‘Enigma’ cracker Alan Turing was M35 star before masters running
Alan Turing, whose code-breaking early computer helped the Allies defeat Germany, was a world-class distance man. He’s shown running in “The Imitation Game,” now up for eight Academy Awards. But in the wake of his homosexuality conviction, he killed himself in 1954 at age 42. Still, according to his biographer, “Alan Turing achieved world-class marathon standards. His best time of 2 hours, 46 minutes, 3 seconds, was only 11 minutes slower than the winner in the 1948 Olympic Games. In a 1948 cross-country race he finished ahead of Tom Richards who was to win the silver medal in the Olympics.” A longer report said: “He continued competing until 1950 when a leg injury finally ended his career.” In any case, a 91-year-old lady my wife and I interviewed Saturday had a supporting role in the British code-breaking operation. She tells her story for the first time to American media in a Times of San Diego story. Check out my video as well.
Margaret Francis of San Diego tells her real-life part in “The Imitation Game.”
2 Responses
Wonderful photos, story and video, Ken. Please give my kudos to Chris as well. It’s so important to document stories like Margaret’s as many members of the “Greatest Generation” leave us. Wars may seem like sweeping epochs in history, but in reality, they are individual stories like Margaret’s.
Ken, Thanks for sharing this story. You capture Margaret and her spirit in a wonderful manner.
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