Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Professor Brian Randell is a distinguished computer scientist and computer historian who was awarded the 2020 Honorary Fellowship of The National Museum of Computing.
The award is for those who’ve made outstanding contributions to the field of computing. Previous honourees are TNMOC co-founder and leader of the Colossus rebuild project Tony Sale and wife Margaret, who established our Museum’s operations during its early years and became our longest-serving volunteer; both were leading lights in the campaign to save Bletchley Park from developers.
It was Professor Brian Randell who blew the lid on the existence of Colossus, which - for years after the Second World War - was a tightly kept secret by the Government. He gave a conference presentation in 1976 described as a “major historic bombshell” and led to a significant re-writing of computer history.
Professor Randell researched operating systems and high-speed computer design for IBM in the 1960s and, in 1969, he was appointed the UK’s youngest professor of computer science - at Newcastle University. He is now working with others on bringing to light the work of Percy Ludgate - the Irish computer pioneer who designed his own analytical engine independently of Charles Babbage.
Professor Brian Randell is a distinguished computer scientist and computer historian who was awarded the 2020 Honorary Fellowship of The National Museum of Computing.
The award is for those who’ve made outstanding contributions to the field of computing. Previous honourees are TNMOC co-founder and leader of the Colossus rebuild project Tony Sale and wife Margaret, who established our Museum’s operations during its early years and became our longest-serving volunteer; both were leading lights in the campaign to save Bletchley Park from developers.
It was Professor Brian Randell who blew the lid on the existence of Colossus, which - for years after the Second World War - was a tightly kept secret by the Government. He gave a conference presentation in 1976 described as a “major historic bombshell” and led to a significant re-writing of computer history.
Professor Randell researched operating systems and high-speed computer design for IBM in the 1960s and, in 1969, he was appointed the UK’s youngest professor of computer science - at Newcastle University. He is now working with others on bringing to light the work of Percy Ludgate - the Irish computer pioneer who designed his own analytical engine independently of Charles Babbage.
