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Ralph Land obituary

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The gist

Ralph Land, co-builder of the world's first business computer Leo, died aged 97. He pioneered Soviet bloc tech sales and was a Labour supporter.

Background

Ralph Land was part of the team that built and commercialized Leo, the first business computer, in the 1950s. He later expanded computer and photocopier markets into the Soviet bloc, and remained active in public life until his 80s.

How it unfolded

  1. 1939Family escaped Nazi Germany to Britain after Kristallnacht.
  2. 1950sWith twin brother Frank, helped build and commercialize Leo, the world's first business computer.
  3. 1964Began securing business from Soviet bloc governments for English Electric Leo Marconi, ICL, and Rank Xerox.
  4. 1985Appointed OBE.
  5. 1995Advanced to CBE.
  6. recentlyDied aged 97; survived by two children and a granddaughter.

Who’s saying what

Family
His son remembers him as a man of strong social democratic values and a lifelong Labour supporter.

Sources

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