Welcome to a campaign to get recognition for a remarkable man, who not only laid down the foundations for the modern computer, but was described by Churchill as "The Man who won the Battle of Britain".
Few people know that Alan Turning spent his formative years in St Leonards, and whilst he is celebrated around the world as a genius to whom we all owe a great debt - in his home town he has been completely ignored.
The Prime Minister recently issued a much belated apology to Turing for the way he was hounded to his death after the war because of his sexuality.
I believe that the people of Hastings have the opportunity to put right an injustice ourselves, and to proudly celebrate someone who I believe is by far the most significant person ever to live in the town.
2012 is the centenary of Turing's birth - there will be events taking place around the globe to celebrate the father of the modern computer - this gives us a little over two years to pay the man the respect he deserves.
I hope this site will act as a rallying point for all those who feel as I do, and who wish to join this campaign. I'm open to suggestions as to what could be done - a Blue Plaque at the place he lived perhaps? a science festival in 2012? an exhibition of the art and literature that has been inspired by him? a performance of the play based on his life? Perhaps one of the proposed new academies in Hastings could be named after him. That would be particularly appropriate since they are to adopt Information Technology as their speciality. Who better to symbolise that than the man who created the field?
If there is enough interest here I hope to arrange a meeting in the next few months to form a group, and to make plans. In the meantime, please do leave messages of support, and any suggestions you have - or join the associated Facebook Campaign page.
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/368175/22571873
Dean Morrison
Hastings
October 2009
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Absolutely brilliant plan. Support it wholeheartedly. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie,
ReplyDeletethere will be an article by Rob Alderson in this weeks Hastings Observer on Turing's life in Hastings.
Love this idea Dean.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea he'd lived in St Leonards until i read the "Obsever" this morning. And he lived around the corner from me too!
It's really quite astonishing isn't it? He's not even on the Council or the Observer's list of famous people who have been associated with the town, even though not only did he grow up here - he lived here for longer than the likes of Baird, Tressell, and Rider Haggard.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasant discovery in a way, and even better we have the opportunity and time to put the record straight before his centenary in 2012.