Tony Sale, the leader of the Colossus rebuild project, dies

Tony Sale, the leader of the team that rebuilt Colossus, the World War II computer has died at the age of 80.

Mr Sale, who was born in 1931, had great enthusiasm for electronics and computing and 60 years later, in 1991, along with his wife Margaret and a few colleagues he started the successful campaign to save Bletchley Park.

He was also co-founder trustee of The National Museum of Computing (TNMOC) and only last month was introduced to the Queen when she asked to see Colossus.

Andy Clark, chairman of TNMOC trustees paid tribute to his achievements at the museum: "Tony's contributions to TNMOC have been immense and I am quite sure that, without his remarkable talents, enthusiasm and drive, the museum would not have come into existence.

"The rebuilding of a functioning Colossus Mk II, Tony's homage to the wartime codebreakers of the Lorenz cipher at Bletchley Park, is such a remarkable piece of work that it will forever be the model of excellence to which the museum aspires."

Clark continued: "Tony Sale's passing is a tremendous loss to us all on a personal and professional basis, but the foundations that he helped to lay are secure.

"Tony's energy seemed boundless and, despite being ill in the past weeks, he continued to work diligently – being interviewed by film crews, talking to visitors and laying plans for the refurbishment of the Colossus Gallery. As his wife, Margaret, said to me: ‘Tony's passing is not the end of his dream'."

Tony Sale was educated at Dulwich College and showed an aptitude for engineering and electronics very early on, building his first robot, George, from scrap metal. When a lack of money prevented him from going to university, he joined the Royal Air Force.

He quickly achieved the rank of Flying Officer and at the age of 20 was lecturing on radar. He went on to join Marconi's Research Laboratories in 1952 and, five years later, joined MI5 where he became Principal Scientific Officer.

In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, his fascination with electronics and computers grew and he established several innovative software companies.

In 1989, he helped to set up the Computer Conservation Society as a joint venture between the British Computer Society and the Science Museum. He started the Colossus Rebuild Project two years later.

Working with small fragments of information he gathered together in 1993, the team successfully completed this hugely complex task to bring the world a rebuilt, functioning Colossus. This even was celebrated in 2007 with the Colossus Cipher Challenge and the official opening of TNMOC, where Colossus is the centrepiece.

Lin Jones, TNMOC operations manager said: "Tony Sale was an amazing role model for volunteers at the museum. Everyone was in awe of his skills and achievements, and he was always ready to give help and advice when asked. He was a huge favourite with visitors and a highlight of their tour.

He had a tremendous ability to explain the workings and significance of Colossus on so many different levels. He was able to enthral visitors be they young or old, computer novices or experienced, hardcore cryptographers."

Tony Sale is survived by his wife Margaret, a tireless worker for Bletchley Park and a great supporter of TNMOC, three children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.