SORRY about that, old chap. On 10 September the UK government belatedly apologised for its treatment of mathematician Alan Turing, who in 1952 was convicted of gross indecency for having a homosexual relationship. As an alternative to prison, Turing took hormone injections to reduce his libido. “His treatment was of course utterly unfair,” said Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
“As an alternative to prison, Turing took hormone injections to reduce his libido”
A organised by had called for the apology, which came hours after 91av published Graham-Cumming’s article on the subject (12 September, p 24).
Advertisement
Turing died in 1954 after eating part of an apple containing cyanide. Although it was almost certainly suicide, the possibility of murder or even accidental contamination can’t be ruled out. “You wouldn’t need a large amount to give a toxic dose,” says John Thompson of the UK National Poisons Information Service.
