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 Dawn of a new Era NCCF Aged Veterans Fund funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds £2.99 where sold Spring 2016 ©ileana_bt / Shutterstock.com 2 | CAMPAIGN Spring 2016 TM Formal Notice: BNTVA Annual General Meeting May 21st 2016 The AGM of the BNTVA will take place at Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham NG33 5EJ commencing at 11.00 hrs. Any motions should be submitted in writing to the Secretary Bob Ireland c/o 91 Stonehill, Castle Donington, Derbyshire DE74 2LZ by Monday 2nd May 2016. Motions must be proposed and seconded by full members of the BNTVA in writing, fully signed with membership numbers. The proposer should be in attendance at the AGM to present the motion, If the proposer fails to attend the motion will not be considered. (At the discretion of the BNTVA Chair an open forum may be held to discuss relevant matters during the event subject to the established convention that discussions are not binding motions and are remitted to the Board of Trustees for consideration). Formal Notice: Fallout Group Annual General Meeting May 22nd 2016 The AGM of the Fallout Group will take place at Stoke Rochford Hall Grantham NG33 5EJ commencing at 10.00 hrs. Any motions should be submitted in writing to the Fallout Group c/o 91 Stonehill, Castle Donington, Derbyshire DE74 2LZ by Monday 2nd May 2016. Motions must be proposed and seconded by Fallout Group members in writing. The proposer should be in attendance at the AGM to present the motion, If the proposer fails to attend the motion will not be considered. (At the discretion of the Fallout Committee an open forum may be held to discuss relevant issues during the event) BNTVA Fallout Descendents Group Supporting the work of the BNTVA Charity CAMPAIGN Spring 2016 | 3 The Chaplain writes An Easter Message from the Chaplain A prayer in the Funeral Service in the old Book of Common Prayer, says ‘In the midst of life we are in death’. Those who have suffered the pain of bereavement, and that means most of us one way or another, will understand the truth behind those ancient words. I recently conducted the burial But since we’re Christians, we believe of an old friend in the beautiful That we new bodies will receive churchyard at Itchenor in To clothe our souls for us to meet West Sussex. The experience Our Maker at his Judgement Seat. reminded me of a poem, And this belief’s a gift of faith called simply Churchyard, by And, if it’s true, no end is death. John Betjeman. After talking Mid-Lent is past and Easter’s near about the ancient church, the The greatest day of all the year memorials and the gravestones, When Jesus, who indeed had died, the poem changes mood, as Rose with his body glorified. Betjeman expresses his own And if you find believing hard deep Christian faith. I hope The primroses in your churchyard that all our readers, whether And modern science too will show Christian or not, will be as That all things change the while they grow, moved as I am by these words: And we, who change in Time will be Still more changed in Eternity. A very Happy Easter to all, 4 | CAMPAIGN Spring 2016 Have you made your booking for the BNTVA Fallout Conference Weekend? Bookings for the Conference must be made by the 15th April 2016 when the booking list will close. Please use the booking form included with this magazine. If you intend to come for the day, Dress. Since then we have been buffet lunch will £6 (payable on the contacted asking what “Fancy Dress” day). To help with catering please let means. The main rule is that it will Jeff Liddiatt know at be informal, fancy dress if you like, [email protected] there will be a prize for the best costume or just come in what you feel The Conference hosts the BNTVA comfortable in, it’s your chance to AGM, Nuclear Community have a change away from the clothes Presentations, Gala Dinner and the worn for the formal part of the day. Fallout Group AGM, all within a truly superb setting. There is so much to learn and so much to share this year Don’t forget the raffle we want to make this Conference the Please bring your contributions most successful yet. for the raffle, lets make this years raffle a big one! In the last magazine it was announced that the Gala Dinner would be Fancy CAMPAIGN Spring 2016 | 5 Directions to Stoke Rochford Hall Travelling by car - A1 from the south We are situated on the left, two and a half miles north of the A151 junction at Colsterworth. The village of Stoke Rochford is signposted from the A1. Having left the A1, after a quarter of a mile turn right