THESE days we take computing for granted, what with the Internet and smartphones. but where did it all come from?

The answer is: many places, and one of them was Malvern, where the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) played a major role with the creation of the TRE Automatic Calculator, or TREAC.

Hugh Williams of the Malvern Radar and Technology History Society said: "In early 1945 the government decided to fund the design and production of a large electronic digital computer. It was thought that one single computer would fulfil the computing needs of the whole country’s scientific community for the foreseeable future! The computer was to be the first to have its own internal store and parallel operation.

"A team lead by Mr A M Uttley began the development of TREAC in 1947 and it ran its first real programme in 1953. TREAC contained many novel features: cathode ray tube storage designed by F C Williams, a magnetic drum and, later, core store memory. All information was fed in and out on punched paper tape. TREAC lived inside a screened cage and occupied a complete spur of F Building.

"A team of mathematicians led by Mr G MacFarlane looked after the programming. Initially they designed and ran the programmes for the scientific staff. Following the development by Philip Woodward of a more user-friendly programming language in 1958, users could write their own. The Physics and Guided Weapons departments were the main users. TREAC continued in use until 1962."

There is still the chance to see more about Malvern's scientific history with the the exhibition that Malvern Radar and Technology History Society is showing at the town's library until Wednesday, May 29.

 

The society is always keen to hear from anyone who has memories of working at TRE or its successors. Please contact membership@mraths.org.uk or visit mraths.org.uk.