Which Scientist on the new £50 Note? (Alan Turing).

[MrBungle]

Brilliant. And I haven't seen a £50 note for about ten years

[turretslug]

The £50 note certainly isn't seen very often, and moreover has a somewhat shady image- I wouldn't want any scientific heroes to have their reputation muddied by association. More suited to the type of businessmen who are perennially in the news in association with luxury yachts and asset-stripping really...

Fred Dibnah has been mentioned- how about having him on the fiver?-common-place, down-to-earth, far more appropriate to the man-in-the-street. They could even include some grimy fingerprints in the design.

[Lancs Lad]

I should darned well think so too.

The way that poor man was treated, just because he happened to be gay, is unforgivable.

Absolutely makes my blood boil every time I think about it.

[Ted Kendall]

When I went to uni in 1977, my tutor set each of our group a scientific figure to research, and I drew the short straw - Alan Turing. There was at that time practically nothing published save a few foggy paragraphs in a reference book. The rehabilitation of his work and character since has been remarkable and deserved, and being on a banknote should set the seal on it.

[electronicskip]

An excellent choice, someone who should be celebrated !

[paulsherwin]

Originally Posted by Ted Kendall

When I went to uni in 1977, my tutor set each of our group a scientific figure to research, and I drew the short straw - Alan Turing. There was at that time practically nothing published save a few foggy paragraphs in a reference book. The rehabilitation of his work and character since has been remarkable and deserved, and being on a banknote should set the seal on it.

While not wanting to disparage Turing, I'm not convinced that the pendulum hasn't swung too far the other way. Most people now see him as a saintly gay martyr, effectively murdered by a homophobic society. In fact he was a distinctly odd character quite apart from his sexuality, and the circumstances of his death remain extremely murky. His hormone 'treatment' was standard medical practice in an era when homosexuality was considered an illness, and certainly not malicious - many gay men actually requested similar treatment, famously Frankie Howerd.

[Ted Kendall]

Originally Posted by paulsherwin

In fact he was a distinctly odd character quite apart from his sexuality, and the circumstances of his death remain extremely murky.

Well! Genius and "oddness" not infrequently go together, although neither necessarily implies the other. As for the death, history is replete with examples of suicides who try to make their death look accidental, usually out of consideration for loved ones left behind, in this case probably Turing's mother. Of course the man was no saint, but he served his country well. Granted, the full story of his achievements was elided partly for reasons of national security, but also partly because it didn't fit in with the American corporate view of computing history.

Security concerns probably account for the short leash Turing was kept on after conviction, as the potential for blackmail loomed large in official thinking at the time. Others, such as Lord Montagu, were quietly rehabilitated, but then a passion for old cars was no security risk, even in those days.

[dsergeant]

I must admit I have mixed views on this. The original poll was for choosing a suitable scientist/engineer for the note. As such Turing was certainly a brilliant scientist but there were several others at the time equally so, such as Tommy Flowers who gets very little recognition outside a few areas. The poll was never about who made a significant difference to gay rights. I suspect Alan came out top just because he was well known in the general public and because of the publicity in the Generation Game (which, having read several books on the Enigma, was not all it is made out to be). And of course politics. I guess Maxwell who I voted for was well down the list.
But in reality in this cashless society so few people will be seeing the new note that it all seems a waste of time.

(oh, and some of us men who have had issues down below have been treated with exactly the same chemical hormones that Turing was....)

Dave

[Station X]

Originally Posted by dsergeant

I suspect Alan came out top just because he was well known in the general public and because of the publicity in the Generation Game

Dave

I think you're confusing Alan Turing with Bruce Forsyth and Larry Grayson!

[SiriusHardware]

'The Imitation Game', I think he meant.

One of the many highlights of my recent visit to Bletchley was seeing the excellent life-size sculpture of Turing, seemingly made from very thinly sliced pieces of slate, sat at a desk with his attention completely focused on an Enigma machine. (Whether he would ever really have done that is a moot point, but I suppose the point was to depict Turing grappling with his 'foe').

[Station X]

Originally Posted by SiriusHardware

'The Imitation Game', I think he meant.

I'm sure Dave did, but it's the best laugh I've had all day.

[dsergeant]

Yes, apologies for the booboo...
Alan Turing, The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, although now somewhat dated, is excellent reading.

[Dual Standard]

Originally Posted by turretslug

The £50 note certainly isn't seen very often,

Barclays have started to put £50 in some ATMs so may soon become a much more common sight.

Mike

[Richard_FM]

In all the time I've been able to receive £50 in cash I've never handled a £50 pound note.

There's a nice seated statue of Turing in Sackville Park in Manchester, fittingly half way between some of the university buildings & the gay village.

[Dave Moll]

I don't think any of the few £50 notes I've handled over the years have actually been my own money - only what I've banked for other organisations.

Whether a "Turing" will ever pass through my hands is a moot point.

[julie_m]

Originally Posted by Richard_FM

There's a nice seated statue of Turing in Sackville Park in Manchester, fittingly half way between some of the university buildings & the gay village.

This is a picture of him. With me

[Radio Wrangler]

Does this mean there has to be a new cockney slang term for fifty quid?

David.

[lesmw0sec]

I certainly would not knock Mr. Turing, but I do wish that some of the many other contributors were recognised more widely - Tommy Flowers and Bill Tutte to name just two. You sometimes get the impression from the media that Turing achieved everything by himself, forgetting the vast numbers employed in the Bletchley team.

[HamishBoxer]

I guess it is always a difficult choice, when there are so many worthy folks.

Glad I don't have to make it.

[dave cox]

The contributions to the mathamatics of computing / computability by Alan Turing are very significant.

dc