IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO DID NOT MAKE IT THIS FAR AND IN SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO HAVE
CAMPAIGN The Journal of the BNTVA Registered Charity Number 1131134 TM
We visit our AVEN colleagues in Vichy
£2.99 where sold © Hervé Rouveure
Winter 2016
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Aven Remembrance & General Assembly
All Photos © BH Associates
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The Chaplain writes
Facing History with Courage I recently had the privilege of giving the sermon at a large International Service in Bayreuth, in southern Germany. It is a beautiful, historic town which I visited several times when I was Dean of Chichester, as the Cathedral has a twinning relationship with the Lutheran Church there. On the way, I was able to spend a day in Munich, and visited a new museum – Munich and National Socialism. It is in an impressive modern building, and is described as ‘a place of learning and remembrance, focusing on the city’s Nazi past’.
For many years the BNTVA has worked to bring to public attention the contribution which veterans made, at a time of acute international tension, and at enormous personal cost, which still casts a blight over the lives of atomic veterans and their descendants.
Not for the first time, I discovered a new willingness in Germany to address the dark history of the twentieth century: as a smart young tourist guide said (in perfect English) ‘If we do not, those terrible things will happen again.’ This reminded me of some wise words of the poet and writer Maya Angelou, which I have quoted in this magazine before:
That young lady in Munich was right: it is vital that we remember, and ensure that present and future generations understand what happened in their parents’ and grandparents’ lifetime, and why it matters. That is why the increasing educational role of the Association is so important.
History despite its wrenching pain Cannot be unlived, but if faced With courage need not be lived again. One of the most enjoyable aspects of our Association is the sharing of memories among members. Some of these are nostalgic and pleasant, others disturbing and painful, in more than one sense.
On a very different note, I’d like to wish all our members and their families a joyful Christmas, and a very happy new year.
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Care & Wellbeing Fund a Great Hit The NCCF Care and Wellbeing Fund launched earlier this year to provide support to members of the Nuclear Community by reducing suffering, enhancing wellbeing and increasing social inclusion. The first crop of applications were considered by the Grant Panel on the 22 September with awards being made and offers sent out to people. The process is very simple - Complete the form to the best of your abilities and send it in. Our Portfolio Partners will validate your credentials and review the information you have included. They then produce an anonymised report on your application to the Grant Board. They may ask you for more information or to clarify something in your application or they may even ask to send a specialist to visit you and assess your needs. We need to ensure the funds are being spent legitimately under the terms of the AVF and we have to make sure the most needy cases are prioritised whilst obtaining the best value for the funds available. When a grant is made we send out an offer letter detailing exactly what will be provided, once you sign the acceptance and post back to us we arrange monitor the provision.
We are not able to give any cash amounts to individuals and are restricted to funding goods and services not available through central government provision. To date we have provided Mobility Scooters, Respite care, Orthopedic mattress and numerous Home adaptations. Feedback has been very encouraging: “You have helped us when no one else would” “You will never know just how much difference you have made” “You are all so helpful and amazing” Get hold of your application form now Online - www.thenccf-care.org Email - care@thenccf.org Tel- 0115 8883442 Write - The NCCF, PO Box 8244
NCCF Nuclear Community Care and Wellbeing Project
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French Fallout Unites the Nuclear Community. It has taken a few years to get the idea off the ground in France but this October saw the historic launch of a Fallout Group for French Nuclear Veterans offspring. Enfants de victims du nucléaire’ is a French Private FaceBook group established by Céline Houdoin, daughter of a Nuclear Veteran. The group’s numbers are growing steadily and has been well supported by members of the Fallout Group. The sharing of experiences both amongst the offspring of French Veterans and across other communities in the UK and Australia helps strengthen the worldwide
nuclear community and undoubtedly acts as a fertile growing bed for the people who will take our heritage on to future generations. In the UK alone we have seen descendants of veterans come forward through Fallout to become Trustees of the BNTVA ensuring the organisation evolves and survives to address the toxic legacy visited on our families.
Enfants de victimes du nucléaire - Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ groups/1817382668477384/
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The procession to the memorial © BH Associates
Famous for its healing springs and infamous as the seat of government during the war years, the spa resort of Vichy on the banks of the Allier river was host to the 2016 Association des Vétérans Des Essais Nucléaires (AVEN) General Assembly.
