It was during one of these meetings that Wynne met Oleg Penkovsky, a lieutenant colonel in the GRU, which was the Soviet Unions foreign-intelligence agency. After being arrested by the KGB in 1962 and convicted of spying on May 11, 1963, Wynne was sentenced to eight years in Moscow's Lubyanka prison, where he was held in brutal conditions and subjected to severe beatings and psychological pressure. The President of the Court declared Greville Wynne, aged 44, would serve. In The Courier, he plays Andrew, son of Greville Wynne, a real-life businessman who was recruited by MI6 as a spy. And he wrote two memoirs about his time as a spy The Man From Moscow in 1967 and The Man From Odessa in 1981. Yes. Spy Greville Wynne with his son Andrew and wife Sheila outside of their London home after being released from the Soviet prison in April 1964. Both men were arrested in November 1962, around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The couple separated a few years before his death but were still legally married when he died. Meanwhile, 43-year-old Oleg Penkovsky was sentenced to death for his role in the spy activity. Wynne was then hit over the head and knocked out, bundled into a car and taken to prison where interrogators played out a guessing game to establish the links between him and Penkovsky. Watch an interview with British spy Greville Wynne upon his release from the Soviet prison. During the lunch, acquaintance Dickie Franks disclosed that he is an officer of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) and revealed that he required Wynnes assistance. In one of his biggest whoppers, Wynne explains that he and Penkovsky took a trip together in a private military jet from the U.K. to Washington, D.C. He loves his mum too. The Courier premiered at Sundance in January 2020 under its original title,Ironbark. Wynne Andrew Greville Download Report Watch this director Reports Positions Charts Business areas History Similar name Reports Director Report with insolvency check, phone numbers and contact addresses (United Kingdom) It includes the current and past appointments and positions in companies, with relevant data about each company MI6 took a liking to the engineer-turned-businessman Greville Wynne (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) due to the fact that he often traveled to Eastern Europe on business trips. Ameeting between theRussian prisoners, in which Wynne tellsPenkovsky of the import of his information, asdepicted in the film, is drama. Wynne went along, slightly concerned about whether Penkovsky was on the level and concerned about putting himself into a dangerous situation, kicking off what would be one of the most productive clandestine operations in Cold War history. In 2021 in the UK, Greville Wynne and Oleg Penkovskys story was brought to the big screen, as the film The Courier was released. Wynne literally goes from being a charming businessman heading towards retirement, says the actor, to someone secreting Minox film cartridges in his case as he tos-and-fros to Moscow., He was an ordinary man doing an extraordinary thing. Greville Wynne's former in laws: Greville Wynne's former father in law was Gordon Beaton Greville Wynne's former mother in law was Elsie Beaton. Ideal for gathering evidence and remote monitoring. [6] Wynne and Penkovsky each pleaded guilty on 7 May 1963 and were sentenced four days later. An on this day article from the BBC reveals that Wynne joked to his wife after the sentencing, stating that he didnt expect his time in prison to be a Butlins holiday camp. He attended the University of Nottingham, studying Electrical Engineering, and after graduating went on to become an engineer. Find family history information in a whole new way His second wife, whom he married in 1970, was Herma van Buren, his constant companion, secretary and interpreter who spoke eight languages. Should you have information that conflicts with anything shown please make us aware by email. "Most experts agreethat what Penkovsky provided on the Soviet's capabilities was extremely useful during the Cuban Missile crisis," saysRobert English, director of Central European Studies at the University of Southern California. The engineer-turned-business man Greville Wynne was, in fact, recruited by the MI6 in November of 1960. They spent so much time together in Moscow, partying and clubbing as well as their secret work, that Wynnes first wife Sheila thought he was having an affair. [7][13], Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 15:01, "From Interrogation in the Lubyanka to rose-growing in Majorca", "Wynne confesses to charges of spying for West", "Greville Wynne, Spy for Britain In the Soviet Bloc, Is Dead at 71", "Gentleman, spy, fantasist? Not only was this account widely denied shortly