ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book would never have happened had our friends Niels and Ann Toettcher not decided – in a brilliant, crazy moment – to buy Bawdsey Manor from the Ministry of Defence and set up an English language school there. We were among their first guests and fell instantly in love with the place. The memories of many happy times in that magical place live on in our hearts.

The wartime history of Bawdsey Manor and in particular the extraordinary story of Robert Watson-Watt’s invention of radar is being wonderfully told through the work of the Bawdsey Radar Trust and the museum they have set up in a wartime transmitter block. Thanks to all who gave me their time and advice, particularly their former chair, Mary Wain.

Steph Merrett and her team at Felixstowe Library are possibly the friendliest librarians in the world, and were very helpful in sourcing research materials about the town in wartime. Long live libraries!

I am, as always, eternally grateful to my tireless agent Caroline Hardman and the team at Pan Macmillan, especially my eagle-eyed editor Alex Saunders, whose suggestions at draft stage were really helpful.

Last but not least, I could not do what I do without the love and support of family and friends – you know who you are.