Murray Laver FBCS died on 23 November 2008 aged 93.
Murray was a significant figure in Government Computing from 1957. He was a very effective leader, an influential communicator and helped to develop many leading edge systems.
In the book "User-driven Innovation", Murray Laver talks of his high regard for LEO from the early 1950s. He explains how LEO was not supported by government because of a lack of understanding of the importance of commercial computing and, instead, only gave financial support to scientific and engineering computing companies.
The Post Office had been a good customer of LEO and when Murray became Director of the NDPS, Post Office computing, he was to extend the life of LEO systems.
Among his first actions was to review the computer capacity at his disposal in the light of the increased traffic in all principal services. His decision was to mop up whatever LEO326 systems became available in the field and to order five new systems, much to ICL's horror at the time as the considered LEO obsolete and were pushing 2900.
Later in his career Laver occupied a number of senior positions including director of the National Data Processing Service, a member of the Post Office Corporation and chairman of the Institute of Electrical Engineers. He enjoyed an international reputation, and the honours flowed: Honorary Fellow of BCS and an honorary doctorate of science conferred by Exeter University were two which he particularly appreciated. In 1971, the Queen appointed him a Companion of the British Empire (CBE).
Returning to his beloved west country on retirement, Laver served as pro chancellor of Exeter University and president of the Devonshire Association. To fill the passing hours, he embarked on a further course of study in oceanography - or, as he put it, the study of waves. He confided to an old friend that he could pursue this satisfactorily by sitting on the beach at Sidmouth.
The Society is grateful to the BCS for permission to use extracts from their obituary for Murray Laver.