after publication by members of the CIA and Kennedys staff, but it would have been against the way espionage is runkeeping heads of state a safe distance from the details of intelligence work. He returned to his business career, but also tried to cash in on his espionage fame. Why did Wynne make up so much, when the truths of his 18 months as a spy are already filled with astounding details? Includes devices appropriate for a variety of situations and to suit all budgets. It was pathological with him.. He was arrested during a business trip to Budapest, Hungary, in November 1962 and taken to the Soviet Union. Greville Wynne is a hero in history books and his family has benefitted from it as well. Both economy and specialist counter surveillance devices. Greville Wynne had a wife, Sheila, and a son, Andrew. [7], Wynne's and Penkovsky's espionage activities were discovered by the KGB. Keir, who is from London, doesnt have acting classes but enjoys drama at school. For his treason, Penkovsky was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad days after the trial ended (though Wynne would later claim he died of suicide). These guys were in the foxhole togetherthey each had a secret that only the other man knew, says OConnor. | 22:00 GMT 13 Aug 2021 It involved a lot of foreign travel, including trips to Soviet bloc countries, and thus provided ideal cover for spying. A famous picture shows Andrew, Greville and Sheila together outside of their London home immediately after Grevilles release from prison. The moonlighting spy was arrested on a business trip to Budapest in November 1962 and taken to the Soviet Union. Hes such a nice character. Wynne, despite claiming ignorance of what materials he was smuggling to the West, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Of course, they had no idea how much the other would reveal. The two then visited the White House where President John F. Kennedy personally thanked them for their servicethen the two returned to the U.K. just 18 hours later. This version is supported by Alexander Zagvozdin, who was the KGB's chief interrogator during the investigation. Andrew Wynne born 1952, age 69 (approx.) Privacy Statement 2023 Intellisphere Ltd - An Intellisphere Group Company, Registration No 7215890 - VAT Registered No 881 4954 86, Spy Histories The Story Of British Spy Greville Wynne. Browse our recording devices. Among the smuggled photographs and documents was evidence of what became the chilling Cuban Missile Crisis in October, 1962, with secret Soviet rocket sites on communist leader Fidel Castros island bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war. When Wynne visited Moscow in July 1962, his hotel room and luggage were searched, and he was tailed during his travels. Penkovsky's real-life codename was HERO. He gave me lots of good advice. The operation was the most productive classic clandestine operation ever conducted by the CIA or MI6 against the Soviet target, as Schecter and Deriabin put it, and key to its success was the mustachioed courier with no prior intelligence experience. He and his wife Sheila divorced not long after his release. Important information Editorial Use Only. One of them said quietly, Mr Veen? and I said, Yes, that is my name.. Home Spy Histories The Story Of British Spy Greville Wynne. The unlikely British spy was freed in 1964 in exchange forSoviet spy Konon Molody. Greville Wynne had a wife, Sheila, and a son, Andrew. A drink-loving. Benedict Cumberbatch is known for bringing outlandish, extraordinary characters, from Marvel's "Dr. On 23 May 1966, he appeared as himself in an episode of the American television series To Tell the Truth, receiving two of four possible votes. See our devices & software. However, in real life, IRONBARK was the codename for the documents that Soviet double agent Oleg Penkovsky had been passing to the CIA. He said the double agent also told him Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev had allowed important guidance equipment to be sent with Soviet missiles being installed in Cuba. Despite having no previous experience in intelligence work, Wynne was being recruited to serve as an MI6 agent. The loosely allied forces that made up the White Army favored capitalism and social democracy, which stood in contrast to the communist ideologies of the Red Army. Greville Wynne's son is Andrew Wynne. Space-X continues to reach for the stars. The Courier is also not the first time that Greville Wynnes story has attracted attention over the years. Penkovsky had made earlier offers to spy for the West. 