fascinating history of Bletchley intertwined with the campaign to raise funds and save the Park for future generations. There's a really upbeat thread running through Sue Black's chapters about the social media campaign.
March 9, 2016
Great book, lots of very interesting material about the significance of Bletchley Park and the people that were there during WW I I, as a contributor to Bletchley Park and an IT professional this is a must read. Well done Sue
March 2, 2019
This is two short books interleaved into one: interesting stories about peoples' experiences during their time at Bletchley Park; Dr. Black's step-by-step "journey" to save BP from being demolished.
I read this on an ereader and it directly impacted my enjoyment. The formatting in the book pulls out into infoboxes the (many, many, many) tweets she quotes in the main text, plus the letters sent/received. In hard copy these are easy to gloss past, because you have already read the gist in the main text. In a reader, you have to reread them, and it gets very tiring very quickly.
In reading it, it felt as though these had been discrete blog entries culled and aggregated, with the stories stuck between.
I was using this book as my "commute read" (hence the ereader), but had to give up half-way through and just push through my hard copy (I was one of the financial "Supporters" through Unbound!) due to the tedium.
The writing is very simple, unadorned, and many times repetitive. Some of the tips re how Twitter helped generate awareness, interest, and momentum for the Save BP campaign were interesting, but then became repetitive. Did I already say that? That it was repetitive?
What really kept me going was the stories of the women (and men) of BP. Of the over 10,000 stationed at Bletchley Park more than half were women. These are the stories I very much want to hear more about, so I will seek out the relevant books in the comprehensive bibliography.
I read this on an ereader and it directly impacted my enjoyment. The formatting in the book pulls out into infoboxes the (many, many, many) tweets she quotes in the main text, plus the letters sent/received. In hard copy these are easy to gloss past, because you have already read the gist in the main text. In a reader, you have to reread them, and it gets very tiring very quickly.
In reading it, it felt as though these had been discrete blog entries culled and aggregated, with the stories stuck between.
I was using this book as my "commute read" (hence the ereader), but had to give up half-way through and just push through my hard copy (I was one of the financial "Supporters" through Unbound!) due to the tedium.
The writing is very simple, unadorned, and many times repetitive. Some of the tips re how Twitter helped generate awareness, interest, and momentum for the Save BP campaign were interesting, but then became repetitive. Did I already say that? That it was repetitive?
What really kept me going was the stories of the women (and men) of BP. Of the over 10,000 stationed at Bletchley Park more than half were women. These are the stories I very much want to hear more about, so I will seek out the relevant books in the comprehensive bibliography.
December 13, 2017
Thoroughly recommended. A masterclass in how to leverage social media to achieve change.
As reviewed by me on the publisher site on 4th Jan 2016: This evening I finally had time to finish reading 'Saving Bletchley Park', the new book by my friend Dr Sue Black OBE. It's a book I can thoroughly recommend, especially if you are the slightest bit interested in using social media to power a campaign. On one level this is an illustrated masterclass in how to do just that. Sue saw a problem ... a site of incredible national historical value that was being left to ruin ... and she determined to try and save it. How she did so is a personal adventure story which I identify with very strongly as a campaigner myself. At a time when others were sniggering at Twitter, she was learning how to use it as an effective tool. And she used practically every other tool in the box as her campaign gained traction. But this is also a great book about the history of one of Britain's most closely guarded secrets, and the birthplace of modern computing. There are other books where you can read about the Bletchley work as well, but Sue tells it from a really human angle, with a particular emphasis on the thousands of women (many just out of school) who formed the majority of the secret workforce. You'll love this book, I promise
February 3, 2017
Sue is an academic and a blogger rather than a full time writer and so this book does read like a blog, but her enthusiasm is contagious. I was lucky to meet her last year and get my copy signed. Several people I have met feature in this book. I'm fascinated by what went on at BP, so this was a fun read
January 15, 2016
Loved the story, and really impressed by the efforts of Dr Sue Black et al to save Bletchley Park. However felt that there was a little bit too much repeating of stories and of the plot line within the book itself.
March 23, 2016
Smashing story... Though I may be biased :-)
Wonderful to relive those heady days through the book. A nice coda on the adventure we lived with Sue, as she relentless pursued the goal of Saving Bletchley Park.
Wonderful to relive those heady days through the book. A nice coda on the adventure we lived with Sue, as she relentless pursued the goal of Saving Bletchley Park.
January 18, 2016
Interesting and important story. COuld have done with a little more careful editing.
May 8, 2016
Bletchley Park will live forever. What more can you say :)
November 15, 2016
This is a book that will be of interest to those who love history as well as mathematics, technology and code breaking. Sue Black shows the power of social media in raising awareness of issues of national importance. Her campaign was instrumental in saving this wonderful institution and part of our national heritage. She writes with openness and honesty and this makes it an easy book to read. Coupled with this, Stevyn Colgan outlines some of the human stories of those who lived and served at Bletchley Park and reminds us of the debt we owe to the Codebreakers who worked tirelessly to bring the second World War to an early conclusion.