© BH Associates
Vichy
As has become a tradition between the two organisations; Chairman Jeff Liddiatt and Standard Bearer Don James were invited to attend as guests of AVEN. The BNTVA also sent Alan Owen, Chairman Designate along to ease his transition to the role in 2017. © BH Associates
BNTVA Chairman Jeff Liddiatt lays a wreath
Nigel Heaps & Steve Bexon funded their own attendance along with interpreter Marie-Pierre Hazera. Nigel as the representative of OBSIVEN-UK and Steve, who is also a professional photographer, took many pictures of the event which have been shared with AVEN, OBSIVEN and the BNTVA to use in their publications.
Standard Bearer Don James
After a very wet remembrance service where Jeff laid a wreath in memory of all our fallen comrades alongside the local Mayor and AVEN President JeanLuc Sans, we enjoyed a reception of local drinks and snacks hosted by the Mayor.
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© BH Associates
The French Standard Bearer’s and Don James to the right © BH Associates
Following lunch the meetings got underway, Jeff and Alan were warmly welcomed as they outlined developments in the UK with the achieving of the Aged Veterans Fund grant and the creation of the Nuclear Community Charity Fund. The news that they were committed to ensuring the continuation of the close relationship between the BNTVA and AVEN was also well received and it was announced that AVEN Vice President Jean-Louis Camuzat would be accompanying the AVEN delegation to the BNTVA Conference at Gateshead in 2017.
The wreaths
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Jean François Grenot & Nigel Heaps MBE © BH Associates
Wide ranging discussions were held with various members of AVEN, OBSIVEN and the BNTVA enforcing the unity between our organisations and setting the seeds of future collaborations.
Aven General Assembly © BH Associates
Jean-François Grenot and Nigel gave a presentation on OBSIVEN, covering the detailed work being undertaken in France. Nigel spoke about some of the projects being delivered in the UK through the Aged Veterans Fund, he also noted that at the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile ceremony in July a historical event had taken place: Two organisations directly representing significant numbers of nuclear veterans and their families had signed an accord and created the first legitimate International Nuclear Community organisation. The impact of this organisation will continue to grow as we attract other groups from around the world to this unique forum where information and research findings can be shared to the benefit of all.
© BH Associates
There was a briefing from the AVEN legal team on progress with their tribunal system. Essentially each case had to be prepared on its own merits and any additional evidence or experience could enhance the potential for the claimant to receive an award. Progress has been steady, as OBSIVEN develops further the information available from projects both within France and across the International Nuclear community will undoubtedly enhance the success of these claims.
The news that the continued collaboration and the close relationship between the BNTVA and AVEN was well received by the Aven members.
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Yann Cambon AVEN activist Yann Cambon, who with their President Jean-Luc Sans forged the initial ties between AVEN and the BNTVA has retired from the Board of AVEN. Sadly Yann was unable to be at the AVEN conference in Vichy but he sends his regards to his British friends and looks forward to meeting with them at the 2017 AVEN conference which should take place in LA Rochelle. He also will be attending the BNTVA AGM at Gateshead in 2017.
Nigel Kevin Heaps, Esq., MBE.
He said “It is a great honour that the first Monarch of our nuclear age recognises our community especially
The BNTVA expresses our gratitude at the work and friendship shown by Yann over the years and wishes him a long and happy retirement.
in this very significant birthday year. This clearly shows that our legitimacy as a community with a rightful voice has now been accepted at the highest levels.” Nigel attended the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on the 25th November. © BCA Film
On the 12 June, in the Queens birthday honours list, Nigel was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his services to the British Nuclear Test Veterans. Nigel warmly accepted this honour not just in recognition of the work he had been involved in with the Association but also on behalf of our Nuclear Veterans in recognition of their struggle and the great progress made in recent years.
Yann Cambon
Nigel Kevin Heaps, Esq., MBE
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Care and Wellbeing Support to Attend Events 2017 On a similar vein to the small item provision it was decided to introduce a scheme where up to £100 worth of support in purchasing services to allow members of the nuclear community to attend a Reunion, Conference or Memorial Service. This recognises that these type of events add value to the wellbeing and lives of members of the nuclear community and the veterans in particular. For every event the form of support on offer will be advertised across the BNTVA network of websites and magazine. Members will be able to complete a simple form to request such support. These requests will be reviewed and prioritised in accord with the additional comments section on the form. Support will be made according to priority up to the agreed budget for that particular event. The form of support and the budget cap will be decided by the NCCF Care and Wellbeing Grant Panel members. At this moment members of the nuclear community can request support for attending the 2017 All Tests Reunion at Sand Bay. The support is by way of having their accommodation paid for the event from the fund.
