Bletchley Park: The Story of Alan Turing

Bletchley Park is the country estate house where clever boffins broke codes during World War II to decrypt German army & air force messages. One man who worked there was maths genius Alan Turing, whose work likely saved millions of lives, by helping to end World War II.

Yet in 1952 he was prosecuted for being gay, and had to accept chemical castration as an alternative to prison. He died from a cyanide-laced apple though no-one knows whether it was suicide, murder or an accident (he used to conduct experiments in his house).

In recent years, he received a public apology from Gordon Brown (when Prime Minister) and a pardon from the Queen, for the appalling treatment he received.

Another (controversial) stately home in Buckinghamshire is Cliveden House, the scene of the 1961 Profumo Affair at the peak of the Cold War. When it was found that an MP was having an affair with 19-year old Christine Keeler (also accused of having an affair with a Russian spy).

Mandy Rice-Davies (accused of having an affair with Lord Astor whose family owned Clivedon House) became known for her remark during the trial, when the defence suggested she was lying. She replied ”Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?