Computing in education: Nellie the School Computer (1969)

A great clip from Tomorrow’s World, first broadcast in 1969, of Nellie: “a computer set to revolutionise the classroom”. In this clip, the boys of Forest Grammar School in Berkshire demonstrate how Nellie can be programmed to solve mathematical equations and play music, as well as the importance of computer maintenance…

Nellie was an Elliott 405, made by Elliott Brothers, one of the early UK computer companies.

3 thoughts

Fred Brown says:

25 February 2016 at 5:40 pm

I’m so pleased to see this video! I was one of the students at the Forest Grammar School. This segment was filmed the year after I left the school to pursue a degree in Computer Science at Hatfield Polytechnic (now University of Hertfordshire), so I’m not featured in this segment. But I was among the original team of high-school boys who got this computer installed at the school. I’m still in the IT business almost 60 years after my experience with Nellie.

Reply
1. Roger Wright says:
  
  23 January 2017 at 8:09 pm
  
  Hi Fred. I’m Roger Wright. I was at Forest and you taught me all about Nellie. I am in the film. Glad you are still going strong.
  
  Reply
2. Steve Gilbey says:
  
  29 January 2018 at 4:44 pm
  
  Hi Fred. I was delighted to come across your name on this site. Like you of course I was in the original team and had left the school by then, so I am not in the video, but I do recognise some of the boys and teachers.
  It would be great if we could get in contact, and reminisce about the last half century!
  
  I am retired now, but also spent my career in IT.
  If you haven’t already seen this site:
  
  Click to access E2Extra405.pdf
  
  you will find it very interesting. Both of our names are in it. So too is Richard Spencer’s. Have you ever been in contact with him?
  
  Reply