bntva campaign magazine

IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO DID NOT MAKE IT THIS FAR AND IN SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO HAVE

TM

CAMPAIGNThe Journal of the BNTVARegistered Charity Number 1131134

Spring 2016

Dawn of a new Era

£2.99 where sold

Aged Veterans Fund funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds

NCCF

©ileana_bt / Shutterstock.com

2 | CAMPAIGN Spring 2016

Formal Notice: BNTVA Annual General Meeting

May 21st 2016The 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)

TM

BNTVAFallout Descendents Group

Supporting the work of the BNTVA Charity

3 CAMPAIGN Spring 2016 |

An Easter Messagefrom the Chaplain

The Chaplain writes

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 of an old friend in the beautiful churchyard at Itchenor in West Sussex. The experience reminded me of a poem, called simply Churchyard, by John Betjeman. After talking about the ancient church, the memorials and the gravestones, the poem changes mood, as Betjeman expresses his own deep Christian faith. I hope that all our readers, whether Christian or not, will be as moved as I am by these words:

But since we’re Christians, we believeThat we new bodies will receiveTo clothe our souls for us to meetOur Maker at his Judgement Seat.And this belief’s a gift of faithAnd, if it’s true, no end is death.Mid-Lent is past and Easter’s nearThe greatest day of all the year When Jesus, who indeed had died,Rose with his body glorified.And if you find believing hardThe primroses in your churchyardAnd modern science too will showThat all things change the while they grow,And we, who change in Time will beStill more changed in Eternity.

A very Happy Easter to all,


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.

Have you made your booking for the BNTVA Fallout Conference Weekend?

If you intend to come for the day, buffet lunch will £6 (payable on the day). To help with catering please let Jeff Liddiatt know [email protected]

The Conference hosts the BNTVA AGM, Nuclear Community Presentations, Gala Dinner and the Fallout Group AGM, all within a truly superb setting. There is so much to learn and so much to share this year we want to make this Conference themost successful yet.

In the last magazine it was announced that the Gala Dinner would be Fancy

Dress. Since then we have been contacted asking what “Fancy Dress” means. The main rule is that it will be informal, fancy dress if you like, there will be a prize for the best costume or just come in what you feel comfortable in, it’s your chance to have a change away from the clothes worn for the formal part of the day.

Don’t forget the rafflePlease bring your contributions for the raffle, lets make this years raffle a big one!


Directions to Stoke Rochford HallTravelling by car - A1 from the southWe 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 northWe 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 NavsPlease use NG33 5EB, be aware that our postcode will direct you to Stoke Rochford village, but not to the Hall itself!

Travelling by trainGrantham’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 airThe 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 530337Fax: 01476 530534Email: [email protected]

www.stokerochfordhall.co.uk


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.

Chairman’s message

All working towards the setting up of the Aged Veterans Fund £25 million over five years, money allocated by the Chancellor from LIBOR funds. On the 10 th February I received an email telling me that the BNTVA application had been successful and we were awarded our first grant.

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.

This really is a huge turning point for our organisation and the £1million funding we have received this year will be joined by much more in 2017.

We will also have exclusive presentations on the phase II projects and you will be able to input to the direction of these projects.

Jeff Liddiatt - BNTVA Chairman


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.

Aged Veterans Fund Update

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 CommunityDr 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 until very recently despite the false assertions made by that same group.

The results of this research will educate and inform members of the entire nuclear community.

A full presentation on this project will be given at the BNTVA / Fallout Group Conference weekend in May. Members of the research team will be on hand to tell you all about this exciting cutting edge research project and answer your questions at Stoke Rochford Hall.


Nuclear Community Psychiatric ProgramThe miles green health audit of British nuclear test veterans revealed a significant portion of veterans suffered from mental health issues. Using money from the AVF we have been able to provide a psychiatric care program for the entire nuclear community.

Working with Combat Stress an assessment of mental health issues within our community will be made. A treatment program will then be devised and delivered. This initial phase will last for 12 months. We fully intend to seek funding to extend the program throughout the full 5 years of the AVF provision.

We also hope that the publication of successful diagnosis and treatment methodologies may be adapted and used to the benefit of the international nuclear community.

