Cadby Hall Bakery Sales Valuations reports by T.R. Thompson [and M.G.]. The reports were made for valuations done w/e [week ending] from 25th and 26th October 1951 to 19th January 1952. Includes details of attempted tests, faults, modifications and results of the P1, P2 and P3 programmes. 

Research comments: This suite of documents are incredibly important, documenting as they do the first commercial computer program ever run, which was finally completed on 30th November 1951 having been started on 28th November. John Daines, former LEO engineer commented: "I’ve always assumed that P1, P2 and P3 are constituent programs of the L3 suite – Bakery Valuations. From reading some of the files, these are very complicated programs and the machine was tiny. The documents show the amount of time involved.

From looking at Lenaerts Notebook No 8 page 39 written on Monday, Dec 3rd 1951, he [Lenaerts] refers to the P programme’s successful run on Friday afternoon (November 30th) at 2:20.  Note that Len [Lenaerts] then continues with his usual pre-occupation (faults!). Note also that on the 28th, page 37, he notes the successful completion of P1, suggesting that perhaps P2 ran on the 29th. A three day run therefore looks a reasonable view."

Provenance :
From David Caminer's papers - P1/3 file (from Warwick papers)