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Norman Sansom MA(Cantab) CEng MBCS CITP
Treasurer | Education Liaison
Originally trained as an inorganic chemist, part of Norman's first job was
trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear – or more exactly Bone
China out of phosphate rocks instead of the traditional ox bones. He got
tired of finding you could have your china in 'any colour that you
like as long as it was pale green', and learnt to program the company's
Elliott 803 computer in Algol 60. He has continued to work with computers
full time since 1970. First this was as a scientific programmer for the
chemical company on the 803 and an ICL 1904, then as an Applications Team
leader at Coventry Polytechnic (another 1904) and finally as Applications
Support Manager at the University of Brighton – where he saw the galloping
change from main frame computers to mini's (DEC VAX) and then to micro based
personal computers (Wintel and Apple).Norman's only formal qualification in computing is his chartered membership of the BCS - gained the easy way in 1979 by demonstrating progressive experience in computing. Norman has been on the committee of the Sussex Branch since 1987. In that time he has held several posts - Education Liaison Officer, Meetings Secretary, General Secretary and Treasurer. His current duties are as Treasurer (to liaise with BCS head Office over the branches finances) and as Education Liaison Officer (to coordinate the branch activities with schools and other education establishments). Having retired from paid employment in 2006 Norman is now a Volunteer IT Support Technician with ITCANHELP, a network of volunteers who are able to offer free local computer assistance to disabled people. During 2009, Norman was the national coordinator of the President's challenge to members to use their IT skills for the benefit of the community through voluntary activities. This was part of Alan Pollard's theme for his presidential year of 'volunteering in the community'. With the end of Alan's Presidential year the challenge has now closed and a winner was announced in September 2009. The entries showed just how innovative BCS members are. Entries included training days for home users, SMEs and charities in using their computers in a green way, Bikathons in aid of Leukaemia Research, identifying a group of volunteers to work with schools on the issues related to education about our profession. These were just a few of the ideas our members came up with! One entry stood out amongst all the others and the winner of The President's Challenge 2009 is the BCS Isle of Man section. The section created a computer drop-in centre primarily for people with disabilities at the Leonard Cheshire Disability Centre in Onchan on the Isle of Man. The section sourced and installed the equipment required so that Leonard Cheshire Disability Isle of Man is now able to offer disabled and older people in their community access to IT facilities. To honour the Section's achievement BCS will work with Ability Net and Leonard Cheshire Homes to identify what further support may be available for the Leonard Cheshire home. BCS will fund this and the section will make a presentation to the home in the near future. Email: |
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 Norman Sansom: Treasurer; Education Liaison |
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