BBC Radio 4 Extra at Bletchley Park-Maggie Philbin traces the remarkable history of IT through the BBC sound archives from the birthplace of the world’s first electronic computer, Bletchley Park. From November 2013.Maggie Philbin’s Programme This is the header but the 3 hour programme is marked as being unavailable. But there is a segment we have on the LCS Website Lyons […]
BBC Radio 4 Hidden Histories of the Information Age-Leo Computer Episode 4 of 5Thu 7 Jan 201609:30BBC RADIO 4 The company that brought computers into business was Lyons, known for its cakes and teashops. Aleks Krotoski tells the story of how this technology transformed office work. BBC Radio 4 Recording
BBC Radio 4 Computing Britain-LEO The Electronic office. Radio 4 Series 1 Episode 2 First broadcast 15th September 2015, 13:45 Duration: 13:46 Hannah Fry hears the incredible story of how a chain of British teashops produced the first office computer in the world. J Lyons and Company was the UK’s largest catering company, with 250 teashops across the country, developed Lyons Electronic Office […]
BBC Calling Europe, February 1954’:-BBC Calling Europe, February 1954, John Pinkerton talk on LEO reported in LEOChronicle, February 16th 1954. X
BBC Tomorrows World edition ‘Computers in the 1960s’:-BBC Tomorrows World edition ‘Computers in the 1960s’ which features some of thefilm taken by CAV of their LEO !!! computer in Acton London, though without statingthe source of the film. The Film with normal restrictions to using their materialapply. The film shows school children being taught how computers work and theirapplications.thousands of people. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p031t265/tomorrows-world-computers-in-the-60s
BBC 1 TV in March 2012:-BBC 1 TV in March 2012 ran a 5 episode series fronted by Len Goodman, reminiscingabout the 1950s entitled The 1952 Show in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee. Episode 5screened on March 30th at 9.15am. It featured the LEO story with an excellent interviewof Ernest Kaye. See alsohttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01f9qw3/broadcasts/2012/03The section featuring LEO and Ernest Kaye can […]
Granada TV (2003), London’s Home Movies. Episode 3:-Granada TV (2003), London’s Home Movies. Episode 3 includes a section on LEOfeaturing David Caminer and Peter Byford. Copy held by Trevor Hughes ex LEOperipheral equipment engineer on VHS tapes
60th Anniversary event at Science Museum 11th November 2011:-The event received wide coverage including interviews on the BBC Today programme,BBC World Service, and BBC5 Live Outriders programme. It was also covered by theDaily Telegraph and the Daily Mail website. A video interview of Georgina Ferry,Ernest Kaye, Mary Coombs, Ralph Land and Frank Land made for Google was alsopresented. The links below include reports […]
Eric Schmidt in the 2011 MacTaggart Lecture noted:-“You (UK) invented computers in both concept and practice. (It is not widely known, butthe world’s first office computer was built in 1951 by Lyons’ chain of teashops!). Yettoday none of the world’s leading exponents in these fields are from the UK”http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/238974/mactaggart-lecture-2011.pdf
The Guardian on 2011 McTaggart Lecture:-The Guardian on 2011 McTaggart Lecture Bridging the arts and sciences dividehttp://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/aug/29/bridging-arts-science-divide
Sunday Telegraph July 1st 2012:-Sunday Telegraph July 1st 2012 Christopher Middleton interviews Eric Schmidt aspart of the paper’s campaign to “Make Britain Count” and in his comment on theinterview repeats Eric Schmidt’s earlier notes on the role played by LEO in pioneeringbusiness computing. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/maths–reform/9288256/Make-Britain-Count-Google-head-Eric-Schmidt-supports-our-campaign.html
