A CENTURY after Alan Turing famously cycled across Dorset to reach Sherborne School during the General Strike, pupils and staff have recreated the remarkable journey in tribute to one of Britain’s greatest minds.

To mark exactly 100 years since Turing arrived at Sherborne Boys, a team from Sherborne Schools Group set off from Southampton – retracing the route the future codebreaker and computer science pioneer took in May 1926 after train services ground to a halt.

The modern-day cyclists completed the 100km ride on Tuesday, arriving in Sherborne at 6pm to cheers from crowds lining Cheap Street.

Pupils and staff from Sherborne Boys, Sherborne Girls and Sherborne Prep gathered alongside the Mayor and members of the local community to welcome them home.

The centenary ride was organised by Alastair Poulain, deputy head of Sherborne Prep and lead of the school group’s Turing Project.

He said: “A century on from Alan Turing’s arrival into Sherborne for his first day at school, and with the weather looking kindly upon us, pupils from all schools took part in a 100km cycle from Southampton to Sherborne, culminating in a mini parade down Cheap Street. A happy way to remember the start of Turing’s time with us at Sherborne.”

Turing was just 13 years old when he made the journey alone during the 1926 General Strike, borrowing a bicycle and riding nearly 60 miles through the countryside after trains stopped running nationwide.

The determined teenager arrived the next morning “composed, punctual, and entirely unbothered”; a glimpse, the school says, of the brilliant and unconventional thinker he would become.

A school report from the following year noted: “Alan has been doing distinguished work for us… his determination is remarkable.”

Sixth Form pupil Caio, who took part in the commemorative ride, said: “It was really good to ride the route that Alan Turing did 100 years ago to commemorate him and his ride to school during the general strike.

“The final procession down Cheap Street was a great way to finish the ride and it was great to see so much support for the event.”

Today, Turing is celebrated worldwide as the father of computer science and a key figure in cracking the Enigma code at Bletchley Park during the Second World War.