1970s Archives - Archives of IT

Keith Saunders

Keith started his tech career as an Apprentice at the Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell, getting his first job at DEC where he was and engineer in the Computer Special Systems department. His experience building service teams at DEC meant he moved on to computer company Alliant and telecommunications form Alcatel, heading up global services.

9 May 2025

Tom Povey

Tom joined DEC after a career in computing and standards work. He contributed to DEC’s all-in-one version 2 and DEC Forms, a layered product that became DEC’s fastest-selling product. He later co-founded a company to improve VT100 software.

6 May 2025

Dr. Peter Macfarlane

Peter McFarlane, has done pioneering work in automating electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis at the University of Glasgow, which started using DEC machines and Siemens software. He has contributed to major clinical studies and the widespread use of statins in heart disease prevention.

6 May 2025

Tim Gregory

Tim Gregory has enjoyed a 50-year IT career during which he has witnessed the evolution of computing from punch cards and mainframes to AI and quantum today. Starting out in 1968 as a 15-year-old trainee computer operator, Tim went on to have a varied career managing complex IT operations for the likes of Sherwood Computer Services, Lloyd’s of London and BACS, before leading CGI’s operations in the UK and Europe.

23 April 2025

Ken Senior

Ken began his IT career as an electronics technician for the Navy, and after he left, joined Honeywell where he worked on the first computers taking commands from a keyboard. His next job was at DEC as a Field Engineer, becoming the first European Field Service manager in 1965. he worked up the ranks at DEC to Secretary to the Executive Board at DEC, working closely with founder Ken Olsen.

4 April 2025

Ken Salmon

Ken was recruited by DEC from Essex University, who trained students using DEC computers. He started in the Computer Special Systems Division working as a Project Engineer in logic design. His first job was to design a tape drive from scratch. As his career progressed he wanted to work in Sales rather than Management, so moved to a computer printing company.

1 April 2025

John Leng

After an apprenticeship at Harwell, John joined DEC as an engineering manager, and went on to open DEC UK in Reading in 1964. He had responsibility for marketing, manufacturing and engineering. He was promoted to European Regional Manager with responsibility of Digital’s efforts throughout Europe.

1 April 2025

John Barrett

After an apprenticeship in electronics engineering, John joined Harwell as a computer engineer. He applied to DEC for a job as a a hardware computer engineer based in Scotland and worked up to a Customer Services Manager, then North United Kingdom District Manager and Northern Europe Manager.

24 March 2025

Janet Richards

Janet joined DEC as a graduate, working Software Services in pre-sales, then in the technical team supporting Barclays Bank handling floppy disks and RLL2 machines. She worked up to account consultant and worked for DEC in Europe and the UK. After DEC she joined Global Knowledge as a business project manager and then moved on to a company providing tech apprenticeships.

24 March 2025

Dr. Ian Severn

Ian started to use computers in research and development for firm Vickers. He next worked for Harwell on a search engine STATUS and Bemrose Information Services as a Systems Analyst on database publishing for motor companies. He joined DEC as publishing applications centre manager and after this job ended, set up his own business supporting ex-DEC customers.

24 March 2025

Latest - Decades: 1970s

Keith Saunders

Tom Povey

Dr. Peter Macfarlane

Tim Gregory

Ken Senior

Ken Salmon

John Leng

John Barrett

Janet Richards

Dr. Ian Severn