into the Stoke Rochford Hall grounds and follow the road up to the Hall. Travelling by car - A1 from the north We are on the right, two miles south of the village of Great Ponton. Do not use the cut through across the A1 as it is a very dangerous junction. Proceed past to the A151 Junction and head over the flyover and return north for easier access. The village of Stoke Rochford is signposted from the A1. Having left the A1, after a quarter of a mile turn right into the Stoke Rochford Hall grounds and follow the road up to the Hall. Sat Navs Please use NG33 5EB, be aware that our postcode will direct you to Stoke Rochford village, but not to the Hall itself! Travelling by train Grantham’s mainline station is a fifteen minute taxi ride from the Hall, with an hourly service between London Kings Cross and Leeds, as well as cross-country services from Liverpool and Nottingham to Norwich. We can arrange for a taxi to meet you at the station for a small charge. Travelling by air The nearest regional airports are East Midlands, Stansted and Doncaster. To make your journey as easy as possible we can arrange transport for you from the airport to Stoke Rochford Hall for an additional charge – just ask. Stoke Rochford, Nr Grantham, Lincolnshire NG33 5EJ Tel: 01476 530337 Fax: 01476 530534 Email: [email protected] www.stokerochfordhall.co.uk 6 | CAMPAIGN Spring 2016 Chairman’s message I have been involved with the BNTVA for about 30 years. As all of you know I have held various positions within Association and latterly within the Charity. I write this message as Chairman for the first time. It has been a very busy over the past three or four years with meetings, with the Government at No 10, the Cabinet Office and the Treasury. All working towards the setting up of This really is a huge turning point for the Aged Veterans Fund £25 million our organisation and the £1million over five years, money allocated by funding we have received this year the Chancellor from LIBOR funds. On will be joined by much more in 2017. the 10 th February I received an email telling me that the BNTVA application We will also have exclusive had been successful and we were presentations on the phase II projects awarded our first grant. and you will be able to input to the direction of these projects. The first round of projects start in April this year, whilst some details are in the magazine, the full Portfolio launch will be presented during the 2016 Conference at Stoke Rochford Hall 20 -22 May. (Booking and Venue details on other pages of the magazine). I am hoping for a large turn out of members and supporters to hear the wonderful news about our Portfolio, we will be having special sessions with the individual project teams and you will be able to learn how you can take part and benefit. Jeff Liddiatt - BNTVA Chairman CAMPAIGN Spring 2016 | 7 Aged Veterans Fund Update We promised to keep you all up to date with developments on the aged veterans fund. The BNTVA received a formal offer in respect of the bids we had developed to run projects from Libor funds made by the Chancellor under the aged veteran fund budgetary provision. We achieved full funding across all projects within the portfolio we submitted and are happy to share with you all details of the groundbreaking projects we will be delivering for the nuclear community during the next 12 months Cytogenetic research within the British Nuclear Community Dr Rhona Anderson and the Brunel University will be conducting a cytogenetic assessment within the British nuclear community. Despite absurd claims from a minority group of malcontents, we can confirm that it most certainly is the BNTVA alone, through its recognition campaign that has made this research possible. We can also confirm that this research was scientifically impossible A full presentation on this project until very recently despite the false will be given at the BNTVA / Fallout assertions made by that same group. Group Conference weekend in May. Members of the research team will The results of this research will be on hand to tell you all about this educate and inform members of the exciting cutting edge research project entire nuclear community. and answer your questions at Stoke Rochford Hall. 8 | CAMPAIGN Spring 2016 Nuclear Community Nuclear Families Project Psychiatric Program Becky Martin, who has also written a The miles green health audit of piece in the magazine concentrating British nuclear test veterans revealed in the Fallout Group, is heading up the a significant portion of veterans Nuclear Families Research Project suffered from mental health issues.