TV Channel 5:-TV Channel 5 ran a series of programmes on Disappearing Britain. The third episodein December 2006, entitled The BRITISH CUPPA WITH WENDY CRAIG, andincluded a section on J. Lyons with its Corner Houses and Teashops. This included thestory of LEO including an interview with Frank Land. See alsohttp://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/824846?view=synopsis and watch onhttp://www.ovguide.com/tv_episode/disappearing-britain-season-1-episode-3-the-britishcuppa-with-wendy-craig-536421 Broken links above but […]
BBC Radio 4:-BBC Radio 4 commissioned a programme from Pennine Productions called ElectronicBrains which was broadcast on 30 October 2001. The programme was compiled by andfronted by Mike Hally and one of the four episodes featured the story of LEO. Seehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/electronicbrains.shtml
BBC Radio 5/Live Tuesday, 29 November 2011:-BBC Radio 5/Live Tuesday, 29 November 2011. Short piece by Jammilah Knowles onthe pioneering LEO enterprise. LEO: Making history.BBC – Outriders: LEO: Making history
Celebrating LEO:-Celebrating LEO, the world’s first business computer, Google Europe Blog,,November 17, 2011 http://googlepolicyeurope.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/celebrating-leo-worlds-first-business.html
ITV (LWT London area only )-ITV (LWT London area only ) is to show a series of 8 programmes called LondonHome Movies on Sunday afternoons. The series will start on 9th November 2012 at 5.30.Several members have contributed to the series and Trevor Hughes’s contribution isincluded in the first programme.References to LEO will appear in the programme devoted to Work […]
National Public Radio (NPR), USA-An episode of Revolutionaries, a co-production of the Computer History MuseumSilicon Valley and KQED television, Published on Jul 6, 2012 by Computer History.The subject is the contribution to computing of Sir Maurice Wilkes.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9DrKQ2isIk&list=UUHDr4RtxwA1KqKGwxgdK4Vg&index=5&feature=plcp
The Register:-Live Chat NOW: LEO, the British computer that roared, 28th June 2013 (seehttp://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/06/26/live_chat_leo/). Gavin Clarke, editor of TheRegister and members of the audience interview Frank and Ralph Land online in realtime. The outcome is rather messy as questions and answers do not come out in a propersequence.
UK Computer Heritage:-UK Computer Heritageat Google HQ in London 1st July 2013 to celebrate UK contribution to Information andCommunications Technology. Featured the Video commissioned by Google for the 60thanniversary of LEO held at the ScienceMuseum:http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLG7EqWtzeIhXjSD4SdfPx1WQICKZMVcP4
BBC How the Computer Changed the Office Forever:-BBC Magazine. Broadcast August 1st 2013 BBC Radio 4 at 13.45 as part of a 10episode series by Lucy Kellaway entitled Lucy Kellaway’s History of Office Life andexplores the changes brought about in the office by computers and this episode startswith a brief review of the LEO story including a photo of LEO I.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23509153
BBC 4 The I.T. Girls:-BBC 4 The I.T. GirlsAugust 2013, 11.00 am BBC Radio 4. Fronted by Martha Lane-Fox its contributorsinclude, Mary Coombs, Dame Stephanie Shirley, Ann Moffat and Tilly Blythe. Fromthe 1950s to the mid-1970s in Britain, many of the pioneers of early computing werewomen. This was a highly skilled new world of work providing opportunities that wereoften […]
BBC News Channel:-BBC News Channel: Celebrating the UK’s Computer Pioneers.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7521868.stm A Brief account of the role playedby the UK in the development of computers from Bletchley to LEO.
