GCHQ The Puzzle Book

Foreword by Director GCHQ

For nearly one hundred years, the men and women of GCHQ, both civilian and military, have been solving problems. They have done so in the pursuit of our mission to keep the United Kingdom safe. They have put their talents at the service of the nation’s security through some of the darkest times in our history: the struggle against Nazism during World War II, when our staff at Bletchley Park played such a key role, and the battle to preserve the free world from totalitarian communism during the Cold war. Today, in this digital age, the same skills are being applied to fighting terrorism, countering cyber attacks and bringing the most dangerous criminals to justice.

Technology is at the heart of our work at GCHQ. Alan Turing created a novel electromechanical device to help break the Enigma code, and Tommy Flowers, our greatest engineer, built the world’s first digital computer to help break the Tunny code. Our great mathematicians, James Ellis, Clifford Cocks and Malcom Williamson, made the historic breakthrough which enabled the encryption upon which all of us who use the internet rely for our security and safety everyday; Public-key cryptography. But at the heart of the mathematical, engineering, and linguistic successes for which GCHQ is famous are individuals with skills, talent and commitment. As well as puzzling for the national good, many of them also do it for fun. They have created this book to share their hobby with you. I hope it will entertain you and perhaps inspire some younger readers to become our problem solvers in the future. 

At GCHQ we are excited by the dazzling possibilities for human development offered by the internet, but we also know that this technology can be abused by a minority who seek to do harm. If we are to keep meeting these threats, we need creative, expert, and dedicated staff. GCHQ has a proud history of valuing and supporting individuals who think differently; without them we would be of little value to the country. Not all are geniuses or brilliant mathematicians or famous names, but each is valued for his or her contribution to our mission. 

Over the decades we have come to understand the pressures on mental health which affect so many, regardless of age or background. I am therefore delighted that the proceeds from this book will go to the Heads Together group of mental health charities, which their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have done so much to encourage. I want to thank all those GCHQ staff who have given their own time to create these puzzles over the years, and particularly those involved in creating this magnificent collection. I cannot name them, for obvious reasons, but I know how much they have put into this project. Thank you for buying this book and supporting these charities; all of us at GCHQ hope you enjoy it.

Robert Hannigan
Director GCHQ
Cheltenham, September 2016