Winifred May Kynoch (nee Hellam)

Wren Winifred Hellam worked in administrative support to the hundreds of WRNS personnel at Bletchley Park.

The eve of my 21st Birthday! After leave, I left Newcastle station about midday to travel to Bletchley via Kings Cross and Euston – good, except the Kings Cross train did a detour en route. We were not told why but imagined some ‘activity’ which had caused the detour.

Upon arrival at Kings Cross, I rushed over to Euston and caught the train to Bletchley. Arrived at Bletchley shortly after midnight to see the rear end of the bus disappearing on the road to Woburn Abbey where I was quartered. So I trundled into the Mansion to spend the night on a settee in the lounge (now, I believe, a lecture room). Also stranded were two American chaps (the PC Brigade of today would probably yell “not allowed to spend the night together in the same room”)

My Birthday arrived and I reported for duty to Hut 9, WRNS Admin (Chief Officer D. Mackenzie). My friend, Dulcie Freestone, and I were taken out to lunch by Second Officer V. Dowick – also from the North East like myself. On arrival at quarters at Woburn Abbey, I reported to Third Officer McGregor, but escaped punishment for being adrift as I had my pass stamped by the RTO. One tired Wren slept well on the night of her 21st birthday in “Valkyrie” at Woburn Abbey!

Woburn Abbey was a wonderful place, even in wartime. My friend Dulcie and I explored one of the floors closed to us and had a brief look at some of the treasures stored there – by a caretaker, we presumed.  We often took a lovely walk into Woburn Sands – but had to beware the herds of deer during the rutting season!