More information on this project will be available at Stoke Rochford where you will also have the exclusive advance opportunity to register your interest in becoming a beneficiary of the scheme.

Nuclear Families ProjectBecky Martin, who has also written a piece in the magazine concentrating in the Fallout Group, is heading up the Nuclear Families Research Project from Southampton University. This project will examine and document the nuclear community relationships and dynamics

The psychosocial experiences of the families within the UK nuclear community are currently presented as anecdotal evidence. There has been no specific large-scale investigation of their lives, and it is therefore impossible to identify whether there has been an impact upon this cohort. This portfolio will provide new and significant insights into the life-long consequences of being related to a nuclear test veteran.

Currently, there no previous academic studies of the experiences of the families of UK nuclear test veterans. The only existing directly relevant literature features a USA cohort, and was produced by Murphy et.al (1990). “Atomic veterans and their families: Responses to radiation exposure”, which was published within the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. However, the culture and society of UK and USA nuclear test veterans is not directly comparable, and the research produced by this article is over 25 years old.


Modes of society have changed drastically since then as we have entered the age of digital technology. This is evidenced by the presence and use of online social media support groups for veterans and their families, which is one of many research themes without any current academic underpinnings that this project will investigate and contextualise.

This work will not just address an academic void it will also fill a knowledge gap within public and social service provision, across the UK. Understanding the lives and experiences of the families of nuclear test veterans will help to inform the direction of strategies for future support. Once completed, a service-directed report from this project will be provided nationally, to help to inform the strategies of Local Councils, NHS services, counselling and social care services, elderly care services, and other relevant organisations. This study could therefore pioneer our understanding and future care of the nuclear community for generations to come.

Nuclear Community Remembrance Project phase OneRemembrance is a very important element of increasing wellbeing within a community and ours is no exception.

Using funding from the AVF we are working with the masons who crafted our memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to add two semicircular benches to replace the wooden ones which had to be removed because they were going rotten.

A special design of the bench legs will display a carving of the BNTVA crest and allow for the brass dedication plaques from the old benches to be re-mounted along with the opportunity to have additional dedications mounted in the future.

Once the new benches are installed we will hold a rededication service on the following NAVAD.

We are working on further projects under the remembrance banner a presentation and consultation session, where you will be able to raise and influence further project bid developments, will be held at Conference.


Nuclear Community Care and Wellbeing FundIn financial terms this is one of the smaller projects in this year’s portfolio however over the next five years this will grow to become the major fund as once the key research projects have completed then the focus will shift to addressing the issues from that research in a structured, informed manner.

This year we have around one hundred thousand pounds to purchase living adaptations to ease suffering increase wellbeing and increase social integration. The major condition of grant is that we cannot just award cash payments to individuals.

There will be four grant award events during the coming year where cases will be considered for provision. The application process is currently being refined to balance the need to obtain an accurate picture of a potential beneficiaries needs balanced against their resources without being overly intrusive.

These findings will be measured against the costs of supplying the goods and services identified as addressing their needs and a case prepared for consideration by the NCCF grant award committee. The provision of goods and services for successful cases will be delivered and managed by our contractor.

The full details of this project will be presented to Conference where members will have the opportunity to register their interest in becoming a potential beneficiary.

It must be stressed that there are no ‘cash’ handouts and that any goods or services provided are only for UK based beneficiaries of the BNTVA Charity ie the members of the British Nuclear Community of Nuclear Test Veterans, their spouses and offspring (of any subsequent generation), this also includes widows and offspring of deceased veterans.

Goods and Services that are available from state provision can not be provided under this scheme, the provision must be ‘in addition’ to what is available. A clear case that the beneficiary could not fund the goods or services from their own means without suffering hardship and that the provision is delivered on a best value for money basis must be made for the board to consider grant.


The BNTVA Board of Trustees decided that they would create a specific body to deliver the AVF Portfolio of projects.

The Nuclear Community Charity Fund making that difference

The NCCF is constituted from representatives of the BNTVA along with members recruited for their specific abilities. They are responsible to both the BNTVA and the Aged Veterans Fund for delivering the projects within our Portfolio. The NCCF is a voluntary activity and will meet a limited number of times a year to review project progress. A sub-committee of the NCCF will also meet about four times a year to consider applications for support from the Care and Wellbeing Project.

