September 1996

SEPTEMBER 199®

Magazine

The perfect way for us all to remember THE BNTVA now has its own memorial plot in the Field of Remembrance being opened at Westminster Abbey on November 7 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

The Field of Remembrance was started by the British Legion Poppy Factory in 1928 in order to provide a means for relatives of the Fallen to obtain comfort by remembering their own dead at a small cost and also to provide more work for the Disabled in this factory.

Westminster Abbey is the national Pantheon of the Empire and is the home of remembrance of Heroes and those who served their country.

It is the most natural place for bereaved relatives to remember and symbolises their sacrifice by planting a poppy thereby joining outward expression to their intimate inner feelings.

The appearance of the plot remains the responsibility of the regiment/association concerned, but the Royal British Legion can help with special requests providing suitable notice is given.

The Legion provide and plant an Identification Cross showing title and number of each plot without any additional cost.

RADIATION STUDY WILL HELP ALL VETERANS MRS Sue Rabbit Roff, who many of you met at our last AGM, has kindly agreed to join us as an advisor. Thanks Sue, we welcome you with open arms.

Sue is doing a triangulated study of the Incidence of Birth defects in children and grand­ children of men who have probably been exposed to ionising radiation.

Three sets of data have been identified of men who have probably been exposed to ionising radi­ ation. These arc: ■Australian veterans of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force who were in Japan in the late 1940’s.

■US and UK veterans of nuclear weapons tests in Australia in the Pacific and Nevada.

■And 1000f offshore oil and gas industry' work­ ers who have been reported to the UK Health and Safely Executive for excessive levels of radiation in the 1990’s. The reproductive outcomes of these three groups will be compared in order to sec if there is a detectable trend of male mediated mechanisms for reproductive injury'.

A standardised questionnaire is being organised to collate data with other studies of reproductive outcomes such as those of veterans exposed to Agent Orange. Any family member or veteran interested in progress reports should contact: Sue Rabbit Roff, Centre for Medical Education, University of Dundee Medical School, 484 Perth Road, Dundee, Scotland DD2 1LR, . Fax: 01382645748

From Teddy Boy to jungle boy □□□

That Was The Year That Was - an arti­ cle submitted by one of our members

Well the lads did not fancy each other and

LIMEY I’m still alive. I pinch myself and remember my only concern as a young London Teddy Boy called up for National Service was not having enough cash to keep up payments on the love of my life - an Austin A90 Convertible.

After being assured by my new ‘Masters’ words "Don’t worry soldier we won’t send you overseas,” I signed an additional year for the extra regular army pay. Two months later I arrived with other R.E.M.E. Moonies on tropical Christmas Island.

I wrote home saying: ‘‘It aint arf ot here Mum, tell dad to put the A90 up on blocks and please send another shipment of cake and biscuits."

Well, it got even hotter when my ‘Master’ started dropping bombs, bloody big Nuclear Bombs. I can’t forget the heat blast on my back, it’s stork drawing hun­ dreds of tons of seawater into the sky.

What the hell are we doing here working under the sun waiting for the next mush­ room to fry us. We would discuss A.W.O.L. but this island makes Alcatraz look like a Butlins holiday camp.

It would seem the only way off was to either be caught by one’s commanding officer in the homosexual position (naughty in 1958) or photographing the bomb preferably with a Russian camera.

‘days to do’ charts like good soldiers.

My Grapple year was almost up when I was asked to list a choice of three post­

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we only had a Brownie (camera that is) so we contented ourselves by marking our

ings, but you can’t go home. As a pun I wrote down R.E.M.E. attached to the British Embassy Bahamas, Washington or Canada.

I must have angered my 'Master' as he gave me a 303 rifle and sent me into the Malayan jungle attached to the Gurkha Regiment. A telegram to my Dad read: “Take the car off the blocks and sell it. I don’t know if I will ever get home and Mum, please send some ant repellent pow­ der."

After three years of service my ‘Master’ had finally done with me, sticking a medal on my shirt, they at last sent me home.

The fact is the British Government did expose a large number of its troops leav­ ing them to believe it was just the Bomb being tested. We were indeed lambs to the slaughter trusting our ‘Master’, a ‘Master’ who inexcusably refuses to acknowledge and assist with the health problems of its veterans.

I feel sure that we all appreciate the tire­ less efforts to address the situation by our Executive Committee. Well done and God Bless you all.

CITROEN IN ST IVES

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Cambridgeshire incorporating

CITROEN

The CX CENTRE Probably not your nearest Citroen dealer! We do however hold the widest stock of Citroen's in the country so if you're interested in the best deal on a new or used car please call!

JOHN BISHELL, GRAHAM MASON. ROGER BRADFORD or BOB DARKEN BNTV's especially welcome!

Crcnricter: non DAN\IN (Fx Christmas Island)

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BRAMLEY PARK GARAGES

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SOMERSHAMROAD, ST IVES, CAMBS, PE174WR 0480494432

impression of them was their superb sportsmanship. They played every sport 100% and were gracious in victory and generous in defeat - a plea­ sure to serve with.

Now Keith wants to hear from any of the men in the photograph who are as fol­ lows: BACK ROW: Sgt Sievwright, Capt.Wade, Spr.Nagaya, Sgt.Good, Spr.Koroi, CpI.Dinalagi, Sgt.Stockley,

ICTURED below is the Christmas Island Army boxing team in 1959 which was sent in by Keith Wallington of Im Rothen 3, Hermansburg, Deutschland.

Keith is pictured third right, bottom row and served in the 36 Regiment RE 1958-59, and as you will see they were good friends with some of the Fijian boxers at the time.

Keith said they were great friends and his lasting

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AVING partaken in a little boxing in my schooldays, it was no surprise when I put my name down when volunteers were called for to enter The Boxing Tournament.

Very soon training began - up at around 5.30am; running from the Port into the Gilbertese Village and onward; then turn around and run all the way back. This was then repeat­ ed after work.

The training went on for some time, coupled with normal boxing training until we were ‘ultra fit’.

The big night finally arrived. We travelled to Main Camp in the usual way on the back of a three ton truck.