Nuclear Community members wishing to attend the BNTVA Annual Conference at Gateshead in May 2017 are also able to apply. We are looking to provide assistance to people wishing to attend two memorial events in 2017: The Revival of the Flame in Paris and the Rededication of our memorial in Manchester. More on these in our next edition. Application Forms can be obtained on-line at: www.thenccf-care.org/event or by contacting the NCCF on 0115 8883442 – Simply ask for an ‘Event Form’ and leave your Name, Address, Post Code and Telephone number on the answerphone.
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Care & Wellbeing Fund The first grant Award Panel of the Nuclear Community Charity Fund, Care and Wellbeing Project met on the 22nd of September. They considered the first eight applications in an anonymous process and made their first awards.
In our next magazine, we hope to feature some of the beneficiaries showing how the fund has made their lives better. The fund also received a good deal of publicity at the All Tests Reunion at the end of September where a scheme to help nuclear community members attend events like the Reunion, BNTVA Conference and other memorial services was unveiled. Takeup of this scheme has been fantastic and we are sure many veterans will benefit from the positive camaraderie of these events. Applications are invited for consideration at the next panel meeting early in 2017.
The Care and Wellbeing Fund will purchase goods and services, unavailable from state funded schemes, that can be shown to ease suffering, increase wellbeing and inclusion amongst the nuclear community. This can be things like: Mobility scooters, Respite care provision, Handles and supports around the home, Stair Lifts, Wet Rooms, Provision of Counselling, Help with special treatments. The provision is not limited to Veterans, they are available to all members of the nuclear community: Spouses, Children, Grandchildren and even Great-grandchildren, wherever there is a need. BH Associates help compile and validate applications and are always happy to ensure your application is presented reflecting your true situation to ensure our help is targeted in the most effective manner to the neediest members of our community. Steve Bexon from BH Associates says: “It’s really satisfying knowing you are helping make people’s lives better.
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We try to ensure applications have all the necessary information for the panel to consider, so even before a panel views an application we may be asking applicants to arrange an Occupational Health Assessment or sending a mobility advisor out to assess their needs.” “The most difficult part is ensuring people disclose their finances in the appropriate manner, we have a duty to ensure the funds are disbursed appropriately if the panel feels that an applicant is not being entirely transparent about their situation they will not support the application.”
All applications for assistance are judged on their own merit. If you would like to learn more about the scheme or would like to submit an application please visit www.thenccf-care.org or write to: NCCF Care & Wellbeing PO Box 8244 Castle Donington DE74 2BY
NCCF Nuclear Community Care and Wellbeing Project
Care and Wellbeing Small Item Provision During the early development of the Care and Wellbeing protocols, we realised that there was a plethora of small adaptations, aids and devices that could revolutionise beneficiaries’ lives especially with simple day to day living tasks. Rather that subject any request for this type of item to the same level of application process as for a significant award a simplified process for applications for goods and service costing less than £100 has been developed.
If you visit the Care & Wellbeing fund website at www.thencce-care.org you will be able to access the sites of a number of suppliers of small adaptations for which you can request using our simple ordering system.
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Membership Validation Exercise You will shortly receive a package from the BNTVA regarding your membership. We are currently reviewing all our membership records and need to ensure we have the correct details for you. More importantly we are changing the way we collect membership subscriptions. If you pay by Standing Order you will need to use the form in the pack to cancel the order with your bank. From 2017 membership subscriptions will be payable by cheque or Direct Debit through our Go Cardless system. You can also make direct payment using Credit or Debit cards through GoCardless. The new system will save considerable processing fees and provide you all with the security of the Direct Debit scheme.
We are also renewing our database records for members who kindly GiftAid their payment - If you pay any tax in the UK you can gift your membership fees enabling us to claim money back from the Taxman. The pack will contain all the information you need to maintain your BNTVA Membership and a prepaid envelope to return it to us. As a great incentive BH Associates have put up a prize fund of ÂŁ200 to be shared amongst five lucky members who complete their returns by 1st March 2017. John Baron, our Patron, will draw the winners at the beginning of April.
