Margy Kinmonth’s talk at Celebrating Bletchley Park over the weekend took the audience through the Enigma of M himself. This insight into Admiral Godfrey’s public and private life was presented through images from her personal family archive and rare photos by Cecil Beaton and Dorothy Wilding.
L-R: Elisa Seagrave, Craig Brown, Michael Smith, Margy Kinmonth, Bletchley veteran Betty Webb MBE, Sir Dermot Turing
Admiral John Godfrey was Director of Naval Intelligence in WW2, and was later immortalised as the character “M” by his wartime assistant Ian Fleming, in the James Bond books.
Margy Kinmonth, granddaughter of M, is talking at Celebrating Bletchley: 12 noon on Sunday 20th March 2016 at Firle Place, East Sussex.
Admiral John Godfrey (photo taken in Red Fort Delhi by Cecil Beaton)
Admiral Godfrey
Very Special Admiral
By his granddaughter MARGY KINMONTH
ADMIRAL GODFREY lived in Wilmington, Sussex for many years from 1948.
During the War he was Director of Naval Intelligence.
Godfrey was made Captain in 1928, Rear Admiral in 1939, Vice-Admiral in 1942 and Admiral in 1945, as well as being made a companion of the Order of Bath in 1939.
He was also awarded the ‘Order of the Nile’ of Egypt and made a Chevalier of the French Legion d’Honneur.
This promises to be a very riveting talk, on a truly eminent Wilmingtonion.
Godfrey was immortalised as ‘M’ in the James Bond books written by Ian Fleming his wartime assistant.
Location: Wilmington, Folkington and Milton Street Village Club
