Bletchley Donation From IBM And PGP

The National Museum of Computing in Bletchley has been given a much needed financial boost of £50,000 jointly by IBM and PGP. The museum looks likely to close unless it can raise the £7m that it is estimated to cost to run the museum. It holds many exhibits that are crucial to the life and development of computers around the world, not just in the UK and the two donors hope that they will start the ball rolling within the technology industry.

Exhibits inside the National Museum of Computing include what is believed to be the world’s first computer, Colossus. Bletchley itself is famed for being the spot where the Enigma code was cracked during World War II which made the donation from PGP, an analytical firm, a no brainer as well.

Both IBM and PGP believe the Bletchley museum is not only integral to the history of British computing but that it plays a part in further development because it will inspire and teach the next generation that they should not take computers for granted. Parts of the museum are in a state of disrepair and in dire need of work but the museum does not currently have the funding to make those repairs.