Men's Matters group pays emotional visit to Bletchley Park

A men’s charity provided one of its members with an emotional trip last week as it visited a Second World War codebreaking site.

Men’s Matters sent twenty members to Bletchley Park, where British and Allied experts worked to crack German communications.

One of its members, 86-year-old Alan Smith, of Maidenhead, had a friend who worked at the facility during the war.

Gerald Openshaw, who died a few years ago, was employed in such secrecy that even his wife had no idea where he worked.

Alan was helped in finding Gerald’s memorial brick, which is part of a wall that bears the names of people who served at Bletchley.

He said: “I felt very emotional when we found Gerald's brick and great pride when he was referred to as a ‘veteran’.”

The trip, which took place on Thursday, April 19, is part of the anti-loneliness charity’s new programme of activities, which includes visits to Parliament and Thames boat trips.

Older men interesting in attending a session in Maidenhead, Windsor or Langley can find out more info at mensmatters.org.uk or by emailing contact@mensmatters.org.uk