THE CODEBREAKERS

Enigma, Bletchley Park & the Battle of the Atlantic
A lecture by Dr Mark Baldwin, followed by a demonstration of an original Enigma machine

The schedule below is based on best information available on 26 July 2008 - but all details are subject to confirmation - italics indicate provisional arrangements.

For comments on previous lectures, see bottom of this page.

16 Sep   Birmingham (Tally Ho, Edgbaston) for BCS. For details, please register

                                   via chrisgreen430@hotmail.com.

23 Sep    Chelmsford (Anglia Ruskin University) for BCS. For details, go to essex.bcs.org

2 Oct      Northampton University for BCS. For details, go to northampton.bcs.org

6 Oct      Leeds for BCS. Details tba

7 Oct      Leicester, De Montfort University for BCS. For details, go to leics-events:bcs.org

16 Oct    Long Sutton, nr Yeovil. Ticket details 01458 241 797.

29 Oct    Wolverhampton University seminar.

3 Nov      London, Special Forces Club.

25 Nov    Grange-over-Sands Lecture Society. Ticket details 015395 52398.

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Other events of related interest (pre-booking essential for events shown in olive-green)

7 Sep       Military Collectables Fair, Wolverley (nr Kidderminster). 01562 851489

                 Baldwins may have a stand at this event.

12-14 Sep  ** 'Churchill's Silent Geese' weekend. Marriott Hotel, Northampton.

                 Guest speaker: Dr Mark Baldwin

11 Oct     'Behind Enemy Lines: inside the SOE'. Victory Hall, Neen Sollars, nr Kidderminster.

               Ticket details 01905 727971.

8 Nov       'Behind Enemy Lines: inside the SOE'. The Hall, Abberley.

               Ticket details 01299 270110.

Comments on Dr Baldwin's 'Codebreakers' lectures

14/11/01 [at The Cramphorn Theatre, Chelmsford] His account [was] . . . informed with obvious enthusiasm and an encyclopaedic knowledge of the subject. Michael Gray, Chelmsford Weekly News

12/12/01 [at The Arts Centre, Falmouth] An excellent evening - the audience were delighted and agreed that ours was one of the most interesting and well presented talks we have had. Michael Carver, Administrator

6/2/02 [at The Arts Centre, Haverhill] I was one of an enthralled audience . . . Very many congratulations on a wonderful presentation by an undoubted expert. David Lee, Former Deputy Director, Imperial War Museum, Duxford

2/3/02 [at The Assembly Rooms, Tamworth] It was a hugely enjoyable evening. The Tamworth Herald

5/3/02 [at The Civic Hall, Stratford-on-Avon] One of the country's leading experts in military codebreaking.
The Birmingham Post

15/4/02 [at The Theatre by the Lake, Keswick] I so enjoyed your lecture . . . I could have listened to you for hours . . . it was way beyond anything I had anticipated. And to be able to touch and work the machine itself was just the icing on the cake. Thank you for a truly memorable evening. Patti Jones

26/4/02 [at The Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin] . . . one of our most successful evenings this season. Mark Baldwin really is a master of his subject as well as being an accomplished and entertaining presenter. Richard Whitmore, Manager, Queen Mother Theatre

12/5/02 [at The Daphne du Maurier Festival, Fowey] His 90-minute lecture . . . was a tour de force as he spoke without notes and at breakneck speed about Enigma . . . Bletchley Park and the role of German U-boats . . . he brought it to life with compassionate accounts of the bravery of our merchant seamen . . .
Jonathan Barker, The Cornish Guardian

6/10/02 [at Chertsey Hall, for the Runnymede Assn of Arts] Thank you . . . the feedback we've been getting has been tremendous - I can't remember such enthusiasm. Dorothy Chadburn, Sec RAA

25/2/03 [at Aldershot Library] I am writing to thank you most profusely for a wonderful evening's entertainment. Several people came up to me on the night and said how much they had enjoyed the evening, and not one person marked their feedback questionnaires any lower than 'excellent'. Stephen Phillips, Senior Librarian

26/3/03 [at The Wrexham Science Festival] . . . excellent talk. Feedback, verbal and via our evaluation questionnaire, was first class. Peter Harrison, Festival Director

6/4/03 [at The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich] It is difficult to remember an evening's entertainment that has yielded so much enjoyment and value for money. Christopher Judd

22/6/03 [at The Stables, Wavendon] What an interesting talk you gave last night and thank you for such an enjoyable time. David Victor, Chairman, Stables Theatre Ltd.

15/8/03 [at The Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage] Your lecture was rivetting. We were both stunned by how you made a difficult subject glass-clear by presenting the whole complex lot in easily digestible and fascinating chunks. An amazing performance! Matilda Roth

12/11/03 [at Imperial War Museum, Duxford] . . . a splendid tour-de-force . . . confident and faultless delivery . . . most impressive . . . Martin Evans

7/3/04 [at The Plaza Theatre, Stockport] To hold a large audience spellbound by the complexities of the Enigma machine is no mean feat - but you did just that! It is no accident that your lectures are so popular! They are also doing a great service to Bletchley Park . . . Oliver Lawn, WW2 codebreaker at Bletchley Park.

20/4/04 [at The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil] I thoroughly enjoyed your lecture and only wished it had gone on longer . . . the best lecture I have ever attended. Darren Bleazard

14/11/04 [at The University of Glamorgan, for TCN] . . . extremely interesting and professionally delivered . . . he undoubtedly has an in-depth knowledge . . . Brian Willis, TCN Wales Zone

13/12/04 [at Malvern, for the Institution of Electrical Engineers] . . . many have told me how much they enjoyed your talk . . . It was a record turnout . . . Brian Middleton, Sec IEE Hereford & Worcester

22/2/05 [at Belfast, for the Institution of Electrical Engineers] Thanks once again for a brilliant lecture - feedback has been excellent (especially the demo of the actual machine - a real crowd puller). Irwin Mcfarland, Sec IEE Belfast

17/5/05 [Demonstration at Ludlow Library] It was an extremely successful event . . . There is a great deal of fascination about the Enigma machines and Dr Baldwin is a renowned expert. He was able to answer questions and people were fascinated when they were given the opportunity to have a go on the machine. Sarah Griffiths, Ludlow Library & Museum Resource Centre.

1/10/05 [in Potsdam, Germany , for the Institution of Electrical Engineers] Your lecture was one of the best I have ever heard! Ian Darroch, International Sales Director, AVT.

11/6/06 [at RAF Cosford Air Show] Your depth of knowledge was an inspiration to all the visitors, and proved to be very informative to the students undergoing Trade Training. Wg Cdr Nicholas Hartley, Officer Commanding No 1 Radio School, RAF Cosford.

19/9/06 [in London, for the Institution of Engineering & Technology] . . excellent presentation . . . both entertaining and very informative . . . sets a high standard for the rest of our programme . . . We had a record audience . . . Tony Hardwick, Industrial Representative & Sec IET London Network.

5/3/07 [at Leyland, for the Leyland Historical Society] He drew the biggest audience we have ever had. Peter Houghton, Chairman LHS

20/2/08 [at Worcester, for the Worcester Electric Club] Superb presentation . . . the highlight of our 60th year celebrations . . . comments relayed to me since have been 'Superb', 'Fascinating', 'Spell binding' to name but a few. Brian Orme, Chairman WEC