The scene was set, the boxing ring was brightly lit in the warm tropical night. All around the ring were rows of seats with the officers sitting in the front rows dressed in their best ‘bib and tucker’, complete with red sashes across their chests. Bout after bout was fought out until finally it came to my turn. Escorted into the battle zone, fighting at LightWelterweight, my opponent was to be fellow R.E. Sapper Ferguson.

The bell rang and the battle was on. I know now why they call him Ferguson because he came at me like a tractor. He hit me with left’s and right's to the head, he caught me with some good punches.

At the end of that first round I took my gumshield out and found three of my teeth inside it. My

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CENTRE: Spr.Thomas, Spr.Ferns, LcPI.Heard, Col.Carver RE, Lt.Myer, Spr.Bebb, Unknown.

FRONT ROW: Dvr.Baker, Spr.Laughlan, Spr.McNamara, Lcpl.Burgess, LcpI.Wallington, Spr.Sullivan, Dvr.Ford.

FOOTNOTE: Keith has a roll of 210 Fijian soldiers and Fijian Navy who served on Christmas Island in 1957/58/59.

Three of the four Fijians pictured on the boxing team are named, but one is not.

Does this tell me there were more than 210 Fijians involved?

What a fight!

BY MIKE RUBERY second said he’s not laid a glove on you yet. So I told him to keep an eye on the referee because somebody was thumping me.

Round two found me in a bit of trouble. He had me down on the canvas twice and he knocked me so far out of the ring I had to pay to get back in.

At the end of round two I say in my comer looking into the crowd and I saw a familiar face looking at me. Then I realised - it was mine.

Round three and the final round.

I did make a comeback and caught him with a right and cut him. I caught him with another right and cut him again.

Then the referee took the knife off me. At last the final bell rang and the fight was over.

If Sapper Ferguson happens to read my little story and remem­ bers our fight, may I say thank you for the boxing lesson.

In conclusion I reckon I must have been the only man in the British Army with a cauliflower bum.

Branch News... t MERSEYSIDE BRANCH

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MAY I start off by thanking all the members nationwide who took the time to phone and send get well cards during my spell in hospital following a heart attack. They were much appreciated and it proved one thing - *Sar Majors* do have hearts. I would also like to thank Mrs Rita Coghlan for all her support over the years with raffle prizes.

As you all know, a verdict from the European Court is expected any day now and quite frankly the sooner the better because the lack of information coming from the Association Rumour Control is working overtime and both Peter and Myself, and probably the rest of the Executive Committee, are being asked to confirm bits of gos­ sip.

Believe me, you know as much as we do - nothing. As you will see in the magazine, we have a plot at Westminster Abbey this year. If you can make it on the Thursday please do.

After much soul-searching I have decided to stand down from the E.C. as Membership Secretary with effect from the 1997 AGM and we

hope a representative can be found, also for the branch.

Finally, you will find a piece by my daughter Karen in this issue. If you have children or grand-chil­ dren with unusual dental prob­ lems, would you please send details to me because her dentist would like to investigate further.

Branch meetings for the next 12 months are 20th October 1996, 5th January 1997, 6th April 1997, and 6th July 1997. Best wishes to you all.

CHRIS ROWLANDS

MILTON KEYNES BRANCH BRANCH meetings will be held on the first Sunday of every third month (September, December. March and June) at 12noon at the Royal British legion Club. Newport Pagnell.

It has been brought to our notice that at Weymouth this year a parade of veterans and standards plus a ser­ vice of remembrance was held. It is proposed that it becomes an annual event. Being so. let our own BNTVA parade and be seen and counted.

MEDICAL SURVEYS: In our quest for justice, the NRPB report and the achievements of this year, after many years, we are not the only one’s being

peace of mind by being prepared _2IL rr-m

People who care In time of need

0800-289-1X0 Everyone knows the value of being prepared, but do you know the value of The Co-operative Funeral Bond You pay for the funeral at today’s prices. Guaran­ teed- with no additional costs whenever the funer­ al occurs - conducted anywhere in the United Kingdom.

Flexible payment scheme available on request

hopeful that we shall win through, perhaps, so others may benefit.

A member of the PIS (Pacific Island Society) wrote to the Right Hon. J Hanley requesting an independent health survey for the Kiribati people who may have been affected by the 1956-60 Tests.

The reply, as one would expect, was that no-one was at risk so no health survey. This is based on the NRPB report of British personnel.

What has happened to the Fijians who were there? We know the truth.

Let’s be fair, we returned home. The Island is their home.

PAT HURLEY

WEST YORKS BRANCH THE branch is currently striving to raise enough funds to enable us to lay a Memorial Stone and even­ tually obtain our own Branch stan­ dard. To help raise funds we have for sale specially commissioned Tea Towels and Beakers which were first displayed at the AGM this year.

Whilst the response was good, we still have a number for sale. The prices, which include postage and packing (UK rate) are as follows: Tea Towels £2.50p each

A great honomr WHILST in Poland in July, I was presented with Diplomas which were bestowed upon Ken and myself at the Baltic Conference last October. It was a great honour to receive them as Ken and I arc the only members out­ side the Baltic region. Because of our participation in the Conference, the name and Cause of our Association is even more widely known. Even in Russia, which I was fortunate enough to visit, I was known and therefore so was our Association. The interest and concern shown me was both hum­ bling and gratifying.

I brought back lists of nuclear accidents which have occurred throughout the world and I have to admit, some of the English accidents were unknown to me. Now we have learned of two more ‘accidents and coverup’s’ by our various Governments - Porton Down in the 60’s and now Grccnham Common in the 50’s.

How many more 'accidents and cover-up’s’ have our Government hidden from us, the public. I only hope when our case is heard in the European Courts, it will prove to everyone our experiences were also a cover-up and justice will prevail for all of us. On a lighter note, if anyone ever tells you to Go to Hell’, don’t worry. I’ve been there and it is beautiful. IT is a place in Northern Poland (and I came back).

Mrs Sheila Gray (Secretary).

BRANCH l\EWS... 2 BNTVA Beakers £3.80p each Grapple Beakers £3.80p each Sweatshirts are still available in various sizes and colours, order forms available (stamped addressed envelope please). Any member wishing to pur­ chase any of the above, please contact me at the following address: Mr G B Robertson, 64 Deighton Lane, Healey, Batley WF17 7EU, West Yorkshire Tel: 01924-478301.

