THE RADIO SECURITY SERVICE    MI6   Input to Bletchley Park.

The Secret Listeners


These pages are designed to record the service given by amateur radio enthusiasts, and GPO operators. Initially the radio amateur were introduced by the Radio Society of Great Britain to the World War 2 war effort. It has been expanded to include the their integration into the Radio Security Services and some details of the RSS will be found on these pages.
The early days of the Voluntary Inceptors can be found here
The Voluntary Interceptors were eventually coordinated  in a large house near Barnet called “Arkley View”
Many of the volunteers became involved in Direction Finding
Initially the Voluntary Interceptors were looking for spies but later helped with counter espionage
In the Newsletter page descriptions of the reunion meetings which began to be formalised with annual meetings held at Bletchley Park. Those veterans attending can be found here. The attention of the group has more recently turned to ensure that their valuable contribution will achieve a higher profile than has been the case due to necessity for secrecy. Many of the participants only found out in 1979 when Renee Cutforth’s documentary researched by Paul Cort-Wright (G3SEM) appeared on BBC Television. You can see this by following this link:   http://eafa.org.uk/catalogue/5108


Bob Whelan, RSGB Chairman, presented an award on behalf of The Society to Bob “Noz” King G3ASE for his services in WW2 and for running the reunions for the past 15 years. After working as a voluntary interceptor Bob was recruited into the RSS at the age of 17 1/2 at their headquarters in a large house at Arkley near Barnet. Bob became part of the “Discrimination” department sorting the many thousands of intercept logs to identify those that were of specific interest and to be sent to Bletchley Park for decryption.

Speakers and Veterans at the 2012 Reunion

The group photo shows at the rear those helping with the mornings events and at the front the smaller than usual number of veterans attending. Those missing the event this year due to incapacity

In the rear from the left Stan Ames, G4OAV, Ken Ashcroft, G3MSW, Bob Whelan, G3PJT, RSGB Chair, Ben Nock, G4BXD, and partner Gloria Roberts.  Jean King

In the front from the left Bob Painter, G3BPF,Helena Crawley, Bob King, G3ASE, John Hofer, John Gay, G3CFV