This month we had local author Mike Murtagh talk to us about his soon to be published book Spying on the Kremlin.
Mike came from a working class background in Swansea and after moving to Manchester ended up joining the Royal Air Force. After a variety of postings such as Brize Norton, RAF Odiham, RAF Sealand and, RAF North Luffenham where he learnt Russian. Which led to a posting to Berlin where he listened to the storming of the Parliament in Vilnius, before eventually being head hunted to go to the British Embassy in Moscow.
Mike told us how it was par for the course that his flat was bugged so the Soviet spies could exploit any problems couples might be having in their relationships (his words were “to be blunt they listened to you having sex”). He was insulted by the women who were sent to be a honey-trap, spent time in the wildest bar in world (the Hungry Duck), and had a grim story about the British workmen finding a human tooth (it had a filling in it) in a ‘pork’ meatball.
It was an eye opening evening, as Mike told us how blatant it was that everyone was spying on everyone and how whilst the Russian people are lovely, they have been poorly led for generations, and continue to be.
We hope we now survive this criticism of the Russian regime, and see everyone in May!
The Lincoln WI 