EDUCATION
Pride in Sherborne
by Rachel Hassall, Sherborne School Archivist.
In June 2021 the Pride flag flew above the Courts at Sherborne School in honour of both Alan Turing’s birthday and of Pride month.
The Pride flag is a symbol of inclusivity and demonstrates the School’s commitment to creating an environment of respect and understanding, regardless of sexuality.
Sherborne School which laid the foundation of Alan’s interests in mathematical logic, computer science, and developmental biology. Sherborne School proudly honours Alan Turing’s achievements in a number of ways. Annually, since 1956, the School has awarded the prestigious Turing Prize for Science. The prize was founded in Alan’s memory by his mother who also donated to the School the internationally-important Turing Archive.
Sherborne School is very proud to include Alan Turing amongst its most distinguished alumni. Those who cross the School site Today, Alan Turing is recognised from Abbey Road to Acreman as not only an icon for the LGBT+ Street will pass the Alan community, but also for his Turing Laboratories. Opened crucial work during the Second in 1966 it has World War Annually, since 1956, the distinction at Bletchley of being the the School has awarded first building Park and for his enormous the prestigious Turing anywhere to contribution be named in Prize for Science to the Alan’s honour. development of computer The naming of this science and artificial intelligence. building, which is home to the School’s biology Alan’s nephew, Sir Dermot department, recognises Turing, acknowledges that Alan’s ground-breaking work it was the quality of the on morphogenesis when he teaching that Alan received at used a computer to simulate
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the development of leaves and petals, animal spots and stripes. Outside Westcott House in Horsecastles, where Alan Turing boarded when a pupil at Sherborne School, is a blue plaque which was unveiled in 2016 by Sir Dermot Turing to commemorate Alan’s connection with the house. Last week Sir Dermot Turing returned to Sherborne to unveil a bronze bust of Alan by acclaimed sculptor David Williams-Ellis. The bust, which was generously commissioned by Kathryn Ballisat, a former Sherborne
Unveiling the bronze bust of Alan Turing were sculptor David Williams-Ellis (right) and Sir Dermot Turing, Alan Turing’s nephew. Image: Andy Carver Always free - subscribe here