Mental Health & Wellbeing We are making some changes to the Mental health and wellbeing project in the NCCF Portfolio to try and bring more treatment to more people within our community. You can now directly request access to a mental health practitioner for assessment and counselling. Full details of the expanded project will be published on www.thenccf-mind.org
where you can use the email contact to access help. You can also write to: Mind @ NCCF PO Box 8244 Castle Donington DE74 2BY
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Royal Geographical Society Conference On the 1st September Jeff Liddiatt, Susan Musselwhite and Nigel Heaps attended the Royal Geographical Society for their Annual Conference. The Geographical Society of London was founded in 1830 as an institution to promote the advancement of geographical science. Like many learned societies at the time of enlightenment, it started as a dining club in London, where select members held informal dinner debates on current scientific issues and ideas.
Both Jeff and Nigel spoke to the Society as part of the work of the NCCF
© BNTVA
Under the patronage of King William IV, it later became known as The Royal Geographical Society and was granted its Royal Charter under Queen Victoria in 1859. In 1912 the Society purchased, and in 1913 Society moved to, its current location, Lowther Lodge, London. The Society’s purpose remains the same today as when it was first founded, namely the ‘advancement of geographical science’. However, the manner in which that is done has expanded greatly over the years, while still continuing to include publishing, the support of field research and expeditions, lectures and conferences, and its collections.
Nuclear Families project. Jeff gave his personal experiences of being involved in the British Nuclear Testing program Jeff told how he joined the RAF in 1958 at 17½ and was posted to Australia in 1959. The ten day journey took him to the other side of the world to a station called RAAF Edinburgh Field, about 20 km north of Adelaide.
RAF Maralinga 1960
He was then sent to Maralinga on detachment where his duties placed him in the ‘Forward Area’ much of the time. The already heavily contaminated Maralinga test site was where he was to work on a part of the program that has only become known in recent years: ‘The minor trials.’
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To answer some of the problems associated with keeping, moving and maintaining a nuclear arsenal Britain conducted some of the most bizarre experiments of the Cold War. Simulating rail and road crashes plus aircraft incidents, nuclear weapons were subject to impact testing, engulfing in fire and explosive forces. After each test our Servicemen had to collect samples for the ‘Boffins’ or ‘Beardies’ to examine during tidying up of the resulting debris. © BNTVA
Maralinga Fire Engine 1960
Jeff described the disregard to the health and safety of the service personnel, often using makeshift arrangements to complete their duties. The subsequent health issues encountered by both himself and his family is a theme all too and common within our community. After lunch Nigel gave a lecture on “The Evolution of the Nuclear Community”, charting the creation of the BNTVA, its early fruitless attempts to gain any recognition or redress through the bitter infighting leaving
a battered ineffective collapsing organisation clinging together through the grim determination of a few stalwart members who believed something better could be achieved. To the development of an inclusive charitable body bringing together former service personnel, their widows and offspring with a united voice calling for recognition and the empowerment to help themselves. Nigel described how in defining a non-geographic, non-political community who shared the common bond of Nuclear Test heritage they had created a tangible entity capable of communicating the real issues and problems of that community in a manner that was easily conceptualised and developed a great deal of empathy. The power of this community was undoubtedly the key factor in engaging the public, politicians and press resulting in our achieving recognition and the establishment of the Aged Veterans Fund. Nigel concluded his lecture by illustrating how the development of this community identity was now increasing the effectiveness of nuclear survivor groups around the world creating a truly international community.