Day to day management of the Portfolio is contracted to BH Associates. The requirement to engage a professional management organisation was advised by the AVF to manage the projects. Our decision to engage BH Associates was a key factor in us gaining the funding. This engagement is now part of the condition of grant. The further benefit of this to the BNTVA is that BH Associates have developed the capability of managing all our Communications, Membership and

Bookkeeping functions and will commence provision by 1st April 2016.

BH Associates are also coordinating and developing the projects for the next round of AVF provision for which they will also write the portfolio bid documentation.

Find all about the projects and activities of the NCCF by visiting thenccf.org


This significant piece of legislation is now sliding inexorably toward the statute books and regardless of your individual political views there is one sobering fact: This legislation will impact on the Nuclear Community.

Welfare Reform and Work BillSituation & Petition

From our ‘SnapShot Survey’ we found that over a quarter of Nuclear Test Veteran offspring suffered from Congenital Defects or Serious Illness. Many of these people are forced to seek benefit support out of necessity resulting from conditions we believe are a consequence of nuclear testing.

If this measure is introduced then some of the most vulnerable members of our Nuclear Community will be exposed to a cut in their social support of over £1500pa. These people are not some ‘nameless scroungers’ that so often feature in the ill informed articles of the popular press. These people are the Sons, Daughters and Grandchildren of the men you served with.

The first thing that you can do is go to the .gov website and sign the petition. This takes two minutes of your time, just type http://bit.ly/bntvaesa in to your browser and you can access the page directly.

We sincerely hope that this petition gives the government the incentive to review the proposed cuts, indeed as we compile this article there seems to be a huge U-Turn happening within the government and a rising opposition within the Conservative party to the blanket imposition of the measures directed against the disabled benefits.

This does not mean that all is good. Signing the petition will send a loud and clear message to the Government that they got it wrong in this instance and should not attempt to attack them again in the future.


NCCF Support - Care and Wellbeing FundBecause the potential cuts represent a withdrawing of state provision then any purchases that would have been made using this lost support by members of the Nuclear Community who can demonstrate hardship (to be fair anyone receiving social support in the nuclear community will be in hardship), would be eligible to claim for consideration of support under the Nuclear Community Care and Wellbeing Fund.

This fund is specifically to ease suffering and increase wellbeing amongst our community. As stated elsewhere in this magazine we can not give out cash amounts but we will purchase goods and services on behalf of the beneficiaries. Even More Help to Fight Your CornerFor some time now the BNTVA have funded access to the excellent guides and information products published to members only on the Benefits and Work website www.benefitsandwork.co.ukYou can request any of these documents on email from Shelly - [email protected] or Jeff [email protected]

The BNTVA fund this service for BNTVA & Fallout Members plus ALL members of the UK Nuclear Community.

Some of the guides available through the BNTVA are:

ESA• Employment and Support Allowance

claims & Appeals

PIP• Personal Independence Payment

claims and medicals• DWP Personal Independence

Payment resources

DLA• Disability Living Allowance claims• Disability Living Allowance medicals• Disability Living Allowance appeals• Disability Living Allowance renewals

and changes of circumstances• DLA Briefs - Useful sample letters

and emails relating to Disability Living Allowance

Attendance Allowance• Attendance allowance claims


The Aged Veterans Fund provision is not just a one year, one bid provision. The Chancellor has set aside funding over at least five years, in fact the first year of funding of £5million was in addition to the original budgetary provision of £25 million.

Nuclear Community Charity Fund Future Projects Current State of Play

This and the desire of the treasury to engage a number of organisations in running projects under the scheme was why Portfolios were initially capped at £1 million.

We are now moving into uncharted territory, we do not know how much or for how long the projects we will be bidding for will run. We do know that significant sums will be on the table and that the BNTVA is the front running organisation of the provision.

