The KGB Spies Next Door

In the sleepy suburb of Ruislip in London during the late 1950s, life was anything but exciting for Gay, a 15-year-old girl. Little did she know, her mundane existence was about to be shattered by a shocking revelation that would turn her world upside down.

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This is the gripping tale of suburban espionage, the story begins with the seemingly ordinary Kroger family—Helen and Peter—who live just a stone’s throw away from Gay. Helen was a vivacious and boisterous woman, always rushing around and popping in for short visits. Peter, on the other hand, was quiet and bookish, running an antiquarian book business. Their presence added a touch of excitement to the otherwise dull neighbourhood.

However, beneath their friendly facade lay a dark secret. The Krogers were, in fact, Soviet spies, part of the infamous Portland Spy Ring deeply embedded in the heart of suburban Britain. Their bungalow, strategically located with a direct view from Gay’s house, became the focal point of a covert investigation led by MI5 and Special Branch. Gay recounts the day their lives took a dramatic turn. A local policeman knocked on their door, delivering a message from Superintendent Smith of Scotland Yard. This marked the beginning of an intense surveillance operation, with agents stationed in Gay’s house to monitor the Krogers’ activities.

Trevor Barnes’s excellent book about the Krogers and the Portland Spy Ring

The family was thrust into the world of espionage, their home becoming a base for undercover agents. As the investigation unfolded, the true extent of the Krogers’ espionage activities came to light. They were part of the Portland spy ring, with Gordon Lonsdale—another Soviet agent—frequently visiting their bungalow. The Krogers used their antiquarian book business as a cover to send microdots containing classified information across Europe. The tension reached its peak when the Krogers were finally arrested.

When Special Branch officers swooped Helen, ever the master of deception, asked if she could stoke the boiler before being taken away. In her handbag, officers found incriminating evidence, including one-time code pads and a letter from Lonsdale to his wife in the Soviet Union. The aftermath of the arrest was equally dramatic. Gay’s family was inundated with journalists, and the neighbours were left in shock. Gay’s mother, who had formed a close bond with Helen, struggled to come to terms with the betrayal. The stress and strain of the entire ordeal took a heavy toll on her, leading to her untimely death.

This episode is a fascinating journey into the world of Cold War espionage, filled with personal anecdotes and historical insights. It sheds light on the extraordinary lives of ordinary people caught in the web of international intrigue. Don’t miss this captivating story of spies in suburban Ruislip.

Related episodes

Portland Spy Ring Part 1 https://pod.fo/e/292bd
Portland Spy Ring Part 2 https://pod.fo/e/4471e
Codename Hero – Soviet double agent Oleg Penkovsky https://pod.fo/e/c8d1f
The Bridge of Spies spy https://pod.fo/e/15f244
Spy Who Was Left Out in the Cold: The Secret History of Agent Goleniewski https://pod.fo/e/cd2e1
I was a deep cover KGB spy Part 1 https://pod.fo/e/9c88f
I was a deep cover KGB spy Part 2 https://pod.fo/e/9e0a6

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