Photos: Saving Bletchley Park

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The campaign to save World War 2 history as well as Europe’s largest collection of fully functioning computers was given a boost as IBM and PGP lent their support yesterday.

A donation of £57,000 was given by the two companies, a small step towards the £7 million needed to look after the ongoing cost of the museum and the £10 million needed to make sure that its home in Bletchley Park is in suitable condition for future visitors.

The National Museum of Computing was only just opened in August 2008 and is the home of ‘Colossus’, the world’s first programmable computer and the forerunner of what we have today.

IBM and PGP Corporation have given their support to the museum’s case to be a major historical and educational resource, detailing the history of computing and ensuring that computers are kept for future generations.

It isn’t much of a surprise that technology companies are giving their support, as the young visitors of today could be inspired to acquire skills and interest by thinking of tech in a completely different way.

“The collection at the museum brings to life the origins of what we depend upon in modern life today,” said Andrew Hart, UK security and privacy services leader at IBM.

“Letting future generations experience this can only fuel interest and maybe encourage visitors to take up a career in technology,” he added.

Importantly, many of the computers are in full working order and properly maintained.

IT PRO visited the National Museum of Computing and was in geek heaven. Click here or on ‘Gallery’ above for a selection of pictures.

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