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Academic pair killed in car crash Academic pair killed in car crash
(about 16 hours later)
Two leading academics have been killed in a car crash on the M11.Two leading academics have been killed in a car crash on the M11.
Professor Donald Michie, 84, and his ex-wife, Dame Anne McLaren, 80, were in a car which left the motorway as they travelled from Cambridge to London.Professor Donald Michie, 84, and his ex-wife, Dame Anne McLaren, 80, were in a car which left the motorway as they travelled from Cambridge to London.
Prof Michie was a researcher in artificial intelligence who worked as part of the British code-breaking group at Bletchley Park during World War II.Prof Michie was a researcher in artificial intelligence who worked as part of the British code-breaking group at Bletchley Park during World War II.
Dr McLaren was a leading geneticist who became the first female officer of the Royal Society.Dr McLaren was a leading geneticist who became the first female officer of the Royal Society.
War workWar work
She was also a fellow of King's College and Christ College, Cambridge, and a member of the Warnock Commission that advised on ethical issues on the use of genetics.She was also a fellow of King's College and Christ College, Cambridge, and a member of the Warnock Commission that advised on ethical issues on the use of genetics.
Prof Michie had helped solve Tunny, a German teleprinter cipher during the war and was director of the University of Edinburgh's Department of Machine Intelligence and Perception.Prof Michie had helped solve Tunny, a German teleprinter cipher during the war and was director of the University of Edinburgh's Department of Machine Intelligence and Perception.
Their son, Jonathan Michie, said: "This is a tragic event especially since Donald was preparing a major lecture to be delivered at the University of Edinburgh on the history of machine intelligence.Their son, Jonathan Michie, said: "This is a tragic event especially since Donald was preparing a major lecture to be delivered at the University of Edinburgh on the history of machine intelligence.
"The one consolation in the case of Anne is that her 80th birthday this year had been widely celebrated and honoured by both her Cambridge institute and both her Cambridge Colleges.""The one consolation in the case of Anne is that her 80th birthday this year had been widely celebrated and honoured by both her Cambridge institute and both her Cambridge Colleges."
The couple leave three children. Prof Michie also leaves one son from a previous marriage.The couple leave three children. Prof Michie also leaves one son from a previous marriage.
Professor Michael Fourman, head of the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh paid tribute to Prof Michie.Professor Michael Fourman, head of the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh paid tribute to Prof Michie.
"Donald was one of the early leading proponents of artificial intelligence and robotics and was the founder of both the experimental programming unit and the department of machine intelligience at Edinburgh in the 1960s." "Donald was one of the early leading proponents of artificial intelligence and robotics and was the founder of both the experimental programming unit and the department of machine intelligence at Edinburgh in the 1960s."
He said many of his colleagues had recently been at a talk by Prof Michie at the Edinburgh computer history reunion and were looking forward to future visits.He said many of his colleagues had recently been at a talk by Prof Michie at the Edinburgh computer history reunion and were looking forward to future visits.
"He will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with his family at this time," Prof Fourman added."He will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with his family at this time," Prof Fourman added.