August 25, 2016
An interesting read for museum or historical preservation nerds about what it took to save Bletchley Park and turn it into the stunning museum it is today.
It's a mix of history of Bletchley (fascinating tidbits) and the contemporary story of the movement to save Bletchley and what elements were most successful at garnering that support.
It's a little specific for someone who isn't very interested in these topics, but if you are, then read away and enjoy!
It's a mix of history of Bletchley (fascinating tidbits) and the contemporary story of the movement to save Bletchley and what elements were most successful at garnering that support.
It's a little specific for someone who isn't very interested in these topics, but if you are, then read away and enjoy!
April 22, 2016
A fascinating story told with interleaved historical detail (what happened at bletchley during the war) and modern progress (how bletchley was saved). Made all the more fun to read by the fact that I know so many of the characters and stories. I kept going "Ooh look, there's Conrad" (or Lucy, or ...:-). There is a bit of repetition, although sometimes works well as emphasis.
September 15, 2016
The interleaving of the story of the campaign with the history of Bletchley park is really what makes this book a good read. There is maybe a little too much repetition of details of the story but I'd put this down to being Dr Black's first book and it doesn't mar things too much, mostly it's just a distraction.
December 26, 2024
I first me Sue whilst I was at Google and her enthusiasm to help make the world a better place is reflected in this book, which charts her efforts to save the place which saved the world.
Very much worth a read, and I'm very glad that this is great example how one person's passion can help create great change is available to all!
Very much worth a read, and I'm very glad that this is great example how one person's passion can help create great change is available to all!
August 3, 2022
Dr. Black details the efforts to raise attention for Bletchley Park interspersed with chapters on the history of Bletchley Park and WWII. The histories were very well done; so often you read details of a particular aspect of history without any context, so the summary overviews were very welcome.
The efforts that Dr. Black put forth, chiefly on Twitter, then with giving talks at in person events and in other media brought much needed attention to the plight of the struggling Bletchley Park. And public attention is like a snowball rolling down a hill; it gathers more and more attention from many sources. From that attention, attendance grew, research was started, and stories were gathered, and museum exhibits built. This book focuses on funding coming in, which was essential, but I would have liked to hear more about the oral history projects and if the social media efforts assisted with gathering the many histories and artifacts from the various sources as well.
The efforts that Dr. Black put forth, chiefly on Twitter, then with giving talks at in person events and in other media brought much needed attention to the plight of the struggling Bletchley Park. And public attention is like a snowball rolling down a hill; it gathers more and more attention from many sources. From that attention, attendance grew, research was started, and stories were gathered, and museum exhibits built. This book focuses on funding coming in, which was essential, but I would have liked to hear more about the oral history projects and if the social media efforts assisted with gathering the many histories and artifacts from the various sources as well.
October 12, 2017
I was very excited to read this account of Bletchley Park's rescue, as a current employee and a history graduate who is fascinated by memorialisation and the preservation of spaces. Dr Black's account of her mission to save the park is good but left me feeling a tad undernourished. As we enter the story of Bletchley Park at the same time as Dr Black, and by choosing to focus almost solely on her social media campaign, the book missed out what I'm sure are fascinating accounts of how the park transformed from a collection of decrepit huts into a pay-to-enter site during the late 90s.
September 24, 2021
The secret decoding work done at Bletchley Park during World War II by men like Alan Turning is thought to have cut two years off the war and saved millions of lives. Yet for years no one new about it. Perhaps as many as 10,000 people worked there, many of them women, yet because of the Official Secrets Act they had all signed, no one talked about it even to their families. Over time, the site itself began to fall into decay and was threatened with demolition to make way for a housing estate.
July 5, 2021
After the pleasure of speaking to Dr Sue Black during my history course, I decided to read her amazing book. I have always had an avid history interest especially regarding ww2 and the efforts at Bletchley Park. This book is written wonderfully, keeping me gripped and wanting to read on and on, I couldn't out it down.
January 30, 2021
An important story about the role that Bletchley Park played in WWII and the author's own role in saving it. The long-winded and dry writing style rather let's it down from what could otherwise be an exciting tale.
July 23, 2023
After interviewing Sue for my A Level history project on women in war and my life long fascination with bletchley park, this book made me thankful she fought to save such a poignant party of our history. Sue is an amazing woman!
April 16, 2019
Quite an interesting read, though I found I was far more engaged with the sections describing Bletchley as it was when it was being used then the story of how it was saved.
April 28, 2020
Interesting book, particularly the WWII chapters. The present day part was rather repetitive, although I suppose that shows exactly what this kind of campaign entails.
February 29, 2024
I loved everything about this book! I recommend you read and reach out to the author on X (Twitter) when you’re finished!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews