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Linemen head into danger to ensure public safety, and some believe they deserve recognition as first responders. STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL
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to roam the hotel but also to participate in a “top secret” scavenger hunt.
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According to Peter Matthews in his book, “House of Spies: St. Ermin’s Hotel, The London Base of British Intelligence,” people in the intelligence service refer to themselves as “friends.” Apparently, they don’t like being called spies or spooks.
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The Cambridge Five became Soviet agents after being recruited at the University of Cambridge and stole top secret information from the early 1930s to the 1950s. They were Donald Maclean, Guy Burgess, Kim Philby, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross. It is said the KGB referred to them as the Magnificent Five.
HOUSE OF SECRETS
St. Ermin’s Hotel is an especially significant place on this 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, or D-Day, as it’s most often called. Members of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) used it and 2 Caxton St. as headquarters beginning in 1938. Throughout World War II, not only were whole floors of the hotel occupied by intelligence crews, but the buildings surrounding the hotel also were part of the secret agencies. Of all the buildings used for intelligence services, St. Ermin’s is the only one in London closely associated with espionage that is accessible to the public. According to “House of Spies,” a book by Peter Matthews, a former intelligence officer, strategic plans for the D-Day landings were first formulated and overseen by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s staff at Norfolk House in St. James Square, less than a mile from St. Ermin’s. The hotel became a second home not only for the SIS but also for the MI5 (military intelligence) and the Naval Intelligence Division. Among the famous and infamous people working in this war effort were Noel Coward, Ian Fleming, and the Cambridge Five spy ring. These five men were recruited by Russia during their years at Cambridge and worked as double agents against Great Britain during the war. Kim Philby is perhaps the most famous, as he passed information along to two other agencies, making him a triple agent. The famous Caxton Bar, which has been beautifully restored, was the site of many secret meetings. Guy Burgess, who eventually defected to Russia, often met his Russian counterpart at the bar to pass papers and top-secret government files. At Sir Winston Churchill’s request, the group that later became Special Operations Executive was organized to explicitly work in espionage, sabotage, and reconnaissance in
The staircase at the main endtrance to St. Ermin’s
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Kim Philby, a senior officer in Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, passed more than 900 documents to the KGB.
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St. Ermin’s Hotel is built on the site of a 15th cen tury chapel dedicated to St. Ermin. It became St. Ermin’s Mansions in the late 19th century.
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St. Ermin of Lobbes was a Benedictine monk and disciple of St. Ursmar. He died in 737.
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Westminster Abbey, which was founded in 960, is near St. Ermin’s and has been the venue for coronations since 1066.
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Not far from St. Ermin’s, you can see the Tower of London and the iconic Tower Bridge along with St. Paul’s Cathedral, and catch a ride on the London Eye. Since the hotel is in London’s city center, it has easy access to any location in London.
Inside the famous Caxton Bar
occupied Europe. Few people knew of this organization though it occupied an entire floor of St. Ermin’s. Among insiders, members were called “Baker Street Irregulars” and “Churchill’s Secret Army.” SOE was officially dissolved in 1946. A MODERN EXPERIENCE
Even with its storied history, this elegant hotel offers a wonderful opportunity to make your London stay exciting. As much as the children will enjoy uncovering secrets in their hotel adventure, they’ll be equally excited when they get to see the hotel’s resident bees. Due to the close proximity to so many parks, the honey created by these bees is especially great tasting. St. Ermin’s London honey is served in all the hotel’s dining spots. The bees are on the third floor, and guests can watch