I. Early years

Alan Turing was born on 23 June 1912. His father, Julius, worked for the Indian Civil Service, although his lack of respect for authority prevented him from raising up in the ranks. Meanwhile, Alan’s mother Ethel was haunted by unfulfilled academic ambition.

Alan was a curious child, he loved chemistry experiments, but was also untidy and undisciplined. This caused problems for him at school, as teachers paid less attention to his ideas than his illegible handwriting.

Turing’s character remained unchanged when he entered Sherborne School – having arrived to his first day on a bike after a reckless 100km ride, when the 1926 strike paralysed railway traffic. Public schools at the time took it upon themselves to raise exemplary citizens. Turing only stopped trying to break their strict rules after he became friends with Christopher Morcom.

The boys were both interested in science, and Alan found Christopher’s thoroughness, intelligence and endless search for new challenges mesmerising.

Christopher’s death in 1930 was a major shock for Turing, which later fuelled his resolve to continue their research. He began building his academic career as a monument to his first love.