The AVF panel have commended the BNTVA for establishing the NCCF and contracting a professional management organisation to oversee project delivery across the Portfolio, infact the Chairman has been invited to the AVF Phase II launch, not to find how we will be bidding for our next set of projects but to share the approach that the BNTVA took along with BH Associates in developing and securing the funding from year one. To quote “The structure being put in place and the content of the bid proposals were

so well put together they have been adopted by us [the AVF Board] as a benchmark for all other Portfolios”

Plans for the Next RoundBH Associates are already well into the development of the next stages of our Portfolio for the Nuclear Community. They have separated key projects into major ‘Strand’ areas: Remembrance, Care & Wellbeing and Respite to name a few. Within these ‘Strand’ areas individual projects are being developed for delivery to our nuclear community.

Under the Remembrance Strand we are looking to refurbish all the NTV memorials in the UK, adding a QR code plaque wherever possible that will link directly to an interactive online museum portal telling visitors about the memorials, the people behind them and their experiences. This will engage members of our community and introducing a whole new group of people to sharing our heritage.


A project is to provide transport and accommodation to members of the Nuclear Community to enable them to attend memorials, events and services relating to their community that they would otherwise be unable to visit because of impaired health or travel issues is also being developed.

We want to digitise the entire BNTVA archive and turn it into a living resource on the internet for the Nuclear Community both in the UK and Internationally.

An educational package will be produced to link into the National Curriculum Citizenship Studies and also to facilitate the giving of talks and presentations to all kinds of groups.

We will seek funding to create a new regular magazine for the nuclear community. We will increase the monies available under the Care and Wellbeing Fund into the millions.

We are negotiating funded respite care places at a number of establishments and developing a discounted holiday and theme park scheme. These schemes will be available to all members of our nuclear community.

We are also in discussion to create a centre of excellence within a premier UK university, that also has excellent international ties. Drawing Social,

Scientific and Medical Information into one location, much of this information which will be provided from our funded research projects. Members of the Nuclear Community, Medical practitioners, Social provision specialists, Academics and People the world over will be able to access the information and findings.

These and many other projects will be developed and brought under our Portfolio for successive bid periods.

A full presentation on the Nuclear Community Charity Fund and updates on project development including the ability for you to contribute to and register your interests will be made to the Annual Conference.

Aged Veterans Fund funded by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds

NCCF


BNTVA Contact Details Registered Charity Number 1131134

BNTVA, BM 5657, LONDON, WC1N 3XX

24 Hour Call Back Service 0208 144 3080 www.bntva.com

This is the only correspondence address and telephone number for the Association.

Organisation ManagerRobert IrelandEmail: [email protected] [email protected]

ChairmanJeff Liddiatt

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 0208 144 3080 Mob: 07523 0457 05

Financial ManagerIan Greenhalgh LLB

Email [email protected]

Maralinga Veterans CoordinatorFred Stellard


Membership ServicesIan Hall

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Supporters Group & Branch CommunicationsDoug Hern


Remembrance Co-ordinatorDon James



Reunion Organisation LiaisonSandie Hern


Fallout Descendents GroupSteve Clifford


Fallout Descendents GroupShelly Grigg


Legal Advisor to the BoardTony Jeffrey


Parliamentary PatronJohn Baron Member of Parliament


TrusteeAlan Owen

Email: a.owen @bntva.com

TrusteeSusan Musselwhite


MerchandisingIan Hall & Sandie Hern

Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Honourary EditorSteve Bexon


Association ChaplainThe Very Revd Nicholas Frayling BA, LLD


Appointed Persons and Honourables


In 2014, the Marshall Islands — a Pacific Ocean territory with 72,000 people — accused nine countries of “not fulfilling their obligations with respect to the cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament.”

Marshall Islanders Take World nuclear Powers to the International Court of JusticeOver Failures on Nuclear Weapon Proliferation

They included China, Britain, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States.

The Marshall Islands maintained that by not stopping the nuclear arms

race, the nine countries continued to breach their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) — even if the treaty has not been by signed by countries such as India and Pakistan.


But the court only admitted three cases: Britain, India and Pakistan because of all the nuclear powers they are the only nations to recognise the authority of the International Court of Justice, a fact which raises questions in its own right.

Why the Marshall Islands?The Marshall Islands decided to sue the world’s nuclear heavyweights as “it has a particular awareness of the dire consequences of nuclear weapons,” it said.

Between 1946 and 1958 the United States conducted 67 nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands, Majuro’s representatives said in papers filed in court.

