Reader's Stories
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BNTVA SUMMER 2020 TM Reader’s Stories Tales from the Membership • Details of new fast track war pension claims for British nuclear test veterans. • New welfare services and friendship groups. • Introducing the BNTVA Collection. IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO DID NOT MAKE IT THIS FAR AND IN SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO HAVE Bob Ireland, 1938-2020 At the time of going to press we have been informed of the sudden death of Robert (Bob) Ireland from a heart attack. As many of you will know, Bob served in the Merchant Navy, witnessed Grapple X and Y and was a member of the Merchant Navy Association in Liverpool. Bob was the first person to be given an NCCF honorary lifetime membership. Bob was the BNTVA Organisation families by becoming a Trustee of Bob's passing is a loss to his three Manager and later took the position the NCCF. Bob was the first person daughters, Janet, Diane and Angela, of Secretary. He was a great asset to be given an NCCF honorary the NCCF, the BNTVA and the cause to the Association, and in 2018 lifetime membership. of the British nuclear test veterans. retired from the BNTVA as a Members relate how Bob was such trustee. He continued working for More information will follow from an approachable and friendly man. the benefit and wellbeing of British the NCCF concerning details of nuclear test veterans and their Bob’s funeral arrangements. BNTVA CONTENTS 1 Contents Obituary Page 12 Page 22 Bob Ireland, 1938-2020 Military Service BNTVA Board of Trustees Michael John Parker 23503178 Bob was the BNTVA Organisation Sapper (7th May 1941- 26th May Manager and later took the Page 25 2006). Transcript of notes position of Secretary. He was a BNTVA Competition shared with us by his daughter. great asset to the Association, Are you or a member of the British and in 2018 retired from the Nuclear Survivor Community you BNTVA as a trustee. Page 14 know in need of an electric Operation Dominic wheelchair? A story from Kenneth Bainger Page 2 MBE. A Message from the Chair Page 26 from Ceri McDade. DNA Genetic Testing Kits Page 16 A new leaflet from Brunel Centre The Over the Fence Exhibition for Health Effects of Radiological Page 3 and the BNTVA Collection and Chemical Agents (CHRC) Remembrance and Reconciliation A report from new BNVTA Advisory Board. from the Very Rev. Nicholas Curator Wesley Perriman. Frayling KStJ. BNTVA Chaplain. Page 27 Page 17 Puzzle Page Page 4 Operation Hurricane 1952 Introducing Project Reunite A few items from the BNTVA The BNTVA has recently secured collection from Operation Page 28 funding from the Armed Forces Hurricane by Wesley Perriman. Ways to pay your annual BNTVA Covenant Fund Trust COVID Fund membership subscription to connect veterans, wives and widows as part of Project Reunite. Page 18 Page 30 Crossing The Line by Wesley Perriman. Contact page Page 7 Academia and Research News Including articles on: Page 19 Non-medical Letters of Support. BNVTA Events We want to hear Including: Book Award: Disarming Doomsday. from you... Participants Needed for Research. National Atomic Veterans If you would like us to interview Awareness Day plus others... you about your time spent at the Page 8 British nuclear tests, or if you'd like Page 21 Operation Mosaic 1956 to share any stories in our next BNVTA Appeal A story from Andi Jones. magazine. Brian Cole, Christmas Island Veteran, 1957, is looking for Please email [email protected], Page 10 attendees of the first meeting phone 0208 144 3080 or write to My Time On The Island of British nuclear test veterans BNTVA, The Smithy, Defynnog, A story from by Jack Hassan. at the Central Hotel. Brecon, Powys LD3 8SB. 2 campaign Summer 2020 A Message from the Chair Dear Member, Welcome to the Summer edition and a Medal Campaign Update. After adjusting for six months into a The BNTVA has responded to these fallout, or tales of everyday life new way of life, where the whole issues by securing a major grant – in fact, anything you would like to world engaged a new invisible from the Armed Forces Covenant share. enemy in the form of the coronavirus, Fund Trust to connect veterans in 2020 has also seen both VE and VJ it seems life won’t return to a our shortly-to-be-unveiled website, celebrations as we remember the normal routine anytime soon. and address emotional and mental end of the Second World War, and Despite an easing of lockdown in health issues through additional the advent of nuclear weapons by the four UK nations, many people services. Veterans have made it the Americans at Hiroshima on have suffered a very difficult time very clear that they have differing August 6, 1945. It feels both strange after