NCCF
Aged Veterans Fund funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds
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Nuclear Families: Updates and Future Work The Nuclear Families project has been hard at work, studying your community to understand the social and cultural implications of being part of a nuclear test veteran family. Thanks to the amazing levels of participation, we are beginning to see some significant results! We have attended your events, we have stayed with some of you to undertake ethnographic work, and we have focused upon collection lots of interviews with your community, to get high-quality data about your lives and experiences. From this, we have written about the veterans first, as we should remember the past before exploring the future. We are pleased to announce the publication of our first peer-reviewed academic paper in Environment and Society, which is entitled “It was a blast!: Camp Life on Christmas Island, 1956-1958”. This paper explores the day-to-day life and experiences of veterans on Christmas Island, and provides a significant contribution to our understanding of your experiences of domestic life, before you returned home to have families and continue with your lives. Also, keep your eyes open for my other peer-reviewed academic publication “Exploring nuclear geography”, with Dr Thom Davies at Warwick University. This paper provides an overview of the challenges that nuclear communities
face, and your own community is of course included within it. I have recently returned from travelling to the USA to work with the esteemed international nuclear sociologist Professor Stephanie Malin, who wrote an amazing book about uranium mining communities entitled “The Price of Nuclear Power: Uranium Communities and Environmental Justice”. We have been studying your interview transcripts together, and she has offered me lots of good advice on ways to develop and improve our current study. I feel very grateful to have her on board! I am also starting to collaborate with Dr Mwenza Blell, who is an expert in reproductive sociology at the University of Cambridge. She will doubtless have some fantastic insights into the experiences of family, and the concerns that naturally surround issues like inherited conditions and radiation, for the interviews I have collected with wives and daughters of your community. I have also gained a dissertation student in Cultural History, Miss
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Fiona Bowler. Fiona is studying health culture on Christmas Island with me, with the aim of helping me to provide context to your experiences. She’s very friendly and eager to learn, and I’m hoping some of you might be able to meet her soon. In 2017 we will be producing a comprehensive survey and we would like all of you to take part! We are also developing a series of workshops – The first one will be at the University of Southampton in January or February, but we are keen to run workshops in the Midlands, the South West and the North too. Please get in touch if you can help us with this, if you want to participate, or if you know of a good place to hold a workshop that we haven’t thought about! As always, we cannot do this work without your kindness, time and patience. If we haven’t interviewed you yet, then please get in touch – We will be continuing to interview as many of you as possible over the next year, until the end of 2017.
Field of Remembrance Hi Steve, I have attached photos from the field of remembrance Westminster abbey London 10.11.16. I would like to thank Don James for the excellent organisation and making everyone feel so welcome not forgetting the excellent sandwiches for lunch at the speaker pub. Many thanks - Jeremy Howard
BNTVA Members at Westminster
Please feel free to get in touch at any time, if you want more information, would like to visit, or would like to participate and help with our study. You can get me on becky.alexismartin@soton.ac.uk or you can call me on: 07885 608573. All the best, Becky Alexis-Martin Prince Harry meeting Veterans
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BNTVA Trustees Chairman Jeff Liddiatt
Chairman Designate Alan Owen
Email: chairman@bntva.com
Email: a.owen @bntva.com
Tel: 0208 144 3080 Mob: 07523 0457 05
Organisation Manager Robert Ireland Email: secretary@bntva.com b.ireland@bntva.com
Vice Chair Ian Hall Email: membership@bntva.com i.hall@bntva.com
Financial Manager Ian Greenhalgh LLB Email i.greenhalgh@bntva.com
Supporters Group & Branch Communications Doug Hern Email: d.hern@bntva.com
Remembrance Co-ordinator Don James
Maralinga Veterans Coordinator Fred Stellard
Email: d.james@bntva.com
Email: f.stallard@bntva.com
Vice Chair Administration Sandie Hern
Merchandising Ian Hall
Email: s.hern@bntva.com
Email: shop@bnva.com i.hall@bntva.com
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For BNTVA office contact details please see the back page Fallout Descendents Group Shelly Grigg Email: s.grigg@bntva.com
Association Chaplain The Very Revd Nicholas Frayling BA, LLD Email: n.frayling@bntva.com
Legal Advisor to the Board Tony Jeffrey Email: t.jeffery@bntva.com
Trustee Susan Musselwhite Email: s.musselwhite@bntva.com
Trustee Alison Walker
Appointed Persons and Honourables Parliamentary Patron John Baron Member of Parliament Email: baronj@parliament.uk
Honorary Editor Steve Bexon Email: editor@bntva.com
Email: a.walker@bntva.com
Trustee Ron Watson Email: r.watson@bntva.com
Specialist Advisor Nigel Heaps MBE Email: n.heaps@bhassociates-llp.com