While also focusing on the threat of global warming causing the world’s oceans to rise, the Marshall Islands “have come to realise that it cannot ignore the other major threat to its survival: the ongoing threat posed by the existence of large arsenals of nuclear weapons.”

In March 2014, the Marshall Islands marked 60 years since the devastating hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, that vapourised an island and exposed thousands in the surrounding area to radioactive fallout.

“The Marshall Islands wants a moral and judicial pronouncement that can strengthen their political campaign against nuclear weapons,” said Lyal S. Sunga, who heads The Hague Institute for Global Justice think-tank’s Rule of Law program.

“It’s very interesting because international law, as part of a range of diplomatic and political tools, can be used to lend weight to the argument that nuclear testing is very dangerous and harmful not only for the Marshall Islands, but for the whole world,” he told AFP.

The 15-megaton test on March 1, 1954, was part of the intense Cold War nuclear arms race and 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

Bikini Islanders have lived in exile since they were moved for the first weapons tests in 1946.

When US government scientists declared Bikini safe for resettlement, some residents were allowed to return in the early 1970s.

But they were removed again in 1978 after ingesting high levels of radiation from eating local foods grown on the former test site.

Now the Marshall Islands aims to shine a new spotlight on the nuclear threat.


Before The CourtsThe case went before the International Court of Justice in march and writing on the last day of the hearing Tony de Brum, Co-Agent and former Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands, concluded today’s arguments against the United Kingdom. He said, “The States possessing nuclear weapons that joined the NPT made a legally binding promise, in accordance with the goals they expressly adopted in the NPT Preamble, to pursue in good faith negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament and cessation of the nuclear arms race, pursuant to Article VI. The dispute in this case is over whether the UK is in breach of that bargained-for, legal obligation.”

He continued, “At the end of the day, the UK position boils down to an assertion that the RMI has no legally enforceable rights under NPT Article VI. If that were true, the Strategic Bargain of the NPT is illusory.” The strategic bargain to which Mr. de Brum referred is, at its core, that NPT signatories that possess nuclear weapons promise to negotiate the elimination of all nuclear weapons in exchange for non-nuclear-armed signatories agreeing never to acquire such weapons.

Mr. de Brum again asked the Court “to adjudge and declare that the Court has jurisdiction over the claims of the Marshall Islands submitted in its Application of 24 April 2014; and to adjudge and declare that the Marshall Islands’ claims are admissible.”

Case in the Judges HandsThe 15 judges of the ICJ, along with judge-ad-hoc Mohammed Bedjaoui, will now deliberate on jurisdiction and admissibility issues raised in the written and oral pleadings. The Court will announce its decisions in a public sitting at a date to be announced.

The International Court of Justice, Holland© Ankor Light


On the 17th February 2016 the BNTVA received notification from the United Nations regarding our application for Consultative Status.

United Nations Consultative Status

The BNTVA was recognised by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organisation a number of years ago and we had entered the assessment process to try and achieve consultative status at the beginning of 2015.

“We are pleased to inform you that the Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations at its 2016 Regular Session, held from 25 January to 3 February 2016, decided to

recommend Special Consultative Status within the Economic and Social Council to your organisation.

This is a landmark event representing not just international recognition but also the accreditation of the BNTVA with Special Consultative Status means that we will be better placed to share our experiences and the results of research with the world community.

United Nations Building - New York © Drop of Light


Yalata Anangu Aboriginal community needs our help to send 5 Indigenous leaders and artists to Japan to gift the first Australian sculpture to Nagasaki Peace Park in April. Join us in this unique international peace project, in recognition of atomic survivor communities.

Help 5 Indigenous leaders and artists gift the first Australian sculpture toNagasaki Peace Park

In April 2016 a delegation from several remote Aboriginal communities in South Australia has been invited to Nagasaki to gift the first Australian sculpture to the internationally renowned Nagasaki Peace Park. In recognition of atomic survivor communities worldwide, the sculpture has been designed in Yalata (remote South Australia), an Anangu Aboriginal community affected by British-led atomic testing in Australia, and is a peace gift from one atomic survivor community to another. To date, there is no Australian presence in Japan’s internationally renowned peace park.

The communities need our help to enable an Anangu delegation to take their Indigenous gift to Nagasaki, and to share their stories on an international stage.

