Our conference was held in a new venue, in Tothill Street, next door but one to the former SIS/MI6 headquarters of 54 Broadway in central London. Again, priority was given Friends’ bookings.

After a warm welcome by Louisa Russell, Chair of SECRET WW2, acclaimed author Clare Mulley (below, left) kicked off with a captivating presentation on the subject of her latest book, Elzbieta Zawacka, the female resistance fighter known as Agent Zo – the title of Clare’s book. Elzbieta was the only woman to reach London from Warsaw during the Second World War as an emissary of the Polish Home Army and was the only female member of the Polish SOE-trained forces to be parachuted back into Nazi-occupied Poland. Signed and dedicated copies of the book, Agent Zo, flew off the sales desk.

Clare was followed (above, right) by Carina Evans, Friend of SECRET WW2, businesswoman, Reserve Army officer and granddaughter of a wartime SOE officer in Yugoslavia. Carina gave us SOE – Resistance Operating Model and Personal Qualities – a thoughtful insight into the individuality of SOE agents, while also looking at underlying factors such as their background, upbringing and mindset.

A buffet lunch was followed by the now traditional conference element of a short, light-hearted, book and donations auction managed by the indomitable Eddie Jones (above, left), long-serving volunteer and former Reserve SF soldier. Without breaking anyone’s bank, Eddie generated a useful additional sum for our charity’s coffers.

A 20 minutes ‘warm-up’ act by (above, centre) Paul McCue followed on SIS locations in London, giving photographs of all the SIS/MI6 headquarters that have existed in London – all are still standing. Mapping showed how many HQ and other locations were within a few minutes’ walk of the conference venue. The use of the title MI6, originally simply a wartime ‘cover’ title, was also explained.

The final presentation was A Spymaster at War and in Peace by Colin Cohen (above, right). Colin, also a Friend of SECRET WW2, outlined the service of his father, Commander Kenneth Cohen, CB, CMG, RN (1900-1984) a senior SIS officer. The presentation included his father’s contribution during the Second World War, not least of which was his involvement with the ALLIANCE resistance network, whose head became Colin’s Godmother, and the SUSSEX PLAN which Commander Cohen directed until around D-Day when he took responsibility for the rest of Western Europe and later the whole continent. Colin displayed some remarkable photographs and documentation – the likes of which are very rarely seen due to the veil of secrecy that still surrounds SIS.

The day was rounded off by Louisa Russell, Chair, thanking our loyal volunteers (especially Meryl Jones who is Conference Supremo) and those who made donations, including Sheryl Green, Eddie Jones and Ashley Barnett. A wine reception followed and hardened veterans continued in the pub across the road for a few hours into the evening.