Award pays tribute to Alan Turing 100 years on

COMPUTING GENIUS Alan Turing is being honoured ahead of the 100th anniversary of his birth on Saturday.

An award has been named after computing pioneer Alan Turing in Manchester for people who help victims of homophobia. Turing committed suicide in 1954 after having been prosecuted for having an affair with a man two year's earlier in 1952.

Counciller Kevin Peel told a Manchester newspaper, "Had he not been hounded to death by the state because of his sexuality, who knows what other breakthroughs he could have made.

"The fact that we are celebrating his life and work shows how society has moved on, but the battle against homophobia continues. This represents a lasting legacy to Alan Turing, and is a fitting tribute to that great man."

This award announcement comes ahead of the 100th anniversary of Turing's birth on Saturday 23 June. Although he wasn't well-known before his death, Turing is now recognised as a hero in the history of the information technology industry. µ