Money please with orders for tea tow­ els and beakers and cheques/postal orders should be made payable to the BNTVA (West Yorkshire branch).

GEORGE ROBERTSON

ONCE again our last meeting was well attended and all aspects of the BNTVA were discussed including Strasburg. One new member joined. Brian Twigg. who witnessed the Brigadoon tests.

Many thanks to Ken Byalt who has been very busy tracing people from the Brigadoon tests.Once again the ACM at Blackpool was a great success. The meet­ ing was very informative and very notable people spoke on our behalf.Thc question of funds became an issue and whether increasing subscriptions to £10 works remains to be seen. Ken Taylor, who does a tremendous job with the lottery, warned us all that the BNTVA could easily become skint if something was not done quickly.The AGM was well attended by our branch and we all enjoyed the social evening very much. It’s great to meet up with everyone once a year. Many thanks to the Top Table for all their hard work.

JOHN COLE

SOUTH WALES BRANCH THE next big date we have in South Wales branch will be a church service and parade in Risca for the annual anniversary of the Atom Bomb on Sunday 6th October.The service starts at 10am in the church followed by a parade to the Cenotaph where the vicar, the Rev.Pain, will conduct a short service followed by laying of a wreath.lt would be appreciated if as many veterans and their families as possible attended.

Peter and Gron Williams

MANCHESTER BRANCH AT 1 lam on Thursday 3rd October, 1996 (the 44th Anniversary of the 1st British Nuclear Test) in the Peace Garden. Mosley Street, Manchester, the Lord Mayor of Manchester will unveil a stone dedicated

It’s time to pay up May I say thank you to all the loyal members who have paid their subscriptions and also Associate members subscriptions. Also many thanks to those of you who have given donations, large or small, we do appreciate this support.

I am sorry to say once again that money we have in the bank is get­ ting low and I have been going through the books to find that there arc still members out there who have not paid their subscriptions since 1994. Many have not paid for this year and those responsible must know who they are.

Again I say a big thank you to all those who have paid and please keep up the good work in the future. I hope you do not think I enjoy saying that Members have not paid their subs but I have to issue these reminders so that money comes in to support the Association.

BILL KITTSEN National Treasurer to the memory of nuclear test veterans.

The stone has been generously donated by the Co-op. to whom we are most grate­ ful arid the service is funded by a grant from the Manchester City Council. After the ceremony a buffet will be available in the smoke room at Manchester Town Hall. I trust as many of you as possible will attend. Once again this branch has been invited to participate in the City of Manchester Remembrance Day Service on Sunday. 10th November, and 1 would like to hear quickly from anyone who wishes to take part so that I can make all the ncccsssary arangemcnts.

JOHN LOWE

CANADIAN BRANCH WHAT joy it was to visit the United Kingdom again last April and attend our AGM which proved to be a great success. Speeches from Ian Anderson and Mrs Sue Rabbitt Roff filled us with greater hope for our future success in our strife for truth and justice.

The Sunday following the AGM our march through the streets of Blackpool brought tears to the eyes of many of our wives and the people on the side­ walk clapping their hands made me and many others feel so proud to be a British nuclear test veteran. I get a good feeling about the work and effort on our behalf of our Executive Committee, but feel sad at the news of the intended retirement of Peter Fletcher at the next AGM. I for one Peter will miss you. To all our British veterans here in Canada I ardently urge you to make an effort to make it to the next AGM in Blackpool, Lancashire, which I understand is on Saturday April 26th 1997. Let me assure you that we have many friends there waiting and willing to greet you.

KEN LEYLAND

LONDON BRANCH WE are pleased to say that the BNTVA has now been recognised in the Garden of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey and we shall shortly be having our own plot opened by Her Majesty, the Queen Mother. This takes place on November 7 so if any veterans would like to attend please contact me so that refreshments can be arranged.

The rush of documents released by the Public Record OfTicc has slowed to a trickle. No new post-Grapple files have been released and there is still too much information missing from the public domain.

The recent controversy over a nuclear weapons accident at Grccnham Common has led to files on this being released but nothing relating to UK nuclear accidents.

The latest files to be opened, which we are currently reviewing, are AWRE files, but these add little to existing knowledge so far. We will keep you posted.

Wc have one meeting to announce this month and that is on Saturday 12th October (1pm) at the Royal Engineers Museum, Brompton Barracks, Chatham Dockyard. Again please could you let me know if you hope to attend.

KEN TAYLOR

Send us your stories If you have any articles of news or photographs for Inclusion in future issues of the BNTVA maga­ zine, then please sedn them to: Peter Fletcher, ‘Monte Bello’, 134 Clipsley Lane, Haydock, St.Helens Tel: 01744-29636 WA11 OUB

How you can get hold of medical records FOR those of you who have not yet applied for their service medical records, here is the procedure.

Give your doctor written permis­ sion to apply for them giving him your Service Number. He/She must then send them off to the following addresses: ROYAL NAVY: Civil Adviser to Medical DirectorGeneral (Navy), MoD, First Avenue House, High Holborn, London WC1V 6HE ARMY: Army Medical Services 5, MoD, First Avenue House, High Holborn, London WC1V 6HE RAF: Director General of Medical Services MoD, First Avenue House, High Holborn, London WC1V 6HE Once your doctor has received them, you are entitled to see them and take photo-copies of you wish.

When you do read them, check them thoroughly as you may find that they do not tally with what you know took part in your medical his­ tory.

Sheila Gray (Mrs) Secretary

Chairmans Report

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ANY of you will know by now that Peter Fletcher, our ViceChairman, will stand down at our next Annual General Meeting owing to failing health.

I would just like to say that Peter and I go back a long way, well almost to the formation of the B.N.T.V.A., and along with the late Frank Gray we were a strong force and formed a strong friendship. We will miss Peter as he is a peacemaker and a tower of strength.

□ Last year when the US Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments, set up by President Clinton and staffed by 14 of America’s leading experts on radiation and health, looked into the N.R.P.B.’s studies it found the levels of leukemia among the Test veterans were not adequately explained: “It is an indication of some methodological bias? it challenged.” This point has never been resolved and these damning remarks flung into doubt the veracity of the N.R.P.B. findings.

