The Cornish village of St Erth may seem an unlikely setting for a Second World War story of code breaking, spies and double agents, but the talk at Bude & District U3A’s September monthly meeting showed otherwise, for the Ultra Secret MI6 facility there played an important role in the allied victory. The speaker, at the Parkhouse Centre last week, was Mike Griffiths and the illustrated talk attracted a large turnout of U3A members and guests.

U3A chairman, Jim Buck, began the afternoon with the telling of a short humorous story, before reminding members that the Annual General Meeting is on October 16 and how important it is to attend. Vice chair, Nick Faulks then introduced Mike Griffiths, who related the story of the Bletchley Park Radio Station in St. Erth and his father, Harry Griffiths, who was a radio operator there throughout the war. St Erth was one of several Bletchley outstations – its ‘ears’. They were listening to the Germans talking to each other and then sent what they heard to the Bletchley Park codebreakers.

Harry Griffiths was born in Liverpool and came to Cornwall when he was recruited to work at St Erth. ‘My father was very good at Morse Code’, said Mike. ‘He learnt it in the Scouts and could send code at more than 30 words per minute.’ Mike said that while his father never said anything about what he did in the war. When he died in 1984, Mike was left a tape made during the war and his father’s ‘Little Black Book’ – his book containing codes and which recorded many of his contacts, German and Italian radio nets, brevity codes and double agent call signs.

‘If you have an elderly relative, sit them down with a cup of tea and get them to tell you their story. Get it out. They will have something of interest to tell. Do it before it’s too late,’ Mike told his audience.

Mike and his wife, Pearl, researched the history of the St Erth site over ten years. His book, ‘Listening to the Enemy’, tells the story of the radio station and its role in the war and links to Bletchley Park. Mike showed a picture of a dilapidated single story concrete building by the side of the road, all that is left of the once important site where Ultra Top Secret work was carried out for MI6. Mike said that the operation was so secret that his father initially believed that he was working for the GPO. More than 100 people worked at the site during the war.

They were listening to European stations sending messages to Germany and because of the nature of Morse Code, the operators would be able to recognize who was sending. ‘As a result, Bletchley Park knew more than the Germans’, said Mike, ‘but there were no secrets in the village. Local people set their watches by the radio station shift times and sometimes came and sat with the operators. Farmers grazed their livestock on the station site, and football and cricket matches were played between radio station and village teams!’

Mike then turned to operations at Bletchley Park, showing photos of people at work there and the machines they used. Some 10,000 people from all over the country, including many women, were involved during World War II he said. He spoke too about the roles of renowned codebreaker, Alan Turing and Gordon Welchman – the ‘architect of ultra intelligence’, a mathematician who led the Enigma decryption team in Hut 6. Welchman used ‘traffic analysis’ to track decrypted messages. ‘You are all subject to tracking now’, Mike told his audience. ‘GCHQ can track you anywhere if you have a mobile phone in your back pocket.’

Also mentioned were Tommy Fellowes who invented the first programmable electronic computer to help solve encrypted German messages, and Bill Tuttle who broke the Nazi cypher system. Some of the double agents, their roles in defeating the Nazis and the story of how they were tracked at St Erth, were also featured. They included Agents Zigzag, Tricycle, Brutus and Treasure. Their controlling stations call signs are all listed in Harry’s Code Book.

The St Erth station closed in 1964 when GCHQ Bude took over its work. The talk ended with a brief look at how we ‘listen’ now. GCHQ is part of the ‘Five Eyes’ network, GCHQ Cheltenham is still expanding, while in London there is the huge new National Cyber Centre in Victoria which opened in 2017. Loud applause greeted the speaker as he finished his talk, with several members of the audience then approaching Mike to ask questions and share histories.

The talk at the Bude U3A November meeting is on Bude Lifesaving Club. The monthly meeting in October is for the Annual General Meeting. Bude U3A also offers two Coffee Mornings each month in addition to the 35 Activity Groups available for members. The 2025/26 Membership year has just begun. Details on how to apply and on all Bude U3A events and activities can be found at: www.budeu3a.co.uk

Thirty three members of the Egloskerry Friendly Club travelled by coach to Torquay for the last of their summer trips.

In beautiful weather everyone enjoyed lunch and the High Street, before settling down by the harbour and along the front, as well as taking a trip on the big wheel and enjoying the views.

