{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} '''John Harper''' (born 11 November 1937) is a retired [[Computer engineering|computer engineer]]. He led a [[Computer Conservation Society]]/[[Bletchley Park]] team that rebuilt a working [[World War II]] electromechanical [[Bombe]] decryption device.
== Life and career == Born in [[West Ealing]], London he spent most of his career working for [[International Computers Limited]] working on machines such as the ICT 1500 and the [[ICT 1900|ICL 1900]] and 2900. By completing evening study he qualified for membership of the [[British Computer Society]] (BCS) and Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers (IERE) including becoming a [[Chartered Engineer (UK)|Chartered Engineer]].<ref name="Eulogy">[http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/news/docview.rhtm/480036 "John Harper, Leader of the Bombe Rebuild Team receives Honorary Fellowship of BCS"] Bletchley Park News. Retrieved 16 June 2011.</ref>
He was a member of the Turing Centenary Advisory Committee<ref>[http://www.mathcomp.leeds.ac.uk/turing2012/ "The Alan Turing Year"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217215512/http://www.mathcomp.leeds.ac.uk/turing2012/ |date=17 February 2019 }} Turing Centenary Advisory Committee (TCAC). Retrieved 16 June 2011.</ref> set up to organise events for the Alan Turing year, a centenary celebration of the life and work of [[Alan Turing]] in 2012.
== Bombe Rebuild Project == {{multiple image | direction = vertical | width = 250 | footer = The rebuilt Bombe on display at Bletchley Park | image1 = Bomba turninga1.jpg | image2 = Bomba turninga2.jpg }} John Harper, from 1995 to 2006, led a Computer Conservation Society team rebuilding a working World War II [[Bombe]] decryption device. On 6 September 2006, John Harper and the rebuild team first demonstrated the working Bombe in action.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5320978.stm "Enigma replica 'homage to heroes'"] BBC News. Retrieved 1 February 2012.</ref> On 24 March 2009 at Bletchley Park, John Harper was presented<ref>[http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/25242 "BCS bombe team receives award"] BCS News Archive. Retrieved 16 June 2011.</ref> with the 49th [[Engineering Heritage Awards|Engineering Heritage Award]] by the [[Institution of Mechanical Engineers]] awarded to the BCS Computer Conversation Society for the conservation and restoration of the Bombe.<ref>[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/23/bletchley_bombe/ "Engineering award for legendary Enigma-busting kit"] The Register news article. Retrieved 16 June 2011.</ref>
== Awards ==
*Honorary Fellow, British Computer Society (2007)<ref>[http://www.bcs.org/content/conWebDoc/1648 "Roll of Honorary Fellows"] BCS Roll of Honorary Fellows 1969-2009. Retrieved 7 June 2011.</ref> *Honorary Doctor of the University, Open University (2011)<ref>[http://www8.open.ac.uk/students/ceremonies/files/ceremonies/Graduate-Directory-2011-Final-WEB.pdf "Honorary Awards 2011"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314032449/http://www8.open.ac.uk/students/ceremonies/files/ceremonies/Graduate-Directory-2011-Final-WEB.pdf |date=14 March 2012 }} Conferment of Honorary Degrees and Presentation of Graduates 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.</ref>
== References == <!--- See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes on how to create references using <ref></ref> tags which will then appear here automatically --> {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Harper, John}} <!--- Categories ---> [[Category:British computer specialists]] [[Category:Bletchley Park people]] [[Category:Fellows of the British Computer Society]] [[Category:1937 births]] [[Category:English engineers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:20th-century British engineers]]