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□ May I take this opportunity to welcome all the many members of the HMS Cavalier who recently joined us. □ I am in constant touch with Ian Anderson, our lawyer in New York, and in writing this report as of September 10th, we are all still awaiting a decision from Strasbourg. It is now my belief that the War pensions Agency has a sort of “secret agenda” in the War pensions awards.

Possibly they are stalling decisions until Strasbourg makes an announcement in which case I am afraid we will just have to wait for this long awaited outcome.

KEN McGINLEY

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SPECIAL o:

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The Handy Cup Dispenser pictured on the right usually sells for £8.99p, but the BIST\'A has come up with a special deal that not only saves our members money; but raises funds for the Association too.

The manufacturers are offering the dispenser for sale at£5.99p, including postage and packing, to BNTVA members and for every one sold they will donate £2 to our funds. That’s a great offer.

So if you want to purchase one of these handy items, then send your order to:

Len Anderson. 71 Gloucester Road, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 2UQ. Please make all cheques payable to A D Baker.

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Island of meftbaries r

ANDREW BLOSSE - EX-L.CPL AWRE TROOP, R.E., MALDEN ISLAND 1957, continues his Malden Island memories.

URTHER to my Malden Island feature in the Christmas issue of the mag­ azine, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who kindly contacted me in recent weeks.

The “forgotten" Malden Island contingent (Operation Grapple

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Members off A.W.R.E. Troop, Royal Engineers, including Spr.Jim McBride (2nd left) and Spr.Temple (extreme right) 1957, quench their thirsts in the Malden Island Beer garden.

1956*57) included Jim McBride and Ernie Jones (Royal Engineers), Ken Moses (R.E.M.E.), Paul Coldwell (RN HMS Messina) and not forgetting the RASC Corporal from the DUKW Section.

It was great to chat about our Malden island “experiences" in the Forward Area during the first three H-Bomb tests in May 1957.

On the lighter side, it was recalled that two of the Malden Island environmental "casual­ ties" of the first H blast were the only tree and the solitary, muchfabled wild pig - no name given!

Also vivid memories of course when witnessing the three HBomb blasts whilst at sea on HM ships together with the Russian “spy" submarine “scare" with actual guard duty risks.

Other recollections of the 'Malden Island Beer Garden', high scoring football matches, bed bugs, the pioneer mining family traces and the much blessed open cinema came readily to mind. My thanks once again, please continue to keep in touch through our BNTVA contacts and events.

BNTVA BOOK REVIEW BNTVA BOOK REVIEW BNTVA BOOK REVIEW The Swords of Armageddon: US Nuclear Weapons Development 1945. Author: Chuck Hansen Produced bv: Chucklca Publications on CD Rom 5300 and Microfiche SI94 (Orders bv Phone on 001-408-286-8034) *

Dark Sun: The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb. Author: Richard Rhodes. Published by: Simon and Schuster. Price £20 Hardback £9.99 Paperback Stalin ami the Bomb: The Soviet Union & Atomic Energy, 1939-1956. Author: David Holloway. Published by Vale University Press. Price - £19.95 Hardback or £9.99 Paperback STAUIS AISD THE BOMB THE Atomic Bomb may have been the final act in World War Two but it was just the beginning of the Cold War. The bomb­ ings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki opened the world’s eyes to the potential of this new weapon. Very soon more and more devastating weapons were being developed.

The race for the Hydrogen Bomb is the race for power after the war and no-body wanted to be left behind. It is a tale of espionage, science, political willpower and the race for power.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall - Now it Can Be Told.

Holloway explains why the Russians did not develop the bomb during the war. He then shows how once Stalin wanted the bomb he got it. Though the spies were in place during the war it was only after the war that work to build the bomb really got started.

DARK SlJfS While the Russians were left behind, the Americans were determined to push ahead with the development of the bomb.

Rhodes history is a sequel to his excellent "The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb" (Penguin 1987). It tells of the decision to build the H-Bomb, the mistakes made and who was responsible for its development.

It shows how Ulam improved Tellers idea in order to make it work and this wonderful book builds on the earlier work by showing how the Atom Bomb was developed and how it near­ ly came to be used in Korea.

This book also deals with the Russian espionage and the cases of Klaus Fuchs and the Rosenbergs.

Tiff? SWORDS OF ARmCiFDDOfS Hansen’s CD Rom is another sequel building on a book "US Nuclear Weapons: A Secret History" and expanding on it greatly. This details all US nuclear weapons, their develop­ ment and their history. It is full of colour pictures, and detailed test information. A very important guide for those who are technically minded.

Please send us your stories If you have any articles of news or photographs for Inclusion In future Issues of the BNTVA magazine, then please sedn them to: Peter Fletcher, ‘Monte Bello', 134 Cllpsley Lane, Haydock, St.Helens WA11 0UB Tel: 01744-29636

i MOTDCE N urgent appeal comes from Mrs Joyce Northey who wants to try and track down anyone who knew her late husband Joe. Mrs Northey, who can be reached at 59 Carter Lane, Mansfield, Notts NG18 3DQ, wants to hear from anyone who served on Monte Bello 1956 and at Maralinga on the Buffalo Tests and might have known Joe. He returned to the United Kingdom on the SS Strathnaver leaving Adelaide on November 5, 1956, and docking at Southampton on the 8th December that year.

Joe was one of the men who discovered a fami­ ly of Aborigines living in the car In the carter of one of the bombs. At her tribunal Joyce was asked to prove that Joe really was at Maralinga and to produce witnesses.

Did you know Joe? Were you with him at Maralinga? Do you recognise him from the pho­ tograph opposite that was taken in Australia?

Joyce, on the advice of her R.A.F.A. represen­ tative, had her case adjourned to enable her to seek witnesses.

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HE photograph on the right shows several lads enjoying themselves and really getting into the Christmas spirit.

Well, then picture came from Mrs Betty Blower and it shows three Christmas Island veterans enjoying a Christmas day fancy dress. One of the men in the picture is her late husband Geoff, who was a Chief Petty Officer, shore-based on Christmas Island.

