Page 4 - CAMPAIGN Spring 2022

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CAMPAIGN Spring 2022
A Message from the CEO
Dear Members,
As events have been unfolding rapidly over the past few weeks, we have held back the printing of the magazine to include more up-to- date material. The BNTVA has been offered a wealth of opportunities to relay the message about the nuclear tests and the experiences of our veterans, which included contributing to an article in page 2 of the Telegraph, an interview on Sunday Supplement on Radio Wales with Vaughan Roderick and an interview with John Folkes and Terry Quinlan on BBC South East. This follows the results of the Fourth Analysis study commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, which was announced on February 24th, the day that Russia invaded Ukraine.
This latter opportunity led to a call from BBC Breakfast, and, on 23 April, I was invited to talk with Naga Munchetty (and 7.4 million viewers) on the red sofa at BBC Media City, Salford. It was all very sudden, as I set off in the car at 10.30pm, arrived at the hotel at 2am and was ready for transmission at 7.45am.
The interview was tabled for a maximum of 8 minutes, yet the BBC were so astounded about the stories of nuclear test veterans, that they
extended the conversation to 11 minutes.
Then on 11 June, Ed and I were invited at short notice together on the red sofa once more for a further interview with Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt. Both presenters were overcome with the experiences of our nuclear test veterans, and, off camera, Charlie said that he was horrified with the full nature of what the atmospheric testing actually entailed.
Since this time, we have been contacted by film companies and ITV to work on a range of material on the lead up to the seventieth anniversary of Operation Hurricane. Additionally, as a result of the media exposure, the BNTVA has been contacted by dozens of nuclear test veterans and their family members, requesting assistance with physical and mental health issues.
It is clear that the nuclear tests have affected a great majority of nuclear test veterans and their families in a number of ways. A few veterans had a great time at the tests and clean-ups, whereas many are still suffering from the psychological and emotional impact including the breach of ethics caused by the nuclear tests.
Naga Munchetty invited me back to talk further on her BBC Radio 5 Live show. She kept to her word, and on 3 May Richard Wood joined me to talk further with Naga (available to download on BBC Sounds). Richard had contacted after the interview on BBC Breakfast, and shared his dreadful experience of life as a 16- year-old civilian and crew member of RFA Wave Sovereign at Grapple X.
He and his fellow crew members weren't allowed to leave the danger zone surrounding Christmas Island despite not actually having any supplies on board ship. They were locked below deck by armed Royal Marines and witnessed the flash of the 1.8 megaton thermonuclear bomb through the ship's steel. After the blast, he went on deck and exclaimed "Now I've seen hell". These images affected his thoughts and dreams over the decades, yet Richard has developed coping mechanisms over the years. He keeps himself busy at the age of 81 by running a fresh fish business.
I’d like to thank all of our veterans who are willing to share their experiences of life at the nuclear tests so publicly. I would also like to thank Terry Quinlan and John Folkes