E191 - Music at Bletchley Park

May 2026

Against the backdrop of war and secrecy, the Codebreakers of Bletchley Park were often able to enjoy comfort in music. From choirs to orchestras, gramophone evenings to opera, music appears again and again as a recurring motif in the social lives of those working at the Government Code & Cypher School. This episode delves into several different aspects of a topic that we are often asked about, but which frequently gets overshadowed by the showier activities of the BP Drama Group.

Head of Content Erica Munro and Head of Audiences and Programmes Vicki Pipe will discuss some very special musical material from Bletchley Park Trust's archive. Hear from researcher and musician Crispin Lewis about his famous BP relative, composer Herbert Murrill. We are also joined by Research Officer Dr Thomas Cheetham to explore links between music and codebreaking.

Many thanks to Crispin Lewis for allowing us reproduce his performance of Herbert Murrill's 1942 piece 'In Youth Is Pleasure'. www.crispinlewis.com

See copies of the documents we discuss in this episode here: https://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/our-story/e191-music-at-bletchley-park/ 

Image: ©Bletchley Park Trust 2026

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