BBC Radio 4 Extra, 2nd November, 2013:-BBC Radio 4 Extra, 2nd November, 2013, 9.00-12.00 am and 7.00- 10.pm. A threehour compilation of computing history from the BBC radio archives, fronted by MaggiePhilbin at Bletchley Park. The programme started with Charles Babbage, and AdaLovelace, went on to Bletchley and the second world war code breaking exploits, thenthe LEO story from the Make […]
BBC Radio 4 Extra, 2nd November, 2013:-BBC Radio 4 Extra, 2nd November, 2013, 9.00-12.00 am and 7.00- 10.pm. A threehour compilation of computing history from the BBC radio archives, fronted by MaggiePhilbin at Bletchley Park. The programme started with Charles Babbage, and AdaLovelace, went on to Bletchley and the second world war code breaking exploits, thenthe LEO story from the Make […]
BBC 1 ONE Show, 13th November, 2014:-BBC 1 ONE Show, 13th November, 2014, 7.00 pm – 7.30 pm devoted a section of theprogramme to Lyons and the LEO story, with extracts from a LEO film, andexplanations from Peter Bird and Frank Land. It was well edited and presented, laudingthe LEO initiative and stating clearly Lyons’ role in building the world’s first […]
BBC Radio 4: Hidden Histories:-BBC Radio 4: Hidden Histories of the Information Age 23rd October 2014 at 13.45.Repeated week commencing January 4th with LEO story on 7th January at 9.30 am. Oneof six 15 minute programmes, presented by Aleks Krotoski, devoted to specific exhibitsat the new Information Age Gallery which opened on 24th October in the LondonScience Museum. The […]
The Guardian Notes and Theories from the Science Desk:-The Guardian Notes and Theories from the Science Desk, 22rd October carries acomprehensive note on the Science Museum Information Age Gallery LEO StoryExhibit, including the film clip which forms part of the LEO exhibit.http://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2014/oct/22/information-age-cake-computer-changed-world-science-museum
The Richmond and Twickenham Times Nov 2014:-The Richmond and Twickenham Times Nov 2014 carried a photograph of thepresentation to Jackie Caminer and Helen Pinkerton of framed photographs of DavidCaminer and John Pinkerton respectively by Peter Byford and Ray Hennessy. Includedwas a brief summary of the LEO story and the key roles played by David Caminer andJohn Pinkerton in the LEO story. […]
The Sound of LEO I (1955):-The Sound of LEO I (1955) as heard in the BC Television Series Quartermas II. Only ashort piece which can be downloaded athttp://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/56533/Quatermass-II-(Sound-of-LEO-I)/
BBC Radio 4 ‘Ways of thinking’:-BBC Radio 4 ‘Ways of thinking’ 4th April, 2015, 1.30. An account by NaomiAlderman of what programming and coding involves including looking back at whatunderlies high level languages with an excerpt from Mary Coombs Oral History talkingabout programming LEO I
BBC Radio 4 ‘In Business’:-BBC Radio 4 ‘In Business’ 9 April 2015 8.30 pm includes reference to LEO with somephotos. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05pqx2g
Stewarts & Lloyds. Corby Town Council:-Stewarts & Lloyds. Corby Town Council is holding a heritage exhibition, open until end ofSeptember, 2015 1.00-4..00 weekdays, 11.00-2.00 Saturday, celebrating the town’s connectionwith early computers. It features LEO II/3, the first LEO delivered to an outside company:Stewart & Lloyds, steel makers located at that time inCorby. See Ravenscraig Article Both links Broken
Living Legends Hidden Histories Exhibition:-Living Legends Hidden Histories Exhibition, including a presentation on LEO II/3 atStewarts and Lloyds and exhibit of Mercury Delay memory. Thursday 3rd May 2018 at6.00pmRooftop Arts Centre. Chisholm House, Queens Square, Corby, NN17 1PZ
BBC Radio London, 2010,:-BBC Radio London, 2010, interview of Neville Lyons, with Robert Elms, on theoccasion of opening of the new Modern London gallery in the Museum of London,which featured part of the frontage of the Coventry Street Corner House, donated by JLyons company to the Museum
BBC Radio 4 ‘Today Programme’ 2013:-BBC Radio 4 ‘Today Programme’ 2013 on the occasion of a major exhibition of theLyons Teashop Lithographs at the Towner Gallery, Eastbourne. The recording,introduced by Justin Webb, was conducted by Nicola Stanbridge, the intervieweesNeville Lyons, Charlie Batchelor, Curator and David Gentleman, one of the lithographartists.
