Grenville Wynn

Grenville Maynard Wynne (19 March 1919 – 28 February 1990) 

In November 1960, Greville Wynne, a 41-year-old businessman from Ystrad Mynach, sat down for a lunch that would change his life. His dining companion, Dickie Franks, revealed himself to be an officer of the British Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, and asked Wynne for his help. An industrial sales consultant who regularly traveled through Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union representing British electrical and steel companies, Wynne was told it would be helpful if on his next trip, he could arrange for a meeting with a state committee in Moscow dedicated to developing opportunities with foreigners in science and technology, and report back on his conversations. Despite having no previous experience in intelligence work, Wynne was being recruited to serve as an MI6 agent.

Ym mis Tachwedd 1960, eisteddodd Greville Wynne, dyn busnes 41 oed o Ystrad Mynach, i gael cinio a fyddai'n newid ei fywyd. Datgelodd ei gydymaith bwyta, Dickie Franks, ei fod yn swyddog Gwasanaeth Cudd-wybodaeth Gyfrinachol Prydain, a elwir hefyd yn MI6, a gofynnodd i Wynne am ei help. Yn ymgynghorydd gwerthu diwydiannol a oedd yn teithio'n rheolaidd trwy Ddwyrain Ewrop a'r Undeb Sofietaidd yn cynrychioli cwmnïau trydan a dur Prydain, dywedwyd wrth Wynne y byddai'n ddefnyddiol pe bai'n gallu trefnu cyfarfod â phwyllgor gwladol ym Moscow ar ei daith nesaf sy'n ymroddedig i ddatblygu cyfleoedd. gyda thramorwyr mewn gwyddoniaeth a thechnoleg, ac adrodd yn ôl ar ei sgyrsiau. Er nad oedd ganddo unrhyw brofiad blaenorol mewn gwaith cudd-wybodaeth, roedd Wynne yn cael ei recriwtio i wasanaethu fel asiant MI6.

Wynne agreed, and during his visit to Moscow the following month he wound up connecting with Oleg Penkovsky, a lieutenant colonel in the GRU (the Soviet Union’s foreign-intelligence agency) who was eager to leak high-level military information to Western powers. Penkovsky felt stunted in his career with GRU and expected that by helping the West for a year or two, he and his family could be relocated and build a better life, and that he would personally be showered with recognition and honor. 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. Penkovsky’s information, and Wynne’s help in delivering it to British and American intelligence officers, would produce mountains of material, play a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, and land both men in prison.