THE PIONERING father of a Petersfield man is being celebrated as part of a major campaign launched by the Government, marking the 400th anniversary of the first patent.

A patent is a government licence awarded to an inventor excluding others from making, using, or selling a new invention.

Now, the Great for Imagination campaign is showcasing some of the most remarkable inventions of the past 400 years, including the work of Alan Dower Blumlein.

Alan, father of Petersfield resident Simon (80), is credited with inventing stereo sound whilst working at the Electrical and Musical Industry (EMI) Central Research Laboratories in 1931.

Eventually his work completely revolutionised the music and audiovisual industries.

Chair of EMI Archive Trust Caryn Tomlinson said: “On behalf of the Blumlein family, I would like to thank the Great for Imagination campaign for including Alan’s invention of stereo sound in this celebration of British innovation.”

Simon was six years old when his father was killed in 1942 aged just 38, after a Royal Air Force (RAF) Halifax bomber he was in crashed during a top secret radar test.

The crash during the Second World War was hushed up as the H2S radar system invented by Blumlein and his team was top secret; it was later installed in all RAF planes.

During his short life Alan was one of the most prolific of inventors of the twentieth century.

In total he filed 128 patents, mostly relating to sound reproduction and television broadcasting.

Caryn added: “His death was never officially recognised. So despite his major contribution to the war effort, and his important work in sound recording and television, his accomplishments have been relatively unknown.”

However after decades of work by the Blumlein family, including Alan’s grandsons James and Charles, Alan’s achievements have at last been acknowledged.

In April last year, the inventor was awarded a technical Grammy by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

His son Simon travelled to Hollywood to receive the award on Alan’s behalf, and was invited to lunch party at the House of Commons to honour his fathers work.

After the ceremony Simon said he was delighted that his father was finally being recognised for his inventions.

As part of the Great for Imagination campaign, Alan’s invention of stereo sound has been brought to life visually by photographer Ted Humble-Smith, and artist Emma Winter.

Caryn said: “With his posthumous Grammy and now this recognition by the UK government, Alan Blumlein’s work is having the light shone on it that it truly deserves at last.”