Home Hardware Peripherals Software Publications Projects

On This Day - 24th June

« Previous Day Next Day »
1983

Alan Sugar receives an OBE

Alan Sugar was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1983 Birthday Honours for his services to the home computer industry.

Sugar was the founder and chairman of Amstrad, which had entered the rapidly expanding home-computer market with the Amstrad CPC range. Although the first CPC models would not be launched until 1984, Amstrad had already become a significant consumer-electronics company and was preparing to make its mark on the British computer market.

The award reflected the growing importance of the home-computer industry in Britain during the early 1980s. Sugar would go on to become one of the most recognisable figures in British computing and electronics, with Amstrad competing directly with companies such as Sinclair Research, Commodore and Acorn.
Source: The London Gazette
Alan Michael Sugar was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1983 Birthday Honours for services to the Home Computer Industry.
Alan Sugar Amstrad OBE British Computing Home Computers Business

Also in this month

Other historical information recorded for June.

1977

Science of Cambridge incorporated

In June 1977, Science of Cambridge was incorporated by Clive Sinclair and Chris Curry. The company was established following the financial difficulties that had affected Sinclair Radionics and became the beginning of a new phase in Sinclair's electronics business. Despite its name, the company was not primarily a scientific research organisation; it developed and marketed innovative consumer electronics products.

Science of Cambridge is particularly important in the history of British home computing because it produced the MK14, a low-cost single-board computer based around the National Semiconductor SC/MP processor. Introduced in 1978, the MK14 was sold as a kit and helped demonstrate the growing demand for inexpensive personal computers. Chris Curry subsequently became increasingly involved in the computer side of the business, eventually leaving to establish Acorn Computers with Hermann Hauser.

Science of Cambridge later changed its name to Sinclair Computers and subsequently became Sinclair Research. The company's development therefore provides a direct link between Clive Sinclair's earlier electronics business and the computers that followed, including the ZX80, ZX81 and ultimately the ZX Spectrum.
Source: Companies House / Sinclair historical records
Science of Cambridge was incorporated in 1977 and became the company responsible for the MK14 before evolving into Sinclair Computers and later Sinclair Research.
Science of Cambridge Clive Sinclair Chris Curry Sinclair MK14 SC/MP Sinclair Computers Sinclair Research ZX80 ZX81 ZX Spectrum British computing
1978

Science of Cambridge launches the MK14

**Science of Cambridge launches the MK14**

Science of Cambridge's MK14 was the company's first microcomputer and an important early step towards the Sinclair ZX80, ZX81 and ZX Spectrum. The project originated with Ian Williamson, who had developed a small computer based around National Semiconductor's SC/MP microprocessor and components from a Sinclair calculator. Chris Curry recognised its potential and persuaded Science of Cambridge to develop it as a commercial kit. The resulting MK14, or Microcomputer Kit 14, was aimed primarily at electronics enthusiasts and computer hobbyists.

Launched in 1978 for around £40, the MK14 provided a surprisingly capable introduction to microcomputing at a very low price. The basic kit included a National Semiconductor SC/MP processor, 256 bytes of RAM, a 512-byte monitor program and an eight-digit, seven-segment LED display operated through a 20-key hexadecimal keyboard. Optional expansion boards provided additional RAM, I/O and interfaces, including the possibility of connecting the computer to a television display and cassette recorder. The MK14 went on to sell tens of thousands of units and helped establish the market that Science of Cambridge would soon exploit with the ZX80.
Source: Electronics Today International — 30 September 1978
Contemporary review states that the MK14 had been launched earlier in 1978. Exact launch day not established.
MK14 Microcomputer Kit 14 Science of Cambridge Sinclair Clive Sinclair Chris Curry Ian Williamson SC/MP INS8060
Page Revised: 02/09/2026

Mister Spectrum © 2022–2026 Kevin R. Carr