Re: More comments on 'the dispute'...

I totally agree. This does though explain why on my last visit I was allowed 
to view Colossus but not the other items in the Museum of Computing. It was 
not very well explained, I thought the Museum was closed for cleaning or 
something and nobody asked me for an extra fiver which I would have happily 
paid.

I do hope the volunteers realise just how much power they collectively have 
but judging from the number who don't want to give their names to the press 
it certainly seems they are being very well intimidated.

The trouble is this situation, even down to the National Lottery grant is 
rather like (no actually it's almost identical) to a situation at a well 
known steam railway where the volunteers are regularly trodden on from a 
great height by the Management, but any suggestion that they not turn up for 
even one of their roistered "turns" is met with absolute derision at letting 
the public down. They just can't see that there might be a greater long term 
benefit.

I rather suspect it might be like this at BP.

Is there a person or group in charge of the "opposition" at BP as I should 
like to show my support in a financial way.


Robert Philpot

-----Original Message----- 
From: Bill Ridgeway
Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2014 11:34 AM
To: BLETCHLEYPARK-0lvw86wZMd/[email protected]
Subject: Re: [BPARK] More comments on 'the dispute'...

There was a time when, for a modest entrance charge, one could visit
Bletchley Park and see ALL the exhibits.  This included not only Colossus
and other decoding equipment but also  'private' collections which were
assembled in a room and in themselves were a very interesting.  There were
also other societies with, perhaps, only a loose connection with Bletchley
Park but which together gave added value (interest) to the visit.  These
included a cinema with examples of war-time equipment and an army unit
(?Bedfordshire ...) and the Motor Transport (MT) sheds.  It was a good
whole-day visit.  In contrast the entrance charge is now a whopping £15 for
which there is far less to see and a reduced walking tour not forgetting the
additional £5 to see the National Museum of Computing - which has limited
opening times..

Not so long ago the Board headed by Christine Large tried to force big
changes (described at the time as making Bletchley Park into a Disney
attraction).  Thankfully this was thwarted with Christine Large sinking into
obscurity.  It would seem that the devil, in the form of the present Board
of Trustees, has risen again

What a way to run a visitor attraction?  The people who head up the
organisation are disengaged with the corps of volunteers force and want to
impose their view no matter what.  They seemingly don't want to lower
themselves to seek advice from those below them who may just have a better
idea?  The corps of volunteers are the beating heart of the organisation.
It is they who give voice from their experience to what otherwise would be a
very dull collection of artefacts and explanation boards.  If the corps of
volunteers were to withdraw their labour Bletchley Park would, possibly, be
in dire straits.  The volunteers would have to be replaced (at great
expense) with people who know little or nothing about Bletchley Park who
would just be reading a script on a "if it's not there I don't know" basis.
All that would have a knock-on effect on visitor numbers.  The Board need to
and should recognise and give volunteers credit for their usefulness not
treat them like dirt and not take them for granted and trade on their
loyalty.

How can the story of Bletchley Park be told fully when the code-breaking
side of the story is physically separated from the computing side of the
story and when Colossus is physically separated from the Bombe?  They are
integrally connected.  It is, simply, not logical or practical!  Visitors
who genuinely want to be educated (and entertained) are being sold (at great
expense) only part of the story.

Whilst I still have an interest I don't envisage visiting again in the near
future. I wonder how many others are of a like mind?

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway



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Robert Philpot