losing family and friends, the preferred methods of communication, and unfair that 75 years on from the inability to visit loved ones in and we have listened. We are looking destruction of this first uranium hospital, restrictions on funeral to embed zoom conferencing on the bomb, the British nuclear test attendances, lack of physical website for virtual meet ups, and veterans who have been exposed to contact, difficulties with shopping, separate chat rooms for veterans, ionising radiation at the hand of the a halt to outpatients’ appointments wives, widows and descendants. and surgical procedures, delays in MOD, still haven’t achieved tangible For those who prefer chatting over diagnosis and health management. recognition from the British the phone, we are introducing The coronavirus has affected government. Chloe Smith MP, Telephone Friendship Groups for up everyone, but has had a devastating wrote to our patron Sir John Hayes to six people at a time for a weekly effect on vulnerable people in MP in June, stating that the hour-long chat. society, including older people, BNTVA's claim for medallic those living alone, people with We have been contacted by dozens recognition has been passed to the immunity issues, and those of veterans, who, due to staying at Advisory Military Sub-Committee. We await the outcome of their next suffering from acute and chronic home as a result of COVID-19, have meeting, yet are currently unaware health conditions. been searching out photos, and when the meeting will take place.. relaying accounts of time spent at Our British nuclear test veterans often straddle one or more of these the British nuclear tests. Part of the Ceri McDade groups due to age and disability, and, grant funding we have been UniDip (Theol.) PGCert (M.H.Psych) after speaking with many veterans, awarded will be used to digitise PGDip. (Soc.Res.) wives, widows and descendants on photographs, as well as collate oral BNTVA Chair the phone over the past weeks, the stories of time spent at the tests. message of suffering from social All stories are important to this isolation and loneliness comes collection, whether recounting through time and time again. witnessing the bomb, cleaning up BNTVA REPORTS 3 Remembrance and Reconciliation I was speaking on the ’phone to one of our Veteran members the other day and asked how he was coping with ‘lockdown’. Like many of you, he is classified as especially vulnerable. His reply has given me much to think about: ‘I’ve had lots more time than usual to remember.’ When we gather as an Association that remembering involves telling to understand and serve the needs – perhaps at our Arboretum the stories to new generations who of our members, and – which is Memorial or in more local gatherings cannot even remember the Cold their main duty – to administer – we have a formal Act of War, let alone nuclear testing. the Charity with integrity and due Remembrance. This is entirely right That is why the July letter from our diligence. and proper, because to remember new Chair, Ceri McDade, is very Ceri and her team are having to is to pay tribute, and those Veterans important. Ceri wrote: grapple with many challenges, who have died, and for that matter ‘The charitable objects of the BNTVA among them those facing the whole their widows and descendants, remain as a Charity providing charitable sector in the light of the deserve nothing less. On such welfare for veterans and their Corona virus and what may follow. occasions, I often speak about the families, research into radiation They deserve the support of all who Cross, that central symbol of the exposure, and education in the have the best interests of the Christian faith, and its power to wider community concerning British BNTVA at heart. transform suffering into hope and nuclear tests. We are working by sorrow into joy. During my thirty-three years as continuing the medal recognition your Chaplain, I have seen the But for those who served, campaign, and access to war Association weather a number of Remembrance is a more constant pensions.’ storms. In each case, it has preoccupation. A social highlight of Those aims and objectives are of emerged stronger and more resilient my year is the annual Christmas great importance, and Ceri followed than before. I am sure that will Dinner of the Pompey Vets (I live in them up with an excellent video happen again after recent resignations Portsmouth and the lads are very message which I commend to all and a spate of unfortunate social kind to me!). Each year, long before readers – you can click here to see media posts. we have sat down, they are swapping it: https://www.youtube.com/watch? stories and memories, always with This leads me to step gingerly into v=eaXyqFd9IxQ.