Dashboard – I'm a Scientist 2024

Sheridan Williams

Turing-Welchman Bombe

About Me:

I am retired but started life as a Rocket Scientist with the Ministry of Defence.
After that I became a lecturer in Mathematics and Computer Science.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and show people around the Open University’s observatory.
I lead a tour company taking people all over the world to see astronomical events such as eclipses, aurorae, meteor showers.

I now take education groups on visits to the National Museum of Computing located at Bletchley Park. I have my own Enigma machine

Enigma machine

and demonstrate Colossus

The world’s first electronic digital computer

and very early computer systems e.g. the WITCH
Read more

I started life as a Rocket Scientist with the Ministry of Defence.
After that I became a lecturer in Mathematics and Computer Science.
I am a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and show people around the Open University’s observatory.
I lead a tour company taking people all over the world to see astronomical events such as eclipses, aurorae, meteor showers.

I now take education groups on visits to the National Museum of Computing located at Bletchley Park.

I have several telescopes and love taking pictures of stars, galaxies and planets.

I have a greyhound and a couple of racehorses.

I have written several book/publications on solar eclipses, here’s one about the next few eclipses
My pronouns are:
My Work:

I am retired but work at the National Museum of Computing (TNMOC)(https://www.tnmoc.org/) at Bletchley Park where Alan Turing worked. I demonstrate early computers such as Colossus, I have my own Enigma machine and am into cryptography where AI can help immensely.
I am also an astronomer where AI can help with many things, I own some meteorites. I’m also an archivist digitising computer manuals, publications and astronomical material dating back to the 1800s.
I take people on astronomy tours and have seen 19 total solar eclipses. I am also an ex racing and rally car driver.
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I have a greyhound and a couple of racehorses.

I have written several book/publications on solar eclipses, here’s one about the next few eclipses
My Typical Day:

Being retired I am flexible in what I do but I wake at 7:30am, walk the dog and then do a few puzzles to keep my brain active: Nerdle, Wordle and Quordle are my favourites.

I love the GCHQ puzzles that come out at Christmas.

I have a couple of old classic cars that need looking after.
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What I'd do with the prize money:

Give it to the National Museum of Computing to help with their displays.

Candidate CV questions (extra)

Education:

Bishop Challoner Grammar School, Bromley, Kent
Qualifications:

A-Levels

ONC in maths

HNC in electronic engineering

BSC in maths, statistics and computing
Work History:

Scientific Officer with the Ministry of Defence

Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at Hendon College

Director of BEEBUG a company that supported the BBC Microcomputer. The company installed computer networks in schools

Retired aged 52
Current Job:

An education tour guide at the National Museum of Computing

Astronomy author

Guide at the Open University’s observatory.
Employer:

No full-time employment as I’m now 75.

My Interview
- My favourite CHRISTMAS LECTURES memory is:
  
  1983 on Magnetic levitation
  
  How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
  
  ex-rocket scientist and computer historian
  
  What did you want to be after you left school?
  
  I had no idea
  
  Were you ever in trouble at school?
  
  no
  
  If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
  
  I'm retired
  
  Who is your favourite singer or band?
  
  Dire Straits
  
  What's your favourite food?
  
  Vietnamese
  
  If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
  
  I could live to 100, visit Costa Rica, win lots of money so I can give it to charity
  
  Tell us a joke.
  
  What's the longest word? SMILES, as there's a mile between the fisrt and last letters.