The next meeting will be in the Central Methodist Schoolroom for their annual harvest festival, on Friday, October 3, at 2pm when items will be brought to aid the Launceston Food Bank as well as money for the Christmas lunch at Launceston Golf in December.

For November, the Christmas shopping trip will be to Newton Abbot. Information about the Club from 01566 776142.

Launceston Old Cornwall Society held their annual general meeting at the RBL headquarters in Tower Street, when good reports were presented by the officers.

Rob Tremain, chairman outlined what members had been up to and said the trip to Temple and Cardinham churches was very well supported as was the town walk. Members had attended various county events including the Recorders Day at Redruth, the Prayer Book Rebellion service at Bodmin and the Gorsedh at Marazion. Bill Roberts gave the balance sheet and said the funds were in a healthy state and there had been a small increase in membership.

John Ellacott, chairman and Recorder gave members an outline of various changes in the town, which he later highlighted with slides. Kathy Fuge, secretary gave the minutes of the 2024 general meeting. Officers elected were: President, Rob Tremain; Chairman and Recorder, John Ellacott; secretary, Kathy Fuge; treasurer, Bill Roberts, together with a working committee, Andrew Lethbridge will be the Standard Bearer. John Neale, who was secretary for many years and is now a resident in Pendruccombe was made a life member of the Launceston Branch.

For the Gorsedh at Marazion earlier in September, a number of members attended the event on Folly Field, with St Michael’s Mount in the background. The Launceston Banner was carried by Andrew Lethbridge in a procession of over 30 Old Cornwall Banners.

Rob Tremain was the sword bearer and the chief steward was Tim Hambly, who the evening before at the Old Cornwall Awards Ceremony was presented with the Mab Hirans – Stephen Gainey award for his work teaching the Cornish Language in Launceston for many years and also as the long time secretary of the Kowethas an Yeth Kernewek. This had been presented to him by the Grand Bard, Jenefer Lowe.

Among the 22 new bards installed was David Downing from Minesota, USA, for promoting the Cornish identity in the USA. He chose for his Bardic name Map Wynn Egloskerri – Grand son of Egloskerry. Remembered in the ceremony was the late Jennifer Blockley of Egloskerry, who was made a Bard in Callington, the year before.

The service on Sunday, September 14, was led by Rev Stephen Skinner of Woolsery, with the theme of the service being 'God so loved the world'.

Colin Tape was the organist for the hymns: ‘I will sing the wondrous story’, ‘When I survey the wondrous cross’, ‘Beneath the Cross of Jesus’ and ‘I cannot tell why He whom Angels worship’.

The lessons were read by Jennifer Vanstone and John Cleave.

The Merrytones Praise Group rendered: 'The love of God'.

The projector was controlled by Stuart Ash.

The service was followed by coffee and a chance to chat in The Wesley Room.

In the evening a Grand Concert was given at the Chapel by The Stowford Meadow Singers. Colin Tape gave words of welcome to all and handed over to Chairman for the evening, John Hill.

Three congregational hymns were sung during the concert and the hymns were: ‘Thou who camest from above’, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ and ‘Lord dismiss us with Thy blessing’.

Organist for hymns was Colin Tape, with the projector controlled by Stuart Ash.

Despite such weather, there was a good attendance and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the variety of items the Singers rendered, some of which we knew well, some which we didn't, plus some good old pieces of which we could all join in with. A comprehensive vote of thanks was given by Debbie French and the people of the chapel provided and served a delicious savoury and sweet supper.

The evening was in aid of Children's Hospice South West with free-will offerings placed in the donation box as people left. After Gift Aid and further donations, the grand amount of £500 will be sent from the chapel to the Hospice.

On Monday, September 15, the quarterly meeting of the Bude and Holsworthy Methodist Circuit was held at the Chapel at Shop with Rev Meg Slingo in the chair. The opening devotions were led by Barry Bryne. 'Love Divine' was heartily sung by the meeting and the meeting closed with prayers led by Catherine Paddon. Hosts for the evening were Jennifer Vanstone, Debbie French and John Cleave.

St Petroc Church, Hollacombe has had a busy but pleasant week beginning on Sunday, September 14, with Harvest Evensong led by Rev Alison Hardy with guest preacher Rev Alex Honey from Heavitree followed by tea and an auction of produce.

This was further followed on Wednesday, September 17, by a coffee morning in The Holsworthy MemorialHall. Both were supported well and enjoyed by helpers and attendees alike.