Computing pioneer and 'brilliant mind' honoured with blue plaque

Research by Trafford Council’s Local Studies team showed that Beryl May Dent worked for Metropolitan Vickers in Trafford Park and helped show the importance of electrical computers at the beginning of their existence.

The Ferranti Mark 1 was the world's first commercially available general-purpose electronic computer and Beryl wrote programmes that sped up the calculation process for engineers, cutting down one set of calculations from three months to five hours.

The unveiling, on 9 August by Mayor of Trafford Cllr Jane Brophy, took place at St Antony’s Heritage Centre, which was chosen as the due to it being in near to Westinghouse Road where Metropolitan-Vickers was located.

Cllr Brophy said:

“We are paying tribute to another pioneer, a brilliant mind and someone who left an indelible mark on mathematics, engineering and computing.

“Beryl Dent showed that women deserved to be given equal rights when it came to education – and that their place could be in the laboratory, university or wherever their capabilities took them. They weren’t just the intellectual equal of men – they often surpassed them.”

Beryl, who was born 125 years ago in 1900, lived in Stretford after taking up her position in the research department. She was put in charge of the women working in the research department laboratory in 1944 and, in 1946, she was promoted to section leader of the new computation section.

Away from work, Beryl was school manager at St Matthew's Church of England Primary School on Poplar Road, Stretford, between 1956 and 1962.

After retiring, Beryl moved with her mother and sister to Sussex in 1962. She was an active member of the Christian community, being elected as Treasurer and electoral officer of the local parish organisation. Beryl died on 9 August 1977.