Geoff, who sadly passed away in 1978, is the one in the centre carrying the witch. Do you know who the witch is? And do you know the Viking warrior?

If you can help please drop a line to Peter Fletcher, 'Monte Bello', 134 Clipsley Lane, Haydock, St.Helens WA11 OUB.

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T now seems a very long time since we were advised by the B.N.T.V.A. through the columns of our magazine that If we felt we had grounds for a War pension then we should apply and all applications would be presented in bulk to Norcross.

I did and much to my surprise was awarded a 25% Disability Pension. That was later increased to 30% and now is being increased to 40%.

Thank you for the sound advice.

I am mainly confined to a wheelchair or invalid car and find it difficult to get around to attend meetings so I look forward to receiving my copy of the magazine. Many thanks Peter!

Incidentally, I served on Christmas Island Port Area 1958-59 in the fire.tank or supply depot sections. I was an RAF Corporal then and would like to hear from anyone who served with me at that time. Replies to: Gimsh Roy Jones, 20 Grangefield Avenue, Rosslngton, Doncaster, South Yorks DN11 OLS. Tel: 01302-868291.

ABOVE: The late Joe Northey. His wife is trying to get proof that he served at Maralinga. See story on the left if you can help her.

BELOW: A Christmas Day fancy dress. But do you recognise Geoff Blower and do you know the witch and the Viking? See story on the left.

fMOTPCE BOARD EORGE Parker, ex-HMS Campania Monte Bello 1952, did a tour of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom earlier this year and found time to attend our 1996 Annual General Meeting In Blackpool.

George has written to thank everyone in Canada and the United Kingdom for the hospital­ ity they showed him and hopes to see you all again sometime in the future.

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N the right you will see two photographs that are likely to bring back many memories, happy and sad, for a lot of our members.

The pictures, which were all submitted by Walter Grinrod of Fleetwood, Lancashire, show the Desalination Plant at Christmas Island in 1956 and some of the men in the Sergeants Mess RAF Christmas Island.

Walter is seated in the right hand corner, but do you recognise any of the other men in the photo­ graph. If you do why not give Walter a call on 01253-873571.

Better still, why not drop Peter Fletcher a line so that we can include your story in the next issue of the magazine.

ABOVE: The Desalination plant at Christmas Island BELOW: Some of the men who served at the plant

R Roger Packer of 6 Byrhenlog Terrace, AbertiMary, Gwent NP3 2HG, writes to tell us that he has purchased an ex-Military lorry which he is restoring for rallies and shows.

It is one of the three lorries used by the Ministry of Defence to carry radar apparatus in Australia in the 1950’s and later in Switzerland for research and survey purposes.

The lorry is a Leyland Hippo (1954) and the reg­ istration is RGX 300.

Roger asks if any of our members recall this truck or any trucks used in the Tests and if so would they please contact him to enable him to compile their history.

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ICHARD Smith, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, noted the following article in the New Christmas Herald which he thought we might find interesting.

"SOUTH PACIFIC: The Protestant Church of French Polynesia and three non-Governmental agencies have accepted a grant of £35,000 from the World Council of Churches to study the effects of 30 years of French nuclear testing at Mururoa and Pangataufa. The local population contests the official French view that testing has provided no risk to its people or to the environment.

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OEL Hendy, branch representative of Devon and Cornwall, seeks a copy of the Mid Pacific News when it covered the visit of Prince Philip to Christmas Island in the Spring of 1959. If you can help please ring Noel on 01209-214814.

SEND US YOUR STORIES Please keep sending in your news items and any old photographs as we are always looking for arti­ cles to fill our magazine. All copy should be sent to: Peter Fletcher, “Monte Bello“, 134 Clipsley Lane, Haydock, St. Helens WA11 OUB.

British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association (1992) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Ken McGinley 12 Walpole Place Johnston Renfrewshire PAS ORE Tel: 01505-704936 VICE-CHAIRMAN: Peter Fletcher “Monte Bello” 134 Clipsley Lane Hay dock St.Helens WA11 0UB Tel: 01744-29636 SECRETARY: Sheila Gray (Mrs) 11 Grosinont Drive Billingtiam Cleveland TS23 2EP Tel: 01642-559903

TREASURER: Bill Kittsen 28 Wcstovcr Green Bramley, Leeds LS13 3SO Tel: 0113-2361123

Mike Reid 70 Rochdale Road Redhousc Estate Sunderland SR5 5QQ Tel: 0191-549-7620

SOLICITOR: Mark Mildred 67 Sisters Avenue London SW11 5SW TEL: 0171-228-1321

Mike Doyle 14 Exeter Gardens Stamford, Lines PE9 2RN Tel: 01780-65622

M EM BERSHIP SECR ETA R Y

Ken Taylor 56 Eastbourne Road Stratford, London El5 Tel: 0181-555-2644

Chris Rowlands 14 Monksdown Road Liverpool LI 1 1HH 0151-2566688 Bobbie Brewster (Mrs) 61 Cedar Road, Hythc Southampton S04 6PS Tel: 01703-844489

CHAPLAIN: Rev.Nicholas Frayling Rector of Liverpool Liverpool Parish Church Old Church Yard, Liverpool

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BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES Mike Reid (N E England) 70 Rochdale Road, Redhousc Estate, Sunderland SR5 5QQ Tel: 0191-549-7620

Noel Hendy (Devon & Cornwall) 2 Bowdens Row West End, Redruth Cornwall TR15 2TS Tel: 01209-214814

Ken Leyland (Canada) 8840 Douglas Street, Box 2121, Port Hardy, BC Canada, Von-2PO

John Lowe (Manchester) 45 Sheldrake Road, Broadhcath, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 51J TEL: 0161-941-2164

Peter and Gron Williams (South Wales), 27 Heol Myrddin, Ffairfach, Llandcilo SA19 6PD Tel: 01558-822141

Pat Hurley (Milton Keynes) 24 Caxton Road, Old Wolvcrton, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK12 50PG Tel: 01908-313024

