I'm delighted to read that Alan Turing is to feature as the face of the new £50 note. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney made a comparison to Isaac Newton (it appears) when he said: 'Turing is a giant on whose shoulders so many now stand'. The new note is expected to be in circulation by the end of 2021. I don't know why it will take so long but there it is. If you are even slightly interested in Alan Turing and his life and work (and slightly 'controversial' death) it's very well worth looking into.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.The least that could be done to honour the memory of this genius and hero, driven to an early death by the very country he saved just because they could not keep their noses out of his private life.
LenHazell53
Level 9
July 16, 2019
1
One of the brightest stars in the firmament!
Only saw the film a couple of days ago which I thought Benedict Cumberbatch did a superb job of portraying Turing.
Geoffrey51
Level 8
July 15, 2019
0
I'm really pleased. Normally I hope that women will feature since they are generally so underrepresented in public view, but Iin this case I think he is a really good choice. I agree, it's a pity it has to be fifty pounds. Not many of those coming my way. Have you noticed the binary code on the magnetic strip? It is his birthdate.
CeliaVL
Level 7
July 15, 2019
1
I should add I am personally delighted because as a Computer Science graduate I have taken an interest in his mathematical life for a long time. Also in my job (restaurant Front of House) I come across 50s from time to time. I have no doubt many (or all) of you will have your own personal choices of who should be on the note but Turing is great for me.
Sandster
Level 7
July 15, 2019
2
Especially after the shameful treatment he received from a government he helped so much.
I also think that other victim of the official secrets act, Tommy Flowers, should be recognised.
Yup, it's a shame it's the £50, so practically nobody will see it. It's been nearly a year since I last saw a £50 note. A friend of mine had mysteriously got 3 of them out a of a cash machine when withdrawing £200.
Plenty of retailers won't accept anything larger than a £20. As someone already quipped on Facebook: nobody will accept the £50 note, just like they didn't accept Turing. Which is a rather saddening spin on what should be a happy moment.
Pic is me with Alan's statue in Sackville Gardens, Manchester UK. Taken yesterday.
NicoleCadmium
Level 7
July 15, 2019
4
Love the pic - nice one! I will go and see it for myself one day.
Nice pic....!
Just out of interest, what's Turing's link with Manchester?
@Zealandia he worked on projects at the University of Manchester after the war. details on Wikipedia if you want more.
But I suppose the main reason his statue is in Sackville gardens is primarily down to his persecution for his sexuality, and Sackville Gardens being part of the Gay Village. I'm finding it quite annoying, because my LGBT+ friends are up in arms that a lot of straight people haven't heard of Turing, yet ask them who Charles Babbage was, and they'll look at you, blankly. They wouldn't give a flying fuck about the father of modern computing and the man who reputedly shortened the war by 2 years by cracking Enigma, if it wasn't for the way he was treated over his sexuality.
It's kind of saddening that he's remembered more for being gay, being chemically castrated for it, excluded from government work because his sexuality was considered a blackmail risk, and ultimately probably took his own life (nobody checked the apple for cyanide, and his mother always maintained that he must have ingested it by accident after working with the chemical.) His genius has become secondary to his sexuality. And while he serves as an important reminder of just how badly we used to treat gay men in this country, I can't imagine he'd have wanted that.
@NicoleCadmium Thanks for the info, I had a look at the Wikipedia page about Turing as you suggested. Agree with you that it's a pity that Turing is more defined by his sexuality, rather than his great mind and contributions to the war effort plus computing afterwards at Manchester University. Hopefully over time that viewpoint will become more balanced.
Yes....just heard it on the news earlier. Great choice...it’s a pity it’s on the 50 though....not many pass my way!
Marionville
Level 10
July 15, 2019
3
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