An immaculate 60054 Charles Babbage passes Melton Ross on 18 July 1996 with the 6D73 14:56 Lindsey to Leeds Total oil tanks. Charles Babbage (1791-1871) is considered to be the father of computing. His 'Difference Engine' of 1823 was an early mechanical computer, although theoretically sound, its extreme mechanical complexity rendered the design impractical.