World War II code-breaker, Alan Turing becomes face of Britain’s £50 note

BoE

LONDON: Alan Turing, the computer pioneer, mathematics genius and world war II code-breaker will feature on the new Bank of England’s £50 note.

Mark Carney, governor of Bank of England announced on Monday that Turing will be the face of the new £50 polymer note by the end of 2021.

In a statement, he described Turing as an “outstanding mathematician” and “a giant on whose shoulders so many now stand.”

The statement added “As the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, as well as war hero, Alan Turing’s contributions were far ranging and path breaking”.

Turing is best known for his work at Bletchley Park, where he worked to crack Germany’s Enigma code, which saved thousands of lives and hastened the end of World War II.

As a gay man, Turing’s appearance on the new £50 note has been welcomed by the LGBT+ community as a sign of Britain’s facing up to the way gay men were persecuted.