I was pleased to just read a few moments ago on the BBC Web Site that the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park is to acquire the Harwell machine. It is the oldest computer in existence (depending on whether you classify the Collusus machine as a computer or not) and will definitely strengthen their growing collection.

I understand that the machine is to be dusted down and restarted as part of a renovation project. The machine was originally built and used by staff at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell in Oxfordshire. It was designed in 1949, commissioned in 1951 and ran in regular service until 1973.

I think it is important that the IT profession looks after its heritage. We like to boast that a year in computing or Internet time is equivalent to just a few months. We need to realise that, if this is the case, that we are producing history at around four times the normal rate!