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“And [this is] where we assembled the first Colossus…”

“And [this is] where we assembled the first Colossus…”

This is Tommy Flowers, father of computing, and under-celebrated hero of World War II code-breaking. In recent years the fame of Colossus has grown exponentially - a quick Amazon search reveals numerous books on the subject. Yet far less is generally known about Flowers himself, the man behind the idea, who put both his back and his cash into the project.

''This is Tommy Flowers, father of computing, and under-celebrated hero of World War II code-breaking. In recent years the fame of Colossus has grown exponentially - a quick Amazon search reveals numerous books on the subject. Yet far less is generally known about Flowers himself, the man behind the idea, who put both his back and his cash into the project.

Unlike Turing, Flowers was happily married and lived to the ripe old age of 92. And while his life remained unencumbered by scandal it has, even now, lacked deserved recognition. “The great extent of public interest now in Turing is in part due to the drama and controversies about his life, his treatment after the war and his tragic death,” an expert, who would prefer to remain anonymous, told IDG Connect.

Unlike Turing, Flowers was happily married and lived to the ripe old age of 92. And while his life remained unencumbered by scandal it has, even now, lacked deserved recognition. “The great extent of public interest now in Turing is in part due to the drama and controversies about his life, his treatment after the war and his tragic death,” an expert, who would prefer to remain anonymous, told IDG Connect.

This has led to numerous biographies, films and other dramatic portrayals of Turing. “[Yet] there has been nothing comparable for Flowers, for whom words like ‘kindly’, ‘modest’, ‘self-effacing’ are as appropriate as ‘brilliant’ and ‘inventive’.”''

This has led to numerous biographies, films and other dramatic portrayals of Turing. “[Yet] there has been nothing comparable for Flowers, for whom words like ‘kindly’, ‘modest’, ‘self-effacing’ are as appropriate as ‘brilliant’ and ‘inventive’.”''

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<ref>http://www.idgconnect.com/abstract/9092/tommy-flowers-the-forgotten-father-computing </ref>

<ref>http://www.idgconnect.com/abstract/9092/tommy-flowers-the-forgotten-father-computing </ref>

There is an online campaign to hold an annual "Tommy Flowers Day" in his honor. <ref> http://www.idgconnect.com/blog-abstract/10858/planning-tommy-flowers-day-2016-reasons-join-crusade</ref>

There is an online campaign to hold an annual "Tommy Flowers Day" in his honor. <ref> http://www.idgconnect.com/blog-abstract/10858/planning-tommy-flowers-day-2016-reasons-join-crusade</ref>