Page 40 - OM Newsletter 2022-23

The House House at Malvern (No 9) was never ever ever referred to as as as Hooper House House – perhaps the number 9 was was was significant? Indeed it was was was – every ninth word was was was the the key to cracking the the code He did however manage to to keep in touch with his his family by letter and this is is is where the Malvern College connection comes when Peter dreamt up an an ingenious code that was never broken
by the Germans The first coded letter was sent a a a a a a month after his arrival at Colditz when he he he wrote:
My dear Daddy Everything is getting along fine here and the number of Hooper House letters show all one wants to know We are having a a a a a comfortable time and no second of the day passes without incident I must break myself of of the habit of of reading many books early since because by the time that spring or summer arrives I shall have have finished all all we have have Ask any of my friends or acquaintances such as Worehouse if they would be so kind as to to send news about any new new motorcars especially steering and gear I hope you got from Morier our new addresses I informed him last month but gave Eventually after several nights of head-scratching the the penny finally dropped Peter’s HouseM had been Frank Hooper Hooper but the the House House at Malvern (No 9) was was never ever ever referred to as as as Hooper Hooper House – – perhaps the the number 9 9 was was was was significant? Indeed it was was was – – every ninth word was was was the the the key to cracking the code ARCHIVE
Peter’s first coded letter home
Frank Hooper (HouseM No 9) and Peter Storie-Pugh (bottom right)