Chris Wilson Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I am (just) old enough to remember the incident, Sellafield nuclear power station, then called Windscale, in Cumbria, suffered a serious reactor fire. With Japan resuming the production of electricity from nuclear power it reminded me of the incident, and that it was a fitting time to thank God Sir John Cockcroft insisted, and persisted in creating his "follies" on top of the reactor chimneys. What the hell am I on about? I think all those that say nuclear power is totally safe should read the short history, say a prayer of thanks that due to his diligence most of the population of north west England wasn't killed, and the land left unusable for many many years, and think on that we humans are very far from infallible. It is reckoned the chimneys should be dismantled and the remaining radioactive material safely disposed of in this year, 2015, but I think it's behind schedule. The Professor deserves ongoing recognition for saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people with his "follies". http://www.sellafieldsites.com/2013/09/iconic-windscale-chimney-opened-for-first-time-in-17-years-as-clean-up-work-leaps-forward/ I will raise a pint to him tonight, not that I need much of an excuse to do such things.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 I saw a program only this week on BBC3 or 4 all about Sellafield. From when it all started as Windscale through to modern day, including Cockcroft's Follie. Very interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 Oh, right, I'll have to see if it's on one of those replay things, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mark Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Here you go Chris http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b065x080/britains-nuclear-secrets-inside-sellafield Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David P Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 "Chris Wilson, Pile Chimney Demolition Manager:" Have you been moonlighting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelfill Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Moonlighting as an amateur radio enthusiast and accomplished motor vehicle engineer, the decommissioning is just the day job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus GTE Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Was inside a nuclear power plant on Sunday there. Pretty eerie. It's owned by EDF (Hunterston) and 80% of its profit goes to France. The main fear they have is a co2 leak from the reactor as it's gas cooled (it happened at the site before, but the managed to handle it) I was surprised at the level of response training the staff have at the place, and they have spent £200 million increasing their flood defence, which apparently is what caused the fail safe systems at Fukushima to pack in, all the buildings that are designed to kick in in an emergency and for example, pump in nitrogen, were flooded so nothing worked as all the computer systems were fried. Interesting place right enough but I was glad to leave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 One of my major client's Senior design/development Engineers has recently gone to work for Sellafield/Windscale, the bloke is off his f**king trolley. Once he did us a test video for us of him doing 'drop tests' on 300 bar SCBA cylinders in a nearby playground as his companies H&S wouldn't allow the test on site !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 I raised a glass to Sir John Cockcroft, not one person knew who he was, two thought he might be a child molester in the House of Lords. Bloody kids.... Raise the drinking age to 50+, that's what I say Thanks for the link, will have a look in a mo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 12, 2015 Author Share Posted August 12, 2015 One of my major client's Senior design/development Engineers has recently gone to work for Sellafield/Windscale, the bloke is off his f**king trolley. Once he did us a test video for us of him doing 'drop tests' on 300 bar SCBA cylinders in a nearby playground as his companies H&S wouldn't allow the test on site !!! My sort of bloke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 "Chris Wilson, Pile Chimney Demolition Manager:" Have you been moonlighting? Don't mention piles, I seem to have pretty much everything else these days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 Here you go Chris http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b065x080/britains-nuclear-secrets-inside-sellafield Watched it early this AM, very interesting programme, well presented. Basically we are brushing the dirt under the rug then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJI Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 A little boast about Sellafield/Windscale that I have; my grandad commissioned the place. He was in charge of allowing the place to open for business so to speak, but at the time it was more so that it could produce elements for our nuclear weapons program with electricity for the public as a by-product. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 14, 2015 Author Share Posted August 14, 2015 How nice! Do you have any photos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJI Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 Unfortunately not, it was all a bit 'government secret' at the time. The only photos I have of my grandad were of his time in the RAF flying Lancaster bombers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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