More than 20 members of World War Two code-breaker Alan Turing’s family gathered at Bletchley Park at the weekend, to raise awareness of a fundraising appeal.
It’s 73 years since the famous mathematician and code-breaker worked at the Bletchley Park code-breaking centre during World War Two. Recently Turing received a surge of attention after he was given a Royal Pardon for his 1952 conviction for being homosexual, and his life has been the subject of a hit movie.
More than 20 members of Turing’s family paid a poignant visit to the centre on Sunday, February 8, to see his office in the iconic Code-breaking Hut 8, as well as the Bombe machines he developed with fellow code-breaker Gordon Welchman.
Fundraising activities are currently taking place to further restore the historic centre at Bletchley Park. For some of Turing’s family, it was the first time that they had visited the centre, which is a testament to his legacy.
Sir John Turing said:“It was tremendously exciting for us as a family to look around Bletchley Park and absorb the atmosphere in which our famous relative achieved so much for the nation and for the future of technology. We were particularly delighted to be able to help raise awareness of the need for further restoration of Bletchley Park, which will inspire future generations by telling the incredible story of what happened here.”
The life and work of Alan Turing has recently been the subject of Oscar-nominated film The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley. The Imitation Game has received a total of eight Oscar nominations including Best Picture.
The family also paid a visit to an exhibition of The Imitation Game film as a part of their tour of Bletchley Park. The exhibition is situated in the same rooms in which pivotal scenes from the film took place.
The Imitation Game exhibition is open until October.
Event: The Imitation Game exhibition
Where: The Mansion, Bletchley Park, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB
When: Open daily till October 31
Times: 9.30 a.m. – 4 p.m. daily
For more information about, Bletchley Park and to book tickets online, click here:
The Imitation Game Exhibition is included in the price of entry to Bletchley Park.