Reunions

Funding agreed for new Land LEO archivist post at the Centre for Computing History, Cambridge 

We would like to share some exciting news with you. Since the end of our major lottery-funded project last year, we have been aware of the need to continue the important work of professionally archiving our collection of LEO material. Most of that material has come from your generous donations and is currently at the Centre for Computing History in Cambridge, some of it already archived, but much awaiting attention. .  

Now we have received the excellent news that the AIT Trust has granted us the funding we need to pay for a new archivist appointment – to be named the Land LEO archivist in honour of Frank and Ralph Land. This post will be based at CCH and will last for 2 years.

To read more about this , please go to Press Release

We are delighted that this funding will ensure that the LEO archive continues to be properly preserve and promoted. Our first task will be to advertise and recruit for the post and we will, of course, keep you up to date with the progress of this project. 

Best wishes

Hilary

— 
Hilary Caminer Hon. Secretary


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THE 19TH LEO REUNION The National Museum of Computing, Bletchley Park, Thursday, 31ST October 2024

2024 Reunion at TNMoC

Narrative by Peter Byford

Thirty members of the LEO Computers Society, some with their wives, plus Simon Allen (Head of Development, Big Yellow Storage) and Anna Ryten (architect for the redevelopment project for 66 Hammersmith Road, formerly Cadby Hall) attended this Reunion event.

The event officially started at 11am, however many arrived a little earlier. Several came some distance, often by train; we had people coming from Hampshire, Kent and Dorset. Train delays meant that some arrived late. Tea, coffee and biscuits were available throughout the event. Peter brought his own collection of LEO and Lyons memorabilia of ashtrays, flowchart template etc. and this also included a folder containing all the information (including attendees) for the first reunion in 1978.

At around 11.30 Peter Byford welcomed the attendees to the 19th Reunion and explained that we were the first people to come to the refurbished TNMoC. Peter welcomed our two guests, Simon Allen and Anna Ryten whose redevelopment project for 66 Hammersmith Road includes references to Lyons and the LEO heritage. They shared many of the drawings and images used in the planning application with the members at the reunion. You can see some of these on this page

Peter then set out the programme for the day which included tours by Vince Bodsworth and Sheridan Williams, volunteer TNMoC guides and members of the Society after lunch.

Jacqui Garrad, Director of TNMoC welcomed us to the museum and said that she was keen to have better links with the Society. This was followed by Vince Bodsworth giving a demonstration of the Virtual LEO 1 display which is being introduced to TNMoC as part of the Society’s Museums Project.  Eric Dickens then presented the CLEO Premium bond demonstration, which will also be part of the Museums project. Simon Allen and Anna Ryten showed members the documents and pictures describing their plans for the Hammersmith Road development which were displayed on a table. 

We had expected ten raffle prizes, In the event Anna Ryten’s promised prize turned out to be very generous, 6 bottles of champagne. Jacqui Garrad was also generous with 2 bottles of wine and several other items.  I would also like to thank Neville Lyons and Frank Land for their prizes. As in previous raffles, Nigella Lawson and Thomas Harding kindly provided signed copies of their books. We also had 3 LEO books donated by the Pinkerton family.

As a result, the majority of attendees were able to win a prize. Bernard Behr brought the Society’s credit card reader and this was used to good effect, although most people paid cash. We sold 35 tickets and made £175. I would also like to thank Mike Tyzack for producing the excellent name labels for the attendees.

After a nice lunch which catered for those with dietary problems, Vince and Sheridan took groups around TNMoC, this included EDSAC and briefly the LEO display which we are looking to improve. Simon and Anna particularly mentioned how they enjoyed the tour around TNMoC. The event finished soon after 4pm. 

ATTENDEES
Simon AllenBernard BehrDerek BenstedSue BensteadVince BodsworthPatrick Blakes
Tom BrooksVera BrooksBob BrownMike BuckleyPeter ByfordMargaret Byford
Bob CrockettJohn DainesMichael DavyEric DickensGuy FitzgeraldBob Harris
John KapplerFrank KellyVal LawsonMike LawsonDouglas MilsomChris Reynolds
Anna RytenJudy SkillingtonAnthony ThorpeRosalind ThorpeVince TilleyBen Tilley
Mike TyzackSheridan Williams


Some rather noisy video is below.

play-sharp-fill

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