Peter Bullen (North and Mid Wales) Pcnlan Mill Cottage, Llandcgai, Bangor, Gwynnd LLS7 4LG Tel: 01248-352708 Tom Kitching (Humberside) 5 Ellerby Grove, Preston Road, Hull HU9 3PR Tel: 01482-793082 Chris Rowland (Liverpool) 14 Monksdown Road Liverpool Lll 1HH Tel: 0151-2566688 Archie Ross (West Mids) 230 Burton Road, Woodvillc, Nr Burton-on-Trcnt Staffs DEII 7JR Tel: 01283-222113

Dave Riley (Portsmouth) 190 Locksway Road, Milton, Portsmouth P04 8LE Tel: 01705-735669 Ken Taylor (London) 56 Eastbourne Road, Stratford, London El5 Tel: 0181-555-2644 John Cole (Sth Cheshire/North Staffs) 5 Byron Close, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 5JT Tel: 01270-589980 Derek Heaps (East Midlands) 4 Bakewell Drive, Castle Donnington Derby DE7 2NF Tel: 01332-811429 Paul Rowles (Kent) 4 Huntsmans Close, Rochester, Kent ME1 2RD Tel: 01634-828827

A M Loudon (Scotland) 18 McLelland Drive, Kilmarnock, Scotland KA1 1SE Tel: 01563-43731 Jim Crossan (Australia) 86 Waygara Avenue, Green Valley New South Wales 2168, Australia Andrew' Blosse (Sussex) 136 Timber Mill Southwater, Horsham West Sussex RH13 7SR Tel: 01403-732218 George Robertson (West Yorks) 64 Deighton Lane Healy, Batlcy, Wakefield, West Yorks WF17 7EU Tel: 01924-478301

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IT’S DANCING DAY FOR THE MINISTRY

BY BOBBY BREWSTER

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have learnt a great deal my friends. The Government has been challenged and, for the first time, it

was by a lady, someone who must be a gutsy

person.

She says she doesn’t stand too near the plat­ form at a railway station - and also takes pre­

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BRITISH servicemen were used as Guinea pigs in secret radiation trials at Porton Down in the 1960’s. At the time of the experiments, Porton Down was collaborating with the Home Office on radiological defence problems.

Purpose of the experiments was to find out how easy it would be to remove contamination from clothes...

Michael Portillo, the Defence Minister, says, or rather insisted, that none of the servicemen involved had been placed at risk.

Volunteers had radioactive liquid poured on to bare arms, but Portillo says the possible percutaneous doses (through the skin) were so small that the hazard from these studies was deemed to be virtually non existent.

In truth, they were not monitored. They were paid extra money, but were not told of the risk.

One doctor says if they took the science of these experi­ ments seriously, they would want to seek the truth about their causes rather than covering up.

BOBBIE BREWSTER

News in Brief /*"\NE of our members, Keith Wallington, has offered to give any v-y member free advice on taking out life insurance, he has been in financial services for the past thirty years and feels he is in a position to help where it is wanted. You can contact him at IM Rothen 3.

29320 Hormannsburg, Germany.

IF anyone is interested in purchasing Association plaques, I there are two available - BNTVA and Grapple. These are avail­ able from Sid Hardwick, Royal Standard, 20 Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth P01 1DE. They cost £6.00 each and the price includes post and packing. pvO you have an interesting story for inclusion in future issues of L/the B.N.T.V.A. magazine, then why not let us know about it.

We are also interested in any advertisers out there who would be willing to support future publications and we can guarantee that our rates are extremely competitive.

If you want to help then please write to Peter Fletcher at ‘Monte Bello1, 134 Clipsley Lane, Haydock, St.Helens WA11 OUB.

cautions.

For the first time in Westminster it has been suggested by the Countess of Mar that the Government is misusing the veil of National Security.

Does the strict application of the Official Secrets Act take precedence over the disclo­ sure of information which could assist in the diagnosis of health problems.

She is of course involved with the Gulf War veterans and has asked more than 80 ques­ tions about Gulf War illness and remains deeply dissatisfied with the answers she has received.

She raised the question on May 15, but it was not reported. This time on June 11th it was dancing time for the Government spokesman Earl Howe.

He faced the staggering accusation that up to 10,000 medical incidents from the Gulf war had been removed, lost or corrupted from the Ministry of Defence computers. We have heard this one before have we not?

So it seems the Ministry of Defence can no longer afford to keep the veterans records.

What a load of old codswallop.

I have read just recently that there is con­ siderable interest in the database at the N.R.P.B. Seventy two megabytes can be stored on a zip disc of the sort owned by thousands of PC users and costing about £12 or could be stored about 30 times over on a typical Dat Data Tape used for computer back-up and costing around £5.

While I am on the subject of the N.R.P.B., I have just read an article on electromagnetic fields which says the National radiological Protection Board is a body, largely funded by the Department of Health.

Hang on a minute or have I been dreaming for the past ten years or so. Were we not told that the N.R.P.B. were independent?

Vice-Chairmans report

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UR 1996 Annual General Meeting was an enormous success with our biggest attendance to date at the meeting, the social get together in the evening and our church service and parade with old friends at the Salvation Army. At the latter extra chairs wore brought in to cater for the extra congregation and the weather was fine when we marched through the Town Centre to the applause of locals and holidaymakers lining the streets. At the AGM it was proposed our subscriptions be increased from £5 to £10 and many people left under the impression that the proposal had been accepted. Our constitution states that ALL proposals should be in the hands of the Association Secretary 14 days prior to the AGM and that a proposer and seconder are required is required with each proposal. This was not done therefore our subscriptions remain at £5 a year. However, anyone wishing to donate more can do so. Perhaps the issue can be raised again at our 1997 AGM. but please remember proposals and seconders must be in the hands of our Secretary 14 days prior to the date of the AGM. Should anyone care to comment on this subject or any subject concerning BNTVA may I suggest you write your views briefly and we will endeavour to print them in our next issue - in fact your views on anything concerning our elite Association will be most welcome.

Those of you who attended the 1996 AGM will know that our April magazine was the last of six issues which J Walter Thompson & Company of London kindly donated. Again, many thanks to them and our own Don James who is employed by them. Ken Taylor, Don James and myself sought a new sponsor without success. However, our prayers were answered when Peter Wylde and his HELP Lottery organisation yet again came to our rescue by promising to do two issues for us. This issue is the first and we have decided to hold back on the second until April next year to enable us to issue notice of the 1997 AGM. Rest assured we will endeavour to have a Christmas newsletter even if it is 'Home made'. Peter and HELP lottery have, from day one. supplied us with envelopes and, as I have said before, "many, many thanks". What would we do without them?