The artists tell the story of this significant peace-gift in this 3 min video: www.chuffed.org/project/giftforpeace

The money raised will cover the travel costs for a 7-day cultural tour involving official representation for the Nagasaki City ceremony on April 18th and a program of cultural exchange with Japanese Hibakusha (atomic survivors) in Nagasaki and Hiroshima.


The sculpture is being gifted by the Indigenous Anangu communities of Yalata and Oak Valley/Maralinga (South Australia), Mayors for Peace (WA), and the Cities of Fremantle, Cockburn and Subiaco (Western Australia). It is linked with the recent 70-year commemorations of the atomic bombings in Japan, and is part of a community arts and cultural development project funded by the Australia Council for the Arts with remote Indigenous communities in South Australia whose recent history relates to the British nuclear tests.

Please donate at: www.chuffed.org/project/giftforpeace and share this link with your networks. More information: [email protected] or +61 (0)422 178 739

Donations are tax-deductible and can be linked to a range of rewards such as original Indigenous artworks.

Together we can make this happen.


I’ve been a part of the University of Southampton Population, Health and Wellbeing (PHeW) research group since 2012, and during this time I’ve worked up academic papers on the psychosocial effects of nuclear accidents, whilst also completing my doctorate on the spatiotemporal population modelling for radiation protection.

The digital significance of Fallout: Somewhere between online support, and real-world change…

The central theme of our research group is the study of the health outcomes of different population groups. In my case, my area of expertise exists in understanding the experiences and the health outcomes of radiation emergency survivors. Within PHeW we use a wide range of research methods to improve our understanding of the many and varied health challenges which are faced by society, and to discern ways by which these challenges can be overcome. Of particular interest to us is the influence of the social, built and natural environment upon population health.

However, I have recently been expanding upon our group interests, to also include the important influence of the digital environment. I have become aware of the ways that prominent online groups, such as Fallout and the BNTVA, can bring

about much-needed social change, which in turn can result in real-life improvements to the health and wellbeing of members through campaigning and the provision of a vital support network for members. The strength of the online community really cannot be underestimated within the digital age. I have therefore recently undertaken an interview-based study of a small cohort of Fallout group members, in order to explore and document their digital experiences.

Whilst chatting to members of Fallout, I was struck by the strength of the interpersonal bonds that have been formed between individuals within the group. Firm friendships have developed and grown online, as this unique community open up to each other and share their own personal experiences of being part of a nuclear test veteran family.


The Fallout group has provided a virtual space where people with similar lived experiences can go, to discuss their families without judgement. However, the Fallout group also provides an important support mechanism for those who are in crisis and need immediate help. It is evident from talking to members of the group that some of the bonds between people are due to parallel hardships, comparable challenges in negotiating poor health, and similar difficulties in gaining the correct healthcare and support. Sometimes, it just becomes too much for even the strongest person.

In times of crisis, the Fallout group has become an important informal source of help and guidance for members. However, whilst talking to Shelly Grigg about the aims of my current digital study, it quickly became clear that there was a need for some professional guidance within the group. With Shelly’s blessing I have been able to arrange a free counselling provision within the group, which is now provided for anyone who needs to talk confidentially about their experiences, by Victoria Sumner, a trained counsellor.

However, I’m still of the firm belief that the most important things in life occur when we disconnect from the internet, get out there, and start to make the changes that we want

to see. This is one of the reasons why I’m really looking forward to attending the BNTVA AGM at Stoke Rochford in May, and I will be paying close attention to the Fallout related sessions on Sunday. I really hope to meet some of you there, and to learn more about you in person.

Please get in touch with me at [email protected] if you’re interested in becoming a future study participant.

Becky Alexis-Martin


I was interested in the article re Frank Leeming in the latest Campaign magazine. Not because I knew the chap, but because of the date on the Mess Menu - 2nd April 65.

In Response to the Frank Leeming article in our last issue

I served at Maralinga in 64/65. I was with more or less the last group of service personnel to leave the camp on the 30th March 65. For some reason, I still have the ticket - don’t ask!

The attached was taken not long before we all went our separate ways. Looking at the photo - I’m 4th from the left at the back, if any of the guys see it and would like to get in touch... I would be very happy to communicate.