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A message from our new trustees Alison Walker I am one of the new trustees appointed this year. I am the daughter of a Nuclear Veteran. My father Gordon Allen Lowe was an Officers Chef on board HMS Narvik at Christmas Islands during 1958/59. He was involved in Narvik reunions and BNTVA meetings going on 30 years and continued to support “the cause� (his words) until his health declined. I am a member of BNTVA site on Facebook and have been a member with the Fallout group from the beginning. I soon found that other members fathers had served on the Narvik at the same time as my father and have made lifelong friendships. My father felt strongly that Nuclear Veterans should be recognised for what they witnessed and the after medical effects it caused and continues to cause. I feel that becoming a Trustee I am continuing what my father felt strongly about. I hope that my empathy, passion and understanding will help to continue the BNTVA and Fallout into the future. Best Regards - Alison
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Susan Musselwhite My name is Susan Musselwhite and I Joined the BNTVA board of trustees in May. Since then I have taken on a role with in the social media sector. I’d like to bring members that have internet access instant news and also bring more awareness of BNTVA. I’d also like to think that we can become more invovled with each other and show that the Nuclear community stands together, social media can bring a lot to BNTVA and It’s members. Before I fell ill I worked in the care sector and loved my career, I’d like to think that that gives me the caring and compassion that can be needed for a role in the BNTVA . Best wishes and kindest regards - Susan
Alan Owen I am 45 years old, my father was a Christmas Island Veteran serving in the Royal Navy. I am a Chartered IT Professional and a Fellow of the British Computer Society. I own ICARIS Ltd who provide specialist software and services to the not for profit sector. I was one of 3 children, unfortunately my brother died aged 31, my father aged 52 and my mother aged 69. I have one child who is 10 yrs old. I am married to Melanie and live in Pinchbeck, Spalding. As a family, we have endured several health issues and live in the legacy of the tests every day. My experiences with my job allow me to advise on the governance of all aspects of the charity and advise on IT matters. I have a lot of experience dealing with grant management, reviewing applications and advising on procedures. Kind regards - Alan
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Searching for 1325 Flight pals During my time in the Royal Air Force I spent a two year tour of duty on Christmas Island involved in Operation Grapple. During that time we saw and felt the effects of several “A” bombs being tested and about six “H” bombs. I was called up as a National Serviceman, but signed on for an extra year or so in order to get my trade as a shorthand typist. On leaving the Air Force I became a journalist.
Hope to hear from you. John Ward Please email editor@bntva.com and we will send your email onto John.
I belonged to 1325 Flight, which flew DC3 Dakotas, which had been brought out of mothballs for the tests. Most of my colleagues were engineers of all disciplines, there to keep the aeroplanes flying. I was a shorthand typist PA to senior officers commonly known in RAF parlance as a “shiny arse”. The keyword on Christmas Island was teamwork, and during that time I made good friends who helped make the tour of duty more tolerable. I remember the squadron leader was a guy called Wood, affectionately known as “Timber” Wood. Remember a colleague called Jackson, known as “Jacko” and another guy call Mo Cook, who had part of his middle finger missing. He used that finger to fit on nuts to the engine.
Light aircraft spraying DDT
I am hoping that I can arrange a get together in London of the lads from 1325 Flight. John with bottles of beer for Christmas
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Rekindling of the flame ceremony Paris July 2016 by Jeff Liddiatt BNTVA Chairman Jean-Luc Sans the President of AVEN invited me as BNTVA Chairman to join with him in the rekindling of the flame ceremony in July. He also invited any of our members if they wished to join with their AVEN brothers and sisters. Our party met at the Eurostar terminal at ST Pancras International Station, 11 of us in total. Unfortunately Christine James was unable to join the party due to health considerations. We had a very smooth journey on the Eurostar and when we arrived in Paris we had a long taxi journey across the city to our hotel, which AVEN had kindly arranged for us. On the Saturday morning free time in the City of Paris was enjoyed independently by the group. We reassembled at the hotel in mid afternoon. We had been told to be at the Arc de Triomphe underpass at 17.30 hrs, we duly arrived at our destination at 17.20 hrs, and made our way to the underpass. It was much later that Jean-Francois Grenot arrived and was surprised to find us there so early, a mix-up in communication and time differences were to blame, very reminiscent of the First World War but more of that later.
Nigel and Becky with their two young girls arrived having come into Paris by train from their holiday site. We all held an impromptu reunion of old friends; British and French, in the tunnel underneath the Arch. Eventually after much ‘wondering what was happening’ we were told to make our way up the staircase to the assembly point. The parade such as it was started to get into some sort of order on the pavement along the Champs-Elysée. In true French fashion nobody seemed to have any idea what was going on, until the Master of Ceremonies of the Committee of the Flame arrived and took charge. We were moved several times in the marching order until all was sorted out. Whilst all this was going on JeanLuc explained to me the significance of the BNTVA being invited to rekindle the flame. I was to be only the fifth British person to carry out the rekindling, after the Queen, Sir Winston Churchill, and two other Prime Ministers.
