Britain's spy agency honours codebreaker Turing in giant artwork | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
July 16, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2025
Britain's spy agency honours codebreaker Turing in giant artwork

World+Biz

Reuters
23 June, 2021, 03:00 pm
Last modified: 23 June, 2021, 03:03 pm

Related News

  • Britain and India clinch major trade deal in 'new era' of Trump tariffs
  • US religious freedom panel urges sanctions against India's RAW
  • Latest 'HOBEKI?' graffiti sparks intrigue in Chattogram's CRB area
  • Trump says US, Britain working on 'great' trade deal
  • Musk says 'Yes' to British MP's criticism of Bangla signboard at London station

Britain's spy agency honours codebreaker Turing in giant artwork

The 10-metre (33-ft) by 10-metre artwork in the centre of the agency's doughnut-shaped headquarters depicts Turing inside the wheels of the "bombe" codebreaker machine that he designed

Reuters
23 June, 2021, 03:00 pm
Last modified: 23 June, 2021, 03:03 pm
A view shows an artwork of Alan Turing installed by the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) inside the Doughnut building as a ?50 note featuring him goes into circulation on his birthday, in Cheltenham, Britain, in this image obtained by Reuters on June 21, 2021. Picture taken with a drone. CROWN COPYRIGHT 2021/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT
A view shows an artwork of Alan Turing installed by the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) inside the Doughnut building as a ?50 note featuring him goes into circulation on his birthday, in Cheltenham, Britain, in this image obtained by Reuters on June 21, 2021. Picture taken with a drone. CROWN COPYRIGHT 2021/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT

Britain's GCHQ spy agency has installed a giant multicoloured artwork to celebrate codebreaker and mathemetician Alan Turing, who helped turn the tide of World War Two against Nazi Germany but was persecuted for being gay.

The 10-metre (33-ft) by 10-metre artwork in the centre of the agency's doughnut-shaped headquarters depicts Turing inside the wheels of the "bombe" codebreaker machine that he designed.

Considered the father of modern computing, Turing led a team that cracked the Nazis' naval Enigma code for British spies, a breakthrough dramatised in the 2014 thriller "The Imitation Game".

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

But he pleaded guilty to gross indecency in 1952 after a sexual relationship with another man and, forced to have hormonal injections, killed himself two years later aged 41 by eating an apple laced with cyanide.

Unveiled on his birthday as a new 50-pound note featuring Turing entered circulation, the work at GCHQ in the western English city of Cheltenham was created by 3D artist Joe Hill and features 15 hidden codes.

It also carries a famous Turing quote: "Sometimes it is the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine."

Years after his death, Turing has become a symbol of the prejudice suffered by gay people during his lifetime.

"He was embraced for his brilliance but persecuted for being gay," GCHQ Director Jeremy Fleming said.

Turing joined the Government Code & Cypher School , a precursor to GCHQ, in 1939 to help break German codes. With Polish help, he broke Naval Enigma. He left GCHQ in 1945.

GCHQ is Britain's biggest spy agency. Its job is to eavesdrop on the world to protect British security, though it also disrupts communications.

Britain / spy agency / codebreaker / Alan Turing / Artwork

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Police fire teargas shells at the banned Awami League supporters during a clash in the Gopalganj district town on 16 July 2025. Photo: Collected
    Curfew imposed in Gopalganj from 8pm tonight until 6pm tomorrow
  • Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain speaking at an event marking Foreign Service Day on 18 April 2025. Photo: UNB
    NDA possible with a country, not exactly sure about US: Foreign Adviser
  • NCP leaders and activists blockaded Dhaka-Chattogram highway protesting attack in Gopalganj on 16 July 2025. Photo: TBS
    Nahid orders to remove blockades as NCP launches protests across country over Gopalganj attacks

MOST VIEWED

  • 131 foreigners were denied entry into Malaysia by their border control. Photo: The Star
    96 Bangladeshis denied entry at Kuala Lumpur airport
  • Double-decker school buses are lined up in a field in Chattogram city. The district administration has proposed modernising the buses to ensure security and convenience for school students. Photo: TBS
    Country's first smart school bus in Ctg faces shutdown amid funding crisis
  • Representational image. Photo: Collected
    Dollar gains Tk1.8 as BB buys at higher rates, lifting market floor
  • A file photo of people boarding the government-run Betna Express at a railway station. The train operates on the Benapole-Khulna-Mongla route via Jashore. Photo: TBS
    Despite profitability, Betna Express rail service handed over to pvt sector
  • Bangladesh Bank buys $313m more in second dollar auction in three days
    Bangladesh Bank buys $313m more in second dollar auction in three days
  • Infograph: TBS
    Ring Shine Textiles scam: BSEC imposes travel bans on 13

Related News

  • Britain and India clinch major trade deal in 'new era' of Trump tariffs
  • US religious freedom panel urges sanctions against India's RAW
  • Latest 'HOBEKI?' graffiti sparks intrigue in Chattogram's CRB area
  • Trump says US, Britain working on 'great' trade deal
  • Musk says 'Yes' to British MP's criticism of Bangla signboard at London station

Features

Abu Sayeed spread his hands as police fired rubber bullets, leading to his tragic death. Photos: Collected

How Abu Sayed’s wings of freedom ignited the fire of July uprising

20h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Open source legal advice: How Facebook groups are empowering victims of land disputes

1d | Panorama
DU students at TSC around 12:45am on 15 July 2024, protesting Sheikh Hasina’s insulting remark. Photo: TBS

‘Razakar’: The butterfly effect of a word

2d | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Grooming gadgets: Where sleek tools meet effortless styles

3d | Brands

More Videos from TBS

Meta’s mega move: massive investment in AI infrastructure

Meta’s mega move: massive investment in AI infrastructure

13m | TBS World
Mirza Fakhrul calls for crackdown on miscreants in Gopalganj

Mirza Fakhrul calls for crackdown on miscreants in Gopalganj

23m | TBS Today
Govt to review  all independent power deals

Govt to review all independent power deals

1h | TBS Insight
Section 144 imposed in Gopalganj as AL activists clash with police following attack on NCP convoy

Section 144 imposed in Gopalganj as AL activists clash with police following attack on NCP convoy

1h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net