LEO Reunion 19th October 1984 – The Rugby Club, Hallam St., London
120 people, all ex-staff of Joe Lyons own computer company, met to renew old acquaintances and to celebrate old memories of the World’s first commercial computer LEO l and its descendants LEO ll and LEO lll.
All five of the surviving LEO directors had been contacted. John Simmons, the man who proposed the original venture, is now in his eighties and was unable to attend, however he sent his best wishes.
Anthony Salmon and Tony Barnes also sent their good wishes but could not attend. Other apologies were received from as far afield as Canada, Germany and Hong Kong.
John Pinkerton and David Caminer were the two directors who did attend. They worked for ICL up until their respective retirements. It was interesting to find that one third of those present were current employees of LEO’s successor, ICL. Amongst ICL “personalities” was Ninian Eadie who has survived the STC takeover as a director (note: STC took over ICL in 1984 but this only lasted a few years until Fujitsu bought the company).
The committee had gathered some memorabilia which was on show. Also showing was a short LEO promotional film borrowed from the ICL archives.
The BBC “chip shop” got wind of the event and were there to interview some of the
old-stagers. The resulting programme was broadcast on Saturday, 27th October 1984. A copy of the programme will be provided for the LEO Reunion archives.
Dr. Pinkerton had been the electronics engineer recruited to build LEO l in 1949 and became Technical Director of LEO Computers Ltd. when it was formed in 1954. He retired from ICL earlier this year.
A presentation to mark his 35 years in the “Computer Industry” was made by the organising committee. This consisted of an engraved pen and a specially designed card signed by all present.
Bottles of wine (Chateau LEOville, Jean LEOn Cabernet Suavignon and Minervois (Minerva Road was the LEO factory) were given as prizes to:
Furthest traveller to the Reunion – Roger Thorpe (Newcastle)
Earliest starter at Lyons or LEO – Ernest Lenaerts (1947)
Longest server with LEO etc. – Fred Barnett (1954 – present time)
Lucky number tickets – Jim Hamilton and Ralph Land
Photos of the event were taken by ICL news, copies of these were available from the treasurer at the time.
To keep in touch for the next Reunion (April 1987) please write to the secretary. There are 275 names on the current mailing list. https://www.dropbox.com/s/tkn5tm8uhxpg2p2/LEO%20Reunion%2019th%20October%201984.docx?dl=0