Some of the guys were on the fencing team at the forward area with me... re-fencing some of the blast sites in 40+ degrees.

I would be very interested in finding out about John Tillman. At the back 2nd in from the right. We had a blast in Sydney for the Xmas and New Year 64/65.., Barossa Pearl wine and Aussie beer in abundance, New Year in Kings Cross!

I revisited Maralinga in 2010 and stayed for a night. No Watson or Ooldea on the railway now. Only bits of the camp left but, all the hospital, where I was well fed! My daughter was a Paramedic at Whyalla at the time.

Thanks and regards, Roderic KyleSt Monans Fife.

Roderic KyleBack row 4th from the left

John TillmanBack row 2nd from the right


Marilinga 1964 / 1965

In memoriamWe are sorry to have to tell you that Liz Lowe passed away on the 8th of March. Liz was the wife of our past Chairman John Lowe.

Our condolences go to John and his family.


The ship Wellington was originally HMS Wellington, a town class Sloop which had the distinction ofbeing the only ship in that class to sink a German submarine.

HQS Wellington

Tuesday 23rd February 2016 saw the launch of the Merchant Navy silver coin, especially minted to commemorate the Battle of The Atlantic, during World War II. Sandie and I attended this event, together with our branch Chairman Roy Glencross, branch treasurer Chief Officer RFA; John Bafico and his wife Margaret.

The silver for this coin had been salvaged from the SS Gairsoppa, a merchant vessel transporting amongst it’s cargo silver bullion from Calcutta to England. Unfortunately the ship, being low on fuel left the convoy to replenish, and during this phase she was torpedoed by a Germany submarine 300 miles west of Ireland. All hands were lost expect for one survivor. I understand that she had lain on the bottom, nearly 3 miles deep until 2008, when the bullion was salvaged.

HQS Wellington had been chosen for this event, because ‘The Wellington’ is The Master Mariners Association Headquarters, which is moored on the north bank of the River Thames, within site of the London Eye and Waterloo Bridge.

Once on board we joined our Merchant Navy National Chairman, Captain John Sail, who is the driving force behind this project. Captain Sail is also the president of our local branch (Boston & South Lincs MNA). Sandie is the branch secretary and I hold the post of Vice Chairman. We were introduced to Captain Ian McNaught, Deputy Master of Trinity House; Raphael Maklouf FRSA, Chairman of the Tower Heritage Centre; Elliot Dawson of Tower Heritage Centre and other dignitaries from the Tower Heritage Centre.

The guest of honour was Mr. Ron Quested who joined the Merchant Navy at 17 years old, and served throughout World War II as a radio officer. Ron was presented with a full coin presentation set, which included the new Silver Coin minted for this event. Captain John Sail, is advertising the coins for sale on television, and they are available at a cost of £20.00 per coin plus postage (only one coin per household).

The evening was a great success and before leaving the ship we were invited to visit the Tower Mint Heritage centre and have a tour of the Centre.

Doug Hern


HMS Wellington HistoryHMS Wellington was built at Devonport Dockyard in 1934. She was one of 13 Grimsby class warships built for service in the Commonwealth and Dependencies and from 1936 to 1939 she patrolled the waters around New Zealand.

At the outbreak of WWII HMS Wellington was recalled to perform convoy escort duties in the Atlantic. During six years of wartime service she rescued over 450 Merchant Navy seamen and was active at Dunkirk and the North African landings. She also shared the credit for sinking a U-Boat. Shortly after the end of the war she was retired and laid up at Pembroke Dock.

The Honorable Company of Master Mariners had been looking for a livery hall since 1939. After the war the chances of building a livery hall in London were remote. In 1947 HMS Wellington was made available by the Admiralty and the Company decided to buy her and convert her to a floating

Livery Hall. HQS Wellington arrived at Victoria Embankment in 1948.

In 1991 major refurbishment was carried out over three months in dry-dock at Sheerness. In 2005 ownership was transferred to the Wellington Trust, a charitable trust established to ensure the preservation of this historic ship.

The event was a special evening to officially donate a collection of coins developed to recognize the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets during the Battle of the Atlantic.


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Editor: Steve Bexon.

Next issue copy deadline 31st May 2016

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