People/Characters Christopher Morcom

Christopher Collan Morcom (13 July 1911 – 13 February 1930) was the younger son of Colonel Reginald Keble Morcom and Frances Isobel Morcom (née Swan). His family home was The Clock House in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England. His wealthy family built a lab for Christopher and his brother Rupert in order to encourage their scientific interests. Christopher was also a talented pianist.

Although a year older, he became the first Sherbourne School friend of Alan Turing, bonding over mathematics. Christopher won the Digby Prize for Mathematics and Science in 1929. Christopher won a Scholarship to Trinity College, but died before he could attend. Christopher had contracted bovine tuberculosis as a child, and after two operations in London, died 13 February 1930.

His parents established the Christopher Morcom Prize at Sherbourne School for a work in science that showed a degree of originality, the winner received Prize winners were awarded a mezzotint portrait of Christopher Morcom by Norman Hirst and an illuminated prize book with calligraphy by Madelyn Walker. They also donated a memorial pew at the school chapel, as well as a stained glass window, designed by Karl Parsons, in the Lady Chapel of Christ Church, Catshill, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire where Christopher was buried.

Alan Turing became close friends with Mrs. Morcom and they exchanged presents and letters for the rest of her life. [Wikipedia, Alan Turing]