Bletchley Park’s Fellowship Auditorium celebrated its first year of operation in October 2024, highlighting the remarkable partnership between the Post Office Remembrance Fellowship (PORF) and the Bletchley Park Trust.

The state-of-the-art, 250-seat venue, The Fellowship Auditorium, opened in October 2023 as part of the refurbishment of Block E, an historic World War II building that is now open as Bletchley Park’s Learning Centre.  The auditorium is complemented by the Radley Room, an event and breakout space, as well as the Block E Learning Centre, creating a hub for education, collaboration, and events at Bletchley Park.

Since the Block E Learning Centre opened in June, an impressive 50,000 learners have participated in facilitated educational programs on site at Bletchley Park. Meanwhile, The Fellowship Auditorium has hosted over 50 events (including learning, public programme, corporate, community and other private events), welcoming 3,500 guests in its first year of operation.

Year in Review: Highlights of The Fellowship Auditorium

During its inaugural year, The Fellowship Auditorium has hosted a range of notable events, including:

1. STEM Apprenticeship Festival: Engaging local schools with collaboration with the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office and other government organisations based at Hanslope Park.

2. National Cipher Challenge Award Ceremony: Recognising young cryptographic talent, organised by the University of Southampton and partners.

3. HistoCrypt 2024: The International Conference on Historical Cryptology.

4. BBC Radio 4’s The Infinite Monkey Cage: A live recording of the science and comedy show.

5. Talks for Heritage Open Days: Featuring children’s author Rhian Tracey and Bletchley Park historians Dr. David Kenyon and Dr. Thomas Cheetham.

6. WWII-themed events: Panels and discussions on topics like the creation of Colossus, the Y Stations, and women in intelligence.

7. Book launches: Celebrating works by Dr. David Kenyon and Robert Hannigan.

8. Special performances: A recital honouring composer and Codebreaker Herbert Murrill.

9. Film screening: The 10th-anniversary showing of The Imitation Game.

10. Corporate and community events: Including sessions by the Alan Turing Institute, English Heritage, Milton Keynes Islamic Arts & Culture, and Thames Valley Police.

End of 2024 Events

Recent events held in The Fellowship Auditorium included Milton Keynes City Council’s celebration of the AI Safety Summit’s anniversary, which was hosted by the UK Government at Bletchley Park, and the UK’s first National Intelligence History Conference (NIHC 2024), co-hosted by Bletchley Park and GCHQ.

The Fellowship Auditorium, named in recognition of PORF’s generous support, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Bletchley Park and its historic links to the General Post Office.

As the use of the venue continues to grow and develop, it promises to remain a cornerstone for education, collaboration, and remembrance for years to come.

For more information about upcoming events and initiatives, visit Bletchley Park’s website.