When looking for an innovative name to mark the exciting new development based at Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham Borough Council and Cheltenham Borough Homes didn’t have to look far to find a local connection that embraced the town’s codebreaking heritage.
It’s no enigma and as a nod to the town’s flourishing cyber technology ecosystem, the twenty-seven new one- and two-bedroom homes at the former Monkscroft Villas site will now be known as Radford Court after June Radford, a young codebreaker from Cheltenham.
June Sarita Radford (nee Lodge) joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) in 1943, at the age of 19. After basic training, she and a Cheltenham school friend, Bridget Anne Snowdon, volunteered for special duties working for Bletchley Park at its top-secret Eastcote Bombe Outstation. Here they worked on setting up Bombe machines to help find the daily Enigma settings, enabling the Bletchley Park Codebreakers to produce vital intelligence reports.
The two stayed together as a team on the Bombes until June went overseas in the summer of 1944, which took her to Bombay, Ceylon, Colombo before her return in October 1945. You can read the full story of June Radford on the Bletchley Park Roll of Honour.
Interviewed in 2015 for Bletchley Park’s Oral History project, June described her work: “If any of us were fortunate enough to break a code we had a message from Bletchley Park, which said “Job Up, Strip the Machines!”. This we did and prepared for the next run with another menu. Bridget Ann and I were very lucky as we had only been there for six months and in that time had broken the code of the day 12 times. That was pure luck as three some people never broke it at all so for us the success was very satisfying.”
The exciting gateway new build at the former Monkscroft Villas site on Princess Elizabeth Way is part of the £180m housing investment in Cheltenham’s future made possible by Cheltenham Borough Council and delivered by Cheltenham Borough Homes.
Councillor Peter Jeffries, Cabinet member for housing, Cheltenham Borough Council said: “The council and CBH are working in partnership to facilitate the investment of £180m in quality homes and thriving communities for Cheltenham across multiple tenures including affordable and private and through multiple opportunities including the Golden Valley project, and other land led schemes and acquisitions. The Radford Court development is yet another way to support the wider housing strategy of the council in meeting future housing needs for Cheltenham and it is fantastic that it is named after such an inspirational Cheltonian lady and the towns cyber heritage.”
Steve Slater, interim chief executive, Cheltenham Borough Homes, added; “The high-quality homes we provide are supported with a real passion for the creation of strong communities. We are known for providing the highest standards of customer service and satisfaction across all tenure types. Gateway developments, such as this, not only provide affordable housing – they are an integral part of our building of strong, sustainable communities whilst in addition providing a much needed boost to the local economy following the pandemic.”
The design team was procured up to RIBA Stage 4 via a tender exercise and once planning consent was secured a contractor partner was sourced via a tendering process. Following the strict evaluation process, Gloucestershire based contractors E G Carter were appointed and even with the challenges of COVID-19 have delivered the properties on budget to a high standard.
The properties at Radford Court have been designed to act as a gateway building and although it does not match the buildings in the immediate surroundings it is intended it will help set the precedent for future development in the area. The marketing of the shared ownership homes is due to commence in the coming weeks and there is already a strong demand for the rented properties which will be completed in Spring 2021.
These homes follow in quick succession from the three properties at Cordwainers Road and the eight two-bedroom homes at Ingleborough Mews, both of which saw new tenants move in at the beginning of the year.
It’s no enigma and as a nod to the town’s flourishing cyber technology ecosystem, the twenty-seven new one- and two-bedroom homes at the former Monkscroft Villas site will now be known as Radford Court after June Radford, a young codebreaker from Cheltenham.
June Sarita Radford (nee Lodge) joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) in 1943, at the age of 19. After basic training, she and a Cheltenham school friend, Bridget Anne Snowdon, volunteered for special duties working for Bletchley Park at its top-secret Eastcote Bombe Outstation. Here they worked on setting up Bombe machines to help find the daily Enigma settings, enabling the Bletchley Park Codebreakers to produce vital intelligence reports.
The two stayed together as a team on the Bombes until June went overseas in the summer of 1944, which took her to Bombay, Ceylon, Colombo before her return in October 1945. You can read the full story of June Radford on the Bletchley Park Roll of Honour.
Interviewed in 2015 for Bletchley Park’s Oral History project, June described her work: “If any of us were fortunate enough to break a code we had a message from Bletchley Park, which said “Job Up, Strip the Machines!”. This we did and prepared for the next run with another menu. Bridget Ann and I were very lucky as we had only been there for six months and in that time had broken the code of the day 12 times. That was pure luck as three some people never broke it at all so for us the success was very satisfying.”
The exciting gateway new build at the former Monkscroft Villas site on Princess Elizabeth Way is part of the £180m housing investment in Cheltenham’s future made possible by Cheltenham Borough Council and delivered by Cheltenham Borough Homes.
Councillor Peter Jeffries, Cabinet member for housing, Cheltenham Borough Council said: “The council and CBH are working in partnership to facilitate the investment of £180m in quality homes and thriving communities for Cheltenham across multiple tenures including affordable and private and through multiple opportunities including the Golden Valley project, and other land led schemes and acquisitions. The Radford Court development is yet another way to support the wider housing strategy of the council in meeting future housing needs for Cheltenham and it is fantastic that it is named after such an inspirational Cheltonian lady and the towns cyber heritage.”
Steve Slater, interim chief executive, Cheltenham Borough Homes, added; “The high-quality homes we provide are supported with a real passion for the creation of strong communities. We are known for providing the highest standards of customer service and satisfaction across all tenure types. Gateway developments, such as this, not only provide affordable housing – they are an integral part of our building of strong, sustainable communities whilst in addition providing a much needed boost to the local economy following the pandemic.”
The design team was procured up to RIBA Stage 4 via a tender exercise and once planning consent was secured a contractor partner was sourced via a tendering process. Following the strict evaluation process, Gloucestershire based contractors E G Carter were appointed and even with the challenges of COVID-19 have delivered the properties on budget to a high standard.
The properties at Radford Court have been designed to act as a gateway building and although it does not match the buildings in the immediate surroundings it is intended it will help set the precedent for future development in the area. The marketing of the shared ownership homes is due to commence in the coming weeks and there is already a strong demand for the rented properties which will be completed in Spring 2021.
These homes follow in quick succession from the three properties at Cordwainers Road and the eight two-bedroom homes at Ingleborough Mews, both of which saw new tenants move in at the beginning of the year.
Contact the press office on communications@cheltenham.gov.uk | 0800 408 0000