Graham Keith Wallace (1931 - 2019)
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Graham restoring a Power-Samas drive motor
Thanks to Graham Wallace’s family for information about his life outside the museum
Graham Wallace was a volunteer at The National Museum of Computing for more than ten years – so long that no one can be certain exactly when he arrived. In that time, he played invaluable roles in helping Tony Sale restore George the Robot, explaining the workings and purpose of Colossus to visitors and acting as chief custodian of the Power-Samas punched card equipment.
Born in Sheerness on Isle of Sheppey, Graham was educated in Maidstone Grammar School for Boys and, after a first job in a television repair shop, served National Service in the army. In 1956 he joined the RAF, where he was a pilot officer training to fly Vulcan Bombers, and later worked in the paper industry in various roles including control engineer. Often travelling abroad for work he returned with prized souvenirs, a few of which will appear on the family Christmas tree this year.
Graham’s later roles including writing software for Control Systems and clients including Aston Martin and Nokia.
Well into his seventies, Graham finally retired completely, but then became an enthusiastic volunteer at TNMOC. His family tell us, “Graham took much pride in being involved at TNMOC and like all passions in his life threw himself wholeheartedly into several of its projects. He got much pleasure from his work at Bletchley and the friendships he forged during his time there.”
Phil Hayes, chief engineer of the Colossus Rebuild, recalls, “Graham was a quiet man, much respected and liked by everyone at the Museum. On weekdays, you would be sure that Graham was about if at lunchtime the inviting smell of toast came wafting from the workshop area where he would be busy restoring the punched card equipment.”
Graham’s other passions included driving, especially HGVs, and in his later years he became a member of the Institute of Advanced Driving. Only in his last weeks of life did he reveal that on driving a lorry for the first time on the German autobahn, he realised that he was driving down the road the wrong way and had to do a quick reverse manoeuvre.
Photography and organ playing were also his passions and two pieces that were often heard in the family home and which he would occasionally play on the piano for the family were played at his funeral service.
Graham’s wife Heather died, after 59 years of marriage in 2016. He is survived by two daughters, Linda and Elizabeth and two grandchildren, Jamie and Ben.
Graham is greatly missed and fondly remembered at the Museum.
