To mark one hundred years, to the day, of Alan Turing’s arrival into Sherborne Boys from Southampton train station, where he commandeered a bicycle and rode 100 km to get here, Sherborne Schools Group re-enacted Turing’s journey, with a group of staff and pupils from the schools, arriving in Sherborne at 6pm on Tuesday the 5th May.
The cyclists were greeted at the end of their ride as they swooped into Cheap Street with pupils and staff from Sherborne Boys, Sherborne Girls and Sherborne Prep lining the street along with the Mayor and other local members of the community.
The Centenary Bike ride was masterminded by Alastair Poulain, Deputy Head of Sherborne Prep and the Turing Project lead for Sherborne Schools Group. Alastair said, “A century on from Alan Turing’s arrival into Sherborne for his first day at school, and with the weather looking kindly upon us, pupils from all schools took part in a 100km cycle from Southampton to Sherborne, culminating in a mini parade down Cheap Street. A happy way to remember the start of Turing’s time with us at Sherborne.”
Alan Turing’s actions on 4th May 1926 were a small glimpse of the man he would become: the father of computer science, the mind behind Bletchley Park, and the visionary who gave birth to Artificial Intelligence.
On 4 May 1926 the General Strike had brought Britain to a standstill. Every train stood idle. A thirteen-year-old boy named Alan Turing was due to begin his first term at Sherborne School. Most boys would have waited. He did not. He borrowed a bicycle and rode nearly 60 miles alone through the Dorset countryside, stopping overnight before arriving at Sherborne the following morning – composed, punctual, and entirely unbothered.
A Sherborne School report from 1927 showed that these actions were typical of Turing’s character. “Alan has been doing distinguished work for us… his determination is remarkable.”
Caio, a Sixth Form pupil at Sherborne Boys, said of the day: “It was really good to ride the route that Alan Turing did 100 years ago to commemorate him and his ride to school during the general strike. The weather was with us and we had a good team of riders and support crew for the ride. With plenty of stops on the way, including a warm welcome at Hanford Prep, it was a pleasure to do. The final procession down Cheap Street was a great way to finish the ride and it was great to see so much support for the event.”
