Re: Tensions at Bletchley Park

Robert Philpot <[email protected]> Mon, 27 Jan 2014 21:48:55 +0000
Newsgroups gmane.science.cryptography.bletchley-park
Message-ID <97BCF39D0B2344F1AF7A115F158A534D@HPxw6200>
Are we overlooking a different reason for streamlining?

i.e. Lots of "unused" space that can be sold off for other uses, perhaps for 
housing?

I must say that I now have personal knowledge of at least two organisations 
which have been totally altered overnight by huge lottery donations. One 
wonders if these multi million pound donations really do as much good as is 
suggested and it is just a way for Camelot to justify its income? It would 
be beyond the scope of this list to go on, which is unfortunate as there is 
a lot to learn. I.M.H.O.

Robert Philpot

-----Original Message----- 
From: David Hamer
Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 9:21 PM
To: BLETCHLEYPARK-0lvw86wZMd/[email protected]
Subject: Re: [BPARK] Tensions at Bletchley Park

Bill...

May I as a 'museum person' add to your most pertinent comments.

In my opinion, reinforced by my last visit to BP in September, the current 
BP management's maniacal approach to 'streamlining' the museum is all wrong 
and it is the volunteer corps and the 'groups' who have suffered - and 
continue to do. How can one logically divorce treasures such as Jack 
Darrah's Churchill exhibit, David White's Diplomatic Radio display, the WW2 
Toy Collection of Mark and Min Cornelius - and numerous others - from the 
wartime story of BP. Doing so totally ignores the 'wartime environment' 
feeling engendered by these priceless and irreplaceable exhibits and also 
ignores the obvious public appeal that they held.

BP's unpleasant and unnecessary 'dog in a manger' attitude is also 
aggravating the contentious split with its tenant TNMOC, which ironically 
has captured within its displays and its approach to the visiting public, 
precisely that true history it presents.

"Who owns Colossus anyway?" must obviously be a question for the lawyers - 
to which may well be added in the very near future "Who owns the Bombe?" and 
"Who owns (most of) the Enigmas?"

David H.

Disclaimer: opinions expressed are my own and do not represent.......well 
you know the rest of it.




At 09:49 01/27/2014, Bill Ridgeway wrote:
>I fully sympathise with volunteers.  I have also been in a situation (not 
>at BP) in which, having put in a lot of free time, I left because my face 
>didn't fit.  It would seem that despite the value that volunteers bring to 
>BP (and let's face it a visit to BP would not be interesting without them 
>and return visits would be much reduced) they can be treated as S**T by 
>jumped up know-it-alls who think they know best and wont even listen to 
>common sense or reason.  Isn't the present situation very similar to what 
>Christine Large set out (but thankfully failed) to do?
>
>Regards.
>
>Bill Ridgeway
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Philpot" <[email protected]>
>To: <BLETCHLEYPARK-0lvw86wZMd/[email protected]>
>Sent: Monday, January 27, 2014 1:07 PM
>Subject: [BPARK] Tensions at Bletchley Park
>
>
>Is it too late for those who helped rebuild Colossus to render an invoice
>for their services?
>
>Who owns Colossus anyway?
>
>Isn't it awful that one has to think of such things although this is hardly 
>unprecedented with Tony Sale having similar problems over the years.
>
>
>Robert Philpot

**************************************
Dr. David H. Hamer
National Cryptologic Museum Foundation
Acquisitions & UK Liaison
[email protected]
+1-301-688-5436 or 5437
+1-301-688-5719 FAX
http://www.cryptologicfoundation.org
**************************************

Robert Philpot