text: ** George Paget Thomson of Imperial College, London designs the toroidal solenoid, a simple fusion device. With Moses Blackman, he further develops the concept and files for a patent. This becomes the first fusion device to receive a patent. Repeated attempts to get development funding fail.
  ** A meeting at Harwell on the topic of fusion raises new concerns with the concept. On his return to London, Thomson gets graduate students James L. Tuck and Alan Alfred Ware to build a prototype device out of old radar parts.
  ** Peter Thonemann comes up with a similar idea, but uses a different method of heating the fuel. This seems much more practical and finally gains the mild interest of the UK nuclear establishment. Not aware of who he is talking to, Thonemann describes the concept to Thomson, who adopts the same concept.
  ** Herbert Skinner begins to write a lengthy report on the entire fusion concept, pointing out several areas of little or no knowledge.
  ** The Ministry of Supply (MoS) asks Thomson about the status of his patent filing, and he describes the problems he has getting funding.  The MoS forces Harwell to provide some money, and Thomson releases his rights to the patent. It is granted late that year.
  ** Skinner publishes his report, calling for some experimental effort to explore the areas of concern. Along with the MoS's calls for funding of Thomson, this event marks the beginning of formal fusion research in the UK.