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This really brought about the solemnity of the occasion to me. The traffic police stopped the traffic on the Champs- ElysĂŠe, the band started playing and we all moved off lead by the Fire Brigade sporting huge ceremonial axes, the wreath bearers and children followed. It was a leisurely pace just right for us veterans in the parade and all the traffic up the Champs-Elysee and around the Arc de Triomphe had been stopped by the Police. On arrival at the Arc itself, which is a huge imposing monument the Napoleon had originally designed to be his tomb, The master of ceremonies sorted us out in the order he required. I had stood behind the French town mayors but they were soon moved aside by the Guardians of the Flame and together with Jean-Luc we were brought to the front. It was also nice to see that all the children present were brought to the front of the audiences, something we could really learn from. As each town was called and the wreath layer came forward to give the wreath of flowers to the person concerned who then went forward to lay them on the tomb of the unknown soldier. At last the BNTVA was called and the small boy who had carried the poppy wreath for me came forward. (this boy had won a certificate at his school for
history that week) I took the wreath and he and I stepped forward for me to lay the wreath. It was then that my emotions took over. My grandfather had been killed in action 100 years before on the Somme, and here was I laying a poppy wreath on the tomb of the unknown soldier almost to the day. I laid the wreath in memory of all those who had given their lives for our freedom and for all Nuclear veterans throughout the world. I retuned to my place in the line up. The next phase of the ceremony then started, I was shown forward with Jean-Luc Sans to stand by the flame itself. The flame was very low burning in a bronze, circular holder. The sword bearer indicated to Jean-Luc and I to stand forward, he gave us the sword which is made of bronze and silver and very heavy. Linking our arms we placed the tip of the sword on a ring on top of the holder in the flame and pushed the ring, it moved and as it moved, the flame burned higher and brighter. We returned the sword to the sword bearer. We were guided to the book stand, where the book of record was open, we were each invited to sign the book and print the name of our Association. The BNTVA is at the top of the page for the 2nd July 2016.
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Then in the French tradition we shook hands with all the officials, standard bearers, and guests. As we started to leave the Arch, the heavens opened and we had a very heavy rainstorm. The rain stopped and we made our way to the meal which AVEN had invited the whole party too. A truly memorable day for both me and the BNTVA.
Paris July 2017 In July this year a group of us had a very successful visit to Paris for the re-kindling of the flame ceremony, We have been invited again by AVEN to take part in the ceremony in July 2017. It is hoped that a larger group from the BNTVA will travel to Paris for the ceremony. As part of the remembrance project, travel costs will be covered as will as part of the accommodation costs. It is planned to have a longer time in Paris from Thursday to Monday 5 Days in all. To help with the planning for the visit. would all those who are interested contact the main BNTVA telephone number 0208 144 3080 and leave your details or send an email to: chairman@bntva.com Š Andy Plisbury
Jeff Liddiatt rekindling of the flame
Re-kindling of the flame 2016
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Nuclear effects felt 50 years on On January 17, 1966, 1,600 low-ranking troops were ferried to the area from US Air Force bases across Spain to help clear up as quickly and quietly as possible after a B-52 and a refuelling jet crashed over the coast, dropping four hydrogen bombs on Palomares. Although there was no nuclear explosion, plutonium leaked out causing what would today be referred to as ‘dirty bombs’ which would result in immediate evacuation.
were sent to local houses with handheld radiation detectors. However they were not taught how to use the devices, in fact they were told to leave them turned off.
However at the time everything possible was done to hush up the dangers and the Air Force is still trying to sweep it all under the carpet, the NYT claims. The newspaper has interviewed many of those sent to Palomares and claims they were given hardly any protection and were always told they were safe. In a secret briefing afterwards, chief scientific adviser Dr Wright H Langham told Atomic Energy colleagues regarding paper surgical masks provided: “It wouldn’t do you any good in the way of protection, but if it made you feel better we let you wear it.”
Peter M Ricard, one of these men, said: “We were just supposed to feign our readings so we didn’t cause turmoil with the natives. I often think about that now. I wasn’t too smart back then. They say do it and you just say, ‘Yes, sir.’” Now, as many fight diseases believed to be caused by plutonium poisoning (of 40 tracked down by the NYT, 21 were battling cancer and nine had died), they continue to fight for free health care which they should have by rights due to the incident. Yet, as the Air Force refused to repeat any tests and insists that there was no risk, this is denied again and again.