'The Courier' is currently lived by his son, Andrew as he had already passed away in 1990 at the age of 70. The strange post-Courier life of Greville Wynne", "Travelling salesman prevented WW3 in incredible true story behind new Cumberbatch film", "Nonfiction Book Review: The Spy Who Saved the World: How a Soviet Colonel Changed the Course of the Cold War by Jerrold L. Schecter, Author, Peter S. Deriabin, With Scribner Book Company $25 (0p) ISBN 978-0-684-19068-6", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greville_Wynne&oldid=1141334696, He was portrayed by Peter Lindford in the 2007, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 15:01. They separated several years prior to Wynne's death in 1990. The films screenwriter, Tom OConnor, found Wynnes story of a nobody suddenly becoming a somebody compelling. Keirs twin Lewis, who is also an actor, was originally lined up for role, but their mother Marie OGrady-Hills had better ideas. He later appeared as himself on the May 23, 1967 episode of the American game show To Tell the Truth. Starring Benedict Cumberbach as Greville Wynne and Merab Ninidze as Oleg Penkovsky, the film explores the Cold War spy story in its entirety and focuses a lot on the relationship held between British spy Wynne and Soviet militant Penkovsky. 0.06 2. They made an odd contrastthe short, energetic, and thinly mustachioed Wynne alongside the military bearing of Penkovskybut there seemed to be genuine affection between the two, and this friendship is a central focus of The Courier. Later on in his professional life, he became a businessman and often travelled to Eastern Europe. The film received rave reviews and, having seen it ourselves, we certainly recommend giving it a watch. Strange" to Sherlock Holmes. Childhood pictures of Cumberbatch at a similar age prove why Keir was the perfect fit and he is now appearing as the son of his 45-year-old doppelganger in Cold War thriller The Courier. Wynne wrote about his time as a spy in a book entitled The Man from Odessa, first published in 1981. Wynne and Penkovsky were both arrested by the KGB in November 1962, when some of the information their endeavours produced was of assistance to the West during the Cuban Missile Crisis. [12] In April 1964, amid British concerns for his deteriorating health,[6] Wynne was released in exchange for the Soviet spy Konon Molody (also known as Gordon Lonsdale).[13]. So we got along a lot.. Greville passed away on February 28 1990, at age 70. In real life, Wynne's wife Sheila divorced him after he was released from the Moscow prison and returned to Britain. On October 29 of that year, just hours after the Soviets stood down during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Wynne went to Soviet-occupied Budapest with a traveling exhibition of British industrial goods, against the advice of his MI6 handlers. Herma van Buren Bio Details. This intelligence gave both the United Kingdom and the United States the knowledge necessary to manage the quickly evolving military friction with the Soviet Union. Find out about the best deals and the latest Spy Gear first Find featured products, our latest blog posts, spy laws, information about the UK's biggest and best spy shop and much more all in one place. But that would all change dramatically in November 1960 on the day he met an old acquaintance who had invited him to lunch at a London restaurant. Many Animals, Including the Platypus, Lost Their Stomachs. He passed away from throat cancer in London in 1990 at age 70. Like in the movie, they had one son together, Andrew. Unaware of Penkovskys arrest, Wynne travelled to Budapest under his cover name of Mr Veen against the advice of his MI6 bosses. [13] He died of throat cancer at the Cromwell Hospital in London on 28 February 1990, aged 70. He was flown to Moscow, imprisoned, and tried alongside Penkovsky, who it would later be learned had been arrested the week before Wynne entered Hungary. Penkovsky, who was tried with him, was sentenced to death for treason. He was released in a swap at a checkpoint in Berlin in April, 1964, in exchange for Soviet spy Konon Molody, known in Britain as Gordon Lonsdale. British - Born 70 years ago (April 1952) Mr Andrew Greville Wynne 4 Londesborough Place Lymington SO41 8QB. From online or printed sources and from publicly accessible databases. We hope you have enjoyed our insight into the story of British spy Greville Wynne and that you have learned about this Cold War story. Greville Wynne was born on 19th March 1919 in Shropshire, UK. In a later interview Wynne said: It came out in my interrogation in the early days of my imprisonment that they suspected me of black marketeering. He and his wife Sheila divorced, and Wynne became estranged from his son and only child, Andrew. Our collection of landline recorders and mobile phone monitoring devices. As for Rachel Brosnahan's character, CIA operative Emily Donovan, she is not based on a real person. 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