Jul 08, 2026
The Sherborne Turing Project
Where Innovation Meets Legacy
Louise Troup
Next year, Sherborne is to host an international conference and festival celebrating the work of Alan Turing, as part of a bid to build a groundbreaking science and technology centre in his name.
2026 marks 100 years since Alan Turing started his education at Sherborne School. This is the man who cracked the Enigma code, shortening the war and saving millions of lives, and who first developed artificial intelligence. Yet few traces of Turing’s formative years here remain in public view: a small blue plaque, a bust, a school building which carries his name and a mural in Old Market Yard are all we have to celebrate this great man, whose scientific achievements remained largely unrecognised during his lifetime.
Now plans are afoot to build a Turing Centre to honour him in the heart of Sherborne. And these plans are nothing if not ambitious. The Turing Project is a ‘town-wide’, community-based initiative which intends to revolutionise Sherborne: bringing in jobs, investment and tourism and transforming opportunities for young people.
The timing could not be more opportune, chiming as it does with the government’s new ‘Plan for Change’ to develop the UK as an AI superpower; news of billions of US investment in critical AI infrastructure, and Dorset’s own Economic Growth Strategy, focusing on the use of technology to drive our energy, defence and food and drink industries.
Now Sherborne is poised to lead the way, ensuring that the young people of the town are given the opportunity to harness their creative potential as well as prepare for the high-tech jobs of the future.
Dr Alan Kerbey, the visionary and driving force behind this project, comments: ‘Sherborne is proud to honour the legacy of Alan Turing with a bold and forward-looking vision. This is more than a tribute – it’s a catalyst for education, technology, entrepreneurship and global collaboration, inspired by Turing’s early brilliance right here at Sherborne School.’
The Turing Centre Project is only one strand of ‘Future Sherborne’, an initiative launched by Sir Chris Coville in January of this year under the auspices of the CPRE. This includes several key workstreams:
- Young People, Innovation and Entrepreneurship – delivered in partnership with the charity Young Enterprise, The Gryphon School, and Yeovil College, this initiative aims to develop a new model for business education.
- Cosmetic Improvements to Commercial Properties– a group focused on enhancing the aesthetic appeal and overall attractiveness of the town’s commercial areas.
- The Sherborne Heritage Experience – working with the Sherborne Tourism Forum, this group is developing a Heritage Trail to connect and showcase Sherborne’s rich historical and cultural landmarks.
Sir Chris passionately believes that the Future Sherborne initiative will be transformative: ‘It is so important to ensure that we stem the outflow of the young, who find that the town and county they love are failing to provide the jobs and affordable housing they need. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to turn the tide and make Sherborne a town looking to the future for all its citizens.’
Fundraising for the Turing Project strand commenced only six months ago, but already the team is close to securing what they need to deliver the inaugural Turing Festival and Conference. Key early sponsors have included the Sherborne Castle Estate, Mogers Drewitt, Screwfix, Kontrolit and Yeovil College.
Thanks to them, and a number of generous individuals, the team is planning a fabulous week of events bringing the latest ideas and innovations in the tech world to Sherborne from 14th–17th October 2026. This will include a public Turing lecture, codebreaking workshops in primary schools, a sixth form AI conference hosted by Sherborne Girls and an exhibition of the Turing Archive.
Held in the beautiful courts at Sherborne School, the week’s events will culminate in an official launch of the campaign to raise £15 million in order to develop the ultimate goal: the Turing Centre, delivering world-class educational and entrepreneurship opportunities in computer science, as well as an immersive visitor experience.
The support for the project has been astonishing, with Alan Turing’s family, Bletchley Park, GCHQ, Dorset County Council, Sherborne Town Council, the Sherborne Schools Group, The Gryphon, Yeovil College and other local companies all pledging their backing.
Chair of Sherborne Schools Group, Christopher Samler, says: ‘The town and its schools are not only rich in history and beauty, but—more importantly—are united with the community in shaping an exciting future. The Turing Project embodies this spirit of collaboration and our shared ambition for the young people of Sherborne.’
Also on board are key local and national figures from the world of technology, business, the arts, academia, politics and public policy. Bournemouth University is incorporating the project into its prestigious MBA programme, and Director of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence at the University of Bath, Professor Özgür Şimşek, is speaking at next year’s October conference.
Professor Simsek is impressed by the project’s aims: ‘The Sherborne Turing Centre project honours Alan Turing’s innovative spirit and unyielding curiosity with a dynamic, transformative nexus for technology in the town of Sherborne, where Alan Turing spent his formative years. Particularly exciting are the educational, practical and entrepreneurial experiences that the centre will facilitate for children and young people.’
Future Sherborne is looking to hold a public meeting in January where local stakeholders, interest groups and the general public will be able to find out more about the initiative, including the plans for the Turing Festival, Conference and Centre.
