1980s Archives - Page 2 of 23

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 after training 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

Gerald Marsh

Gerald’s introduction to IT was via the Control Data Institute (CDI) and an intensive course in computer operating called TOPS, covering IBM and ICL mainframes. He went straight to working with Ferranti computer systems in Cwmbran as a computer operator on military grade systems, then to work at Plessey Defence Systems as a software engineer.During his work as a contractor, Gerald worked with DEC systems and was a part of the Digital Equipment Company User Group (DECUS).

21 March 2025

Gavin Robinson

Gavin’s IT career started at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington as an Assistant Scientific Officer, calibrating viscometers. He later relocated to the Road Research Laboratory working on computer models simulating car behaviour and road congestion, and assisted the developers of the software. He joined DEC, working on prestigious projects including with client British Gas providing software and hardware to digitise large paper maps of gas pipelines across the UK.

21 March 2025

Dr. David Probert

David’s IT career began with BT on their scholarship scheme. Whilst working on BT’s privatisation, David was asked to manage a partnership with DEC in Reading working on optical fibres and video conferencing. A career in communications and the internet followed, providing the first international routers in Eastern Europe. After leaving DEC, he has worked in Georgia under the auspices of the United Nations.

18 March 2025

Dave Lawrence

After leaving the Navy, Dave’s first IT job was at Mullards in Surrey, who made magnetic cores for computer memory. Dave moved to Fylingdales where he was trained on the IBM 790 and worked on the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System on the Whitby Moors. Dave moved to DEC as a magnetic memory tester engineer, then moved into management, managing Digital’s plant in Ayr and others in Europe.

18 March 2025

Dave Grainger

Dave Grainger worked as an engineer for Honeywell and then DEC, and was promoted to managing and developing the services arm of the company in the UK and USA. In 1975 a new plant was opened in Ayr, Scotland and Dave was asked to replace the manager who was leaving. After DEC, Dave worked for Xerox as their Head of Worldwide Services.

18 March 2025

Angela Shore

Angela’s first job in computing was with a Scottish company called Fortronic where she worked as an assembler programmer. She then moved tor ITL and wrote file system software – a forerunner of Microsoft Office. Angela went to work for DEC in 1986 where she was a software consultant and programmer.

11 March 2025

Stephanie Liston

Stephanie Liston is a lawyer who has worked in commercial law for tech and communications firms. Projects she has worked on include companies such as MCI Communications Corporation, BT and Cable and Wireless. Her experience means she has sat on the board of regulator OFCOM and the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority.

24 July 2024

Latest - Decades: 1980s

John Barrett

Janet Richards

Dr. Ian Severn

Gerald Marsh

Gavin Robinson

Dr. David Probert

Dave Lawrence

Dave Grainger

Angela Shore

Stephanie Liston