One of those at the site, military police officer Mr Slone, said he was given a plastic bag and told to pick up the radioactive fragments with his bare hands. “A couple of times they checked me with a Geiger counter and it went clear off the scale, but they never took my name or followed up with me,” he said. To appease the locals, airmen
Meanwhile in Palomares, extensive areas of contaminated land remain fenced off as Spain waits for the US to remove and dispose of the affected soil as promised.
CAMPAIGN Winter 2016 | 27
Š David Tomlin
Walking to the perimeter on the site
Š David Tomlin
David Tomlin - ex RAF nuclear test veteran for the clear up of Antler, the duration of Buffalo and the commencement of Grapple. David lives in Spain with his wife a few mils from the town of Palomares This article appeared in the online version of Euro Weekly newspaper. There has been an ongoing battle with the US for some years to clear up the site and as a matter of interest the walking group to which we belong recently organised a walk to the perimeter of the enclosed site.
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Nuclear Voices Nuclear voices is a potential project to enable Veterans and their families to tell their story in their own words. The stories will be digitised and published in a digital library for anyone to watch and listen. We will be seeking NCCF funding to provide the project. Each story will be recorded using either video or audio, depending on the choice of the veteran and their family. Each subject will be visited in their own home and the process very informal as we need to hear the experiences and stories in the veteran’s own words. We have lost so many voices over the years and their stories have gone forever. This project will enable us to immortalise the voices of the veterans and provide a library of experiences and stories.
Each experience of the nuclear tests is unique to the individual and to capture these experiences in their own words is an opportunity which we need to take now, before any more stories are lost. Nothing is more powerful than hearing the voice of a veteran who has experienced a nuclear explosion first hand. Stories relating to their time on the islands and their roles within the tests need to be stored and listened to. We are looking for any interested people who would like to take part in the programme to register their interest. You can do this by emailing a.owen@bntva.com. I cannot ask my father for his experiences as he is no longer with us, but if we get as many stories recorded as we can, the digital library will provide us with an invaluable resource forever.
CAMPAIGN Winter 2016 | 29
In memoriam John McCulloch Its with sadness we have been informed that John McCulloch passed away on the 25th of September 2016. His time in Christmas Island was fondly remembered and his stories were re-told at every family get together. Unfortunately John and his wife had to deal with the consequences of suffering 2 still born babies, which he connected with the Nuclear testing, and this was one of the main reasons he kept fighting for Nuclear Veteran rights over the years. John McCulloch Erskine Member No: 2653
Mr J Waters
Mr Stanley Wheldale
We sadly announce the death of Mr J Waters of Swansea. His Funeral took place on the 17th of October 2016.
It is with sorrow we announce the passing of Mr Stanley Wheldale of Garforth Leeds.
30 | CAMPAIGN Winter 2016
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CAMPAIGN Winter 2016 | 31
Ways to pay your annual BNTVA membership subscription Set out below are the methods you can use to pay your membership subscription, due 1st of April each year. By standing order using the personalised standing order form sent out with the Winter Edition of the magazine. By using the BACS system take your cheque or cash into any HSBC branch make out the paying in slip with the following details: HSBC Bank plc 13 Parliament Street York YO1 8XS Sort code: 40-47-31 Account number: 64259351 Account name: British Nuclear Test Veterans Association By using your own Internet Banking account make the payment using the details above.
Membership is available for purchase from the shop UK Membership - UK Single Member £20, UK Family (partner & dependent children) £30, Overseas Single Member £30, Overseas Family (partner & dependent children) £40
If you are unable to use any above ways to pay, CHEQUES made out to the BNTVA only, can be sent to the central address. BNTVA PO Box 8244, Castle Donington DE74 2BY
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32 | CAMPAIGN Winter 2016
Contact Us This is the only correspondence address and telephone number for the Association. By Post BNTVA PO Box 8244, Castle Donington DE74 2BY
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Campaign magazine is published by the BNTVA. Editor: Steve Bexon. Next issue copy deadline 1st February 2017
BNTVA is not an anti-nuclear or an anti-war association. All opinions,views and quotations do not represent official BNTVA policy and are the sole responsibility of the writer. Photographs and images – Š Copyright of owner acknowledged.
All contributions for the magazine should be sent to BNTVA PO Box 8244, Castle Donington DE74 2BY or emailed to editor@bntva.com
Campaign cannot guarantee total accuracy for any reproduction of letters / articles / transcripts. BNTVA is a Registered Charity Reg. No 1131134 supporting past and present UK Nuclear Test Combined Service Veterans and their families.