Andrew Murison, Northwhich. I have just read your article in the February issue of Third Age Matters – I am a member of the Winsford, Cheshire, U3A. In the 1950s and 1960s I worked at Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd. Corby steelworks, who installed a Leo computer in 1958. A school friend of mine, having graduated in mathematics also worked at the steelworks as a programmer on this computer and although I was an engineer and had no official connection with the computer I was shown round by my friend – who was called John Lamb. I remember the “air conditioning” system quite well as my father (now deceased) worked in the S&L new development electrical dept. The “solar gain”(sunlight) on the large picture windows plus the heat produced by the electrical equipment in the computer building caused all the thermal overloads to trip out – stopping the computer. The quickest installation to cool the building was then installed!
Over the years I have lost touch with him so can-not help you as to his whereabouts. In the 1980s the Corby steelworks was demolished and no longer exists but the tube works section was retained in working order (and still is) The tube works is now owned by Tata. Tata have an archive section based at their Shotton works and may have information. The other possible source of information is the Corby Heritage Centre. I have a booklet about Stewarts and Lloyds steelworks which has a picture of the computer and have enclosed a copy.