Turing’s letter from the king among stolen items being repatriated

ITEMS belonging to Alan Turing, the Second World War codebreaker, that were stolen from the UK decades ago are to be returned.

The mathematician’s miniature OBE medal is among 17 items that were taken from Dorset’s Sherborne School by Julia Turing – no relation of the scientist – in 1984. They were found at her home in Colorado in the US in 2018.

A US civil court case launched against her has been settled out of court and the items are due to be returned. Turing’s items, which include a letter sent to him by King George VI, are in the possession of the US Department of Homeland Security i n Denver. They will be returned to the £36,000-a-year private school where Turing was a pupil between 1926 and 1931, and whose science block was named after him.

Rachel Barnes, Turing’s great niece, said it was “wonderful news” that his possessions were to be returned “to their rightful place”. Speaking on BBC Radio, she said: “It is absolutely brilliant news to hear they are going to be returned to their rightful place. I can’t wait to see them back in place where they belong. It is a wonderful day.

“She [Julia Turing] obviously had an enormous fascination with him for some reason and took such important assets such as his OBE and a wonderful letter from George VI. For her to keep them for so long and have no guilt during that period was really awful.”

Sherborne School said yesterday it was “extremely pleased” Turing’s items will be returned. Dr Dominic Luckett, the headmaster of the school, said: “We continue to be very proud to count Alan Turing among our most distinguished alumni. We as a school are keen to do all we can to preserve and promote his legacy.”

During the Second World War, Turing worked at Bletchley Park, Bucks, Britain’s code-breaking centre. He played a pivotal role in cracking the German Enigma code that enabled the Allies to defeat the Nazis.