Whilst on the subject of the AGM, many of you are aware that almost as one finishes work begins on preparing the next. This year is no different. I have approached our good friends at Blackpool Borough Council Tourist department via Mrs Margaret Roffey, their Conference Officer, seeking their help and hospitality in providing accommodation for our meeting and social evening. Margaret is to seek Committee approval and if this is forthcoming Blackpool Council will fund the cost of room hire charges as they have done in year's past The date I have requested s Saturday April 26th, 1997. So make a note of it in your diary. Sunday 27th April is already earmarked in the Blackpool Salvation Army diary to welcome us to their All Denominations service and march into town with the SA band Other more immediate dates: October 3, 1952, was a day history was made when Great Britain successfully detonated its first atom bomb thus becoming a nuclear

Legion/m?

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A national advice and informa­ tion helpline for the serving and ex-Servlce community ___

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For the cost of a local phone call you can receive authorita­ tive information on: □ Pcnsions/War Pensions □ Benefits □ Residential Care □ Benevolence □ Convalescence

□ Resettlement Trraining and Support □ Employment □ London Taxi Driver Scholarship Scheme □ Support and Rehabilitation for those with Disabilities □ Small Business Advice and Loans

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powor along with the US and Russia. Wo have tried long and hard to have this date recognised as Nuclear test Veterans Day, but without success. However this does not stop us remembering that date. Go to your nearest test veterans Memorial Stone, lay flowers, hold your own prayer service and notify the media. Our stones are in Liverpool, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Leicester, Paisley and Risca.

Now on October 3, 1996, we will have a Memorial Stone unveiled in Manchester. Our Manchester representative John Lowe approached Manchester City Council for financial holp and they obliged subject to any finances being put to use in Manchester. John then asked me to got a Memorial Stone and this I did by contacting our friends at the Co-operative Funeral Services. Mr Steve Kane of their Liverpool branch approached his directors and our request was approved so on October 3 this stone will be unveiled by the Right Worshipful Lord Mayor of the City of Manchester and the service will be conducted by our Chaplain, the Rev.Canon Nicholas Frayling. The venue is The Peace Garden. Mosley Street, Manchester at 11am, followed by a reception in Manchester Town Hall. I intend to try and get the media to cover the event. John has worked hard on this so please try to support him and our Association. For further details please ring John on 0161941-2164.

Risca. North Wales: Our stone there was removed from its site on the Cenotaph wall earlier this year and put on the wall at the rear of the Cenotaph. A re-dedication service was conducted by the Rev.Richard Pain and a parade/march followed attended by some 100 plus exServicemen. Alas, we (Peter and Gron Williams and myself) were only notified of this seven days earlier which resulted in only six of our members attending and those included Bob Parkinson and myself who travelled down from Lancashire to South Wales with our N.W.Standard Sunday October 6 a similar parade is being held by the South Wales branch of the Veterans Comrades Association to mark the anniver­ sary of the first bomb The Rev Richard Pain will again conduct the service which takes place at 10am at St Mary 's Church, Risca. A short service at the Cenotaph and our memorial Stone will be followed by a march to the social club and a reception. South Wales members please endeavour to attend. Full details from Peter and Gron Williams on 01558-822141 or Ossie Thomas (Risca RBL secretary) on 01633-892795 Thursday, November 7 - London, Field of Remembrance 1996. We now have a BNTVA plot in the Field of Remembrance thanks to Chris Rowlands, Ken Taylor, Derek Heaps and Mavis Gardner We are invited to attend and asked to be in position by 11am. The Field will be opened at 11 30am by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Following the opening and service Ken has arranged a buffet for us at “our local when in London" - the Elephant and Castle pub. Full details from ken on 0181-555-2644.

Sunday November 10 Cenotaph Parade. Remembrance Sunday. Columns to assemble by 10.00am. I have requested 100 tickets and those wishing to attend please write to me with S A E stating the number of tickets required. Can I distribute 100 tickets this year and have 100 BNTVA members attending? Once again Ken Taylor and Don James with mine host at The Elephant and Castle will welcome us to a buffet following the parade. Don't forget, if you can't attend in London you can attend your local Remembrance Parades and lay your wreaths on behalf of the BNTVA For the London Cenotaph parade, if you require a wheelchair contact Ken Taylor (0181-55-2644) and for those who have not attended before, it is a long morning and a long march and you are on your feet for some two and a half hours. □ ADVISORS We welcome with open arms and hearts Mrs Sue Rabbit Roff to our midst. Many of you met Sue at Blackpool and following Ken's visit to Dundee Medical School to address first year students, he invited Sue to consider becoming an advisor to our Association.

She accepted immediately saying she would be delighted. Thank you Sue and welcome. □ NEW ZEALAND, I have written and faxed the Fiji newspapers for assistance, but no response date. The USA and Great Britain knew in 1945 about the hazards of radiation. They knew they were sending us into hazardous zones and situations, but our Government continue to refuse or recognise responsibility Surely the onus of this responsibility to our own veterans and those in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji, rests on the shoulders of current Governments. It is a problem they have inherited and they must act accordingly and award pensions and compensation where they are due (compensation concerning our children/grand-children). At the United Nations recently I understand that the 44 countries involved, with the exception of India and Pakistan, voted to ban all nuclear weapon testing. The ban cannot become law unless all 100% of the countries involved agree to it Since 1945 a total of 2,045 test have been carried out. The whole world now knows the dangers and effects of radiation so if it is not dangerous why ban the tests? It is dangerous so come on Ministers of the country show some compassion, show some heart and show some gratitude to veterans. It is 1996 - we now have experts on the effects of radia­ tion, listen to them, speak to them. □ EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS - STRASBOURG At the time of writing we still await news of our three cases presented to Strasbourg Things in general are still very quiet throughout the Association, but I am very adamant in my views about seeking monetary awards via Strasbourg I made it clear in my report in last April’s newsletter and in the same issue our chairman, Ken McGinley, expressed his disappointment at the many MP's and Members of the House of Lords who have lost interest and totally disregard much of our corre^fcpondence. The reason I feel is clear - again read my April issue - we stood up in the Houses of Parliament and within the House of Lords ^^and told them: "All we seek is justice and pensions - we do not seek awards of millions of pounds." They, it seems, now believe differently, hence perhaps their silence and reluctance to reply to our letters and our queries. □ ON June 11 this year I wrote a letter to Ken our Chairman, all Committee and all Branch representatives. Part of it read as follows: “Following weeks of deep, deep thinking and deliberation I have come to the decision that I will be resigning from our Executive Committee at our 1997 Annual General Meeting. My health is fast failing and I currently find it so frustrating at our inability to campaign for justice due to the three cases going before the European COurts. Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords who supported us are losing sight of us. Likewise then media and the public in general are losing sight of us because of this. I do, however, promise to do my duties and work just as hard for and on behalf of us all until that time." □ FAX MACHINES: With high hopes of a decision from Strasbourg. Ken felt fax machines would be advantageous and suggested our Secretary Sheila, myself and he should have them at our disposal. I feel my work and efforts do not warrant such a machine so I declined.