BBC Radio 4 ‘Computing Britain’:-BBC Radio 4 ‘Computing Britain’ a 10 part series presented by mathematician HannahFry from University College London. Broadcast on Monday to Friday between 14th and25th September.The series will start in the mid-1940s and finish in the early 21st century, concentratingthe UK’s part in computing history between these years. The series features the storybehind machines such […]
Computing Britain – Program 2 LEO the Electronic Office:-BBC Radio 4 – Computing Britain, LEO the Electronic Office. Comments on the Programme from Peter Byford I heard the programme in your Computing Britain series about LEO. Whilst I was delighted that you made a programme about LEO and Lyons, I was disappointed about a number of aspects about it.You used our film and […]
BBC 4 TV: The Joy of Data July 20th, 2016, 9.00pm:-BBC 4 TV: The Joy of Data July 20th, 2016, 9.00pm. See The Joy of DataDavid Crawford in the Radio Times writes: “We live in a data driven world, whereevery industry you can think of relies on digital data, and there’s the constant threat ofdrowning in information overload. But why are we so enamoured of […]
Guardian Review:-Guardian Review at https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jul/21/the-joy-of-data-review-who-knew-data-could-seem-so-magical-so-sexyThe Program was repeated on 18th September 2018 at 2.00 am
Wall Street Journal:-Wall Street Journal, August 14th 2018, correspondence from John Kelly III, of IBMclaiming IBM invented business computing and response from Norman Witkin refutingthe claim and putting forward the LEO precedence. Frank Land has copy ofcorrespondence. Seehttps://www.dropbox.com/s/nva7ep5ejpuarde/Wall%20Street%20Journal%20Correspondence%20August%202018.docx?dl=0
BBC News East (West):-BBC News East (West) One of the world’s first computers gets VR reboot, TheLEO story retold in the context of the Cambridge Centre for Computer Historypartnership expectation to build a virtual reality version of LEO I – news item on localBBC News 24th October 2018 6.30 pm Reboot
BBC Look East 2018:-BBC Look East 2018 BBC World ServiceBBC Look East news segment from October2018 on the LEO story retold in the context of lottery funding received by the Centre forComputing History and LEO Computers Society partnership project Swiss Rolls, Teaand the Electronic Office. Includes Pathe footage of Lyons teashops and an interviewwith Dr Lisa McGerty. A […]
ITV Grantchester, Episode 3:-ITV Grantchester, Episode 3, 25th January, 2019 investigating a break in at acomputer laboratory includes a sequence mentioning EDSAC and the LEO teashop job.Available for viewing until Spring 2019 athttps://www.itv.com/hub/grantchester/2a2958a0022
BBC 2 TV The Dream Machine:-BBC 2 TV The Dream Machine a series of episodes on the history ofcomputers televised on Sunday evenings in November and December 1991. The story ofLEO is briefly recounted in episode 2 with extracts from an ICL film on LEO. Episode 1 includes Maurice Wilkes and EDSAC Episode 1 Episode 2
The Machine that Changed the World:-Inventing the Future, PB Series on Computer History S May 9th 2012. A 1 hour long programme telling the story of the birth of the electronic computer and its rise from obscurity as a machine for computing tables of trajectories for the American military to the universal machine of today. The program tells the story […]
Mary Coombs:-BBC World Service, Mike Lanchin introduces Witness History including: Fromcakes to computers, Wednesday 27th November, 2019 at 8.50. 12.50 and 1.50 localtime. See http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/56531/Witness-History-FromCakes-to-Computers/
Mary Coombs:-Mary Coombs recalls her work as an early computer programmer on LEO, the firstelectronic office system, pioneered by the Lyons catering company.In the early 1950s, theleading British catering firm, J Lyons & Co, pioneered the world’s first automated officesystem. It was baptised LEO – the Lyons Electronic Office – and was used in stock-taking,food ordering […]
BBC TV 2, 5th January 2022-BBC TV 2, 5th January 2022 at 9.00 pm and IPlayer. Greg Wallace and presenters visitfactory baking Malt Loaves. Meanwhile, historian Ruth Goodman reveals thesurprising story of a British baking company that cooked up the firstbusiness computer J. Lyons and the LEO Computer. The link is anotherfactory process – the miles of Swiss Rolls baked […]
BBC Witness History-BBC Witness HistoryCoombs, M. and Lanchin, M., (2019), From cakes to computers, BBC WitnessHistory Coombs recalls her work as an early computer programmer on LEO, the firstelectronic office system, pioneered by the Lyons catering company. In the early 1950s, theleading British catering firm, J Lyons & Co, pioneered the world’s first automated officesystem. It was […]
Why The UK’s IBM Failed-A podcast designed to explain why the UK’s computer industry failed to emulate the success of IBM despite the impetus of building pioneering systems both technically and in terms of the uses the computers were put to. The explanations are broad-brush, not surprising given the number of years covered and the complexity of the subject. […]
