Next Meetings

We will decide in early January if this is to be a Zoom or Crawford Hall presentation

Many secrets are hidden in plain sight.  One of Warwickshire’s best forgotten stories is that of Alice Leigh and Robert Dudley.

Around 400 years ago the story of Alice and Robert was on everyone’s lips. It was a tale of the rich and famous, politics and religion, bigamy and family love, legal battles and generosity.

We invite you to find out more about them and visit the places involved. Each of these has a fascinating history stretching back at least 800 years with references to Bidford and the district.  Discover their story and let it take you to some amazing places in Warwickshire, from tiny, picturesque villages to a ruined castle and a stately home restored to its former elegance.

February 18. 2022  The History of GCHQ - Dr. David Abrutat

Government Communications Headquarters, commonly known as GCHQ, is an intelligence and security organisation responsible for providing signalls Intelligence (SIGINT) and information assurance (IA) to the government and armed forces of the United Kingdom.

Dr DAVID ABRUTAT is a former Royal Marines Commando and RAF Officer. He joined GCHQ in 2002 and was recently appointed the GCHQ Departmental Historian. He is also an Associate Fellow/Lecturer in International Relations & Security Studies at the University of Buckingham and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

His first published work was ‘Vanguard: The Intelligence and Reconnaissance Missions Behind D-Day’ published in May 2019 by Unicorn Publishing. His second book ‘Radio War’ was published just 6 months later. He is now working on the Official History of 42 Commando RM.

In his talk, he will tell the story of the history of GCHQ, with fascinating stories of its amazing people from its formation in 1919, right through to the present day.