However Ken felt he and Sheila should hold one as they are both busy with overseas correspondence. The numbers for your interest are Ken - 01505-704936 and Sheila - 01642-559903. □ PLAQUES: BNTVA Plaques and Grapple Plaques are available from Sid Hardwick, ex-HMS Narvik, now has can supply the plaques for £6 each including post and packing. George Robertson, West Yorkshire, has BNTVA BNTVA and Grapple drinking mugs and sweatshirts. Bill Kittsen our Treasurer has BNTVA and Grapple ties and □ WE will do our utmost to get a Christmas/New Year newsletter out to you. Failing that your next one will arrive Please, please, if you change your address don't forget to let us know. Best wishes to one and all.

the moulds for these and tea towels and both BNTVA blazer badges. late March or early April.

PETER FLETCHER

Something to get your teeth into

M

Y father, Chris Rowlands, is a nuclear veteran. I have experi­ enced various dental problems and I would be interested in hearing from others with similar conditions.

I have advised my own dentist of my father’s involvement in nuclear testing and she would be interested herself in any information we can give her.

When I was about 13 years old, I had to have an operation to remove ‘baby’ teeth

that were located in various parts of my gums. It was also observed that the roots of my teeth were shrinking.

At 28 I had to have impacted wisdom teeth removed. More recently at a dental check-up, my dentist expressed amaze­ ment at the x-rays.

My roots have continued to shrink to the point where my teeth should be drop­ ping out, but this is not the case.

Both the hospital who performed the

operation and my dentist have both stat­ ed that they have not encountered any­ one with similar root-shrinking prob­ lems. My teeth are all firmly In place and I do not experience any discomfort or pain. If any other children of veterans have experienced anything similar to this phenomenon, please contact me c/o my father Chris at 14 Monksdown Road, Liverpool L11 1HH or telephone 01 SI2566688.

US hands out $22m to Marshall IsE

BY PETER FLETCHER

T

HE United States Government paid out more than $22m in compensation

to 572 Marshall Islanders as a result of claims for admitted can­ cers.

The figures, which we have reproduced below, show that there were a total of 676 claims involved, but many of these had more than one admitted condition.

On the right are a list of the claims that were awarded compen­ sation.

As I have stated long and often in the past, are US bomb tests and their effects any different from British bomb tests?

Why cannot our Government show some gratitude and compas­ sion to our veterans, to the Christmas Islanders and to our Fijian counterparts?

If they did then surely the Australian and New Zealand Governments would follow suit and compensate their veterans.

TYPE OF CANCER

No. of CLAIMS

PAYOUT

Acute Radiation Sickness Benigh Salivary Gland Tumour (with surgery) Benigh Salivary Gland Tumour (no surgery Beta Radiation Burns Breast Cancer Lumpectomy Breast Cancer Masectomy Breast Cancer • end stage/death Cancer of the Colon Cancer of the Colon (cause of death) Cancer of the Liver Cancer of the Ovary Cancer of the Pancreas Cancer of the Pharynx Cancer of the Pharynx (end stage/death) Cancer of the Stomach Cancer of the Bladder Hypothroidism Leukemia Lymphoma Lymphoma (end stage/death) Malignant Salivary Gland Tumour Meningioma Meningioma end stage Multiple Myeloma Severe Growth Retardation Thyroid Cancer Thyroid Cancer - multi surgeries Thyoid Nodule p/thyroidectomy Thyoid Nodule t/thyroidectomy Thyoid Nodule (no surgery)

64 12 3 61 5 14 14 2 1 3 11 5 4 8 4 2 13 7 7 6 2 3 1 1 2 37 15 136 8 225

US $800,000 US$450,000 US$37,500 US $762,500 US $375,000 US$1,400,000 US$1,750,000 US$150,000 US$125,000 US $375,000 US $1,375,000 US $625,000 US$400,000 US$1,000,000 US $500,000 US $150,000 US $487,500 US$875,000 US $700,000 US $750,000 US$100,000 US. $100,000 US$125,000 US$125,000 US $200,000 US$1,850,000 US$1,125,000 US $5,100,000 US $400,000 US $2,812,000

Make a note of these diary dates OCTOBER 3: The 44th Anniversary of first bomb test. "Operation Hurricane“ described as Britain’s “dirtiest bomb." Remembrance Service and dedication of Memorial Stone in the Peace garden, Mosley Street.

Manchester (11am).

OCTOBER 6: South Wales - Remembrance Service in St Marys Church. Risca, followed

by march and re-dedication of Memorial Stone at The Cenotaph, Risca. Service 10am. March and Rededication 11am.

NOVEMBER 7: Opening of the Field of Remembrance 1996 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at 11.30am.

We now have out own Memorial plot.

Remembrance Sunday at The Cenotaph, Whitehall. Tickets will be available from Peter Fletcher for those wishing to attend.

On all four services we have arranged refreshments following the event.

APRIL 26: AGM Blackpool APRIL 27: Church Service and Parade,

NOVEMBER 10: Cenotaph Parade -

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