Visit to Springfields Nuclear Fuels

Thursday, 11th September 2014 – visit to Springfields Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing site, organised by Jack Brettle. A fascinating tour of the nuclear fuel plant near Preston, the visit gave us an insight into the complex and highly technical aspects of manufacturing fuel rods for various British nuclear power stations. Precision is important, as you might imagine, but the process still relies on people to correct any bends in the rods and make sure they are actually straight!

The visit was also notable for the extent of the security checks made by the operators of the site – we had to register with our passports or photo driving licences, and while we were having our bags searched, a security team was sweeping the coach to check for bad things – concealed weapons, I guess!

Hack Green Secret Bunker

Wednesday June 25^th2014. The Science Group visited the Hack Green Secret Nuclear bunker followed by lunch at Bridgemere Garden Centre and some time to have a wander

Hack Green signposted

around there.

The general opinion was that the visit was very successful, with many people being quite surprised, and even a little shocked, by the degree of preparedness (or lack of) in the event of a “four-minute warning” being given.

Many thanks to Barry Carr for organising the visit and ensuring a smooth trip.

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The bunker was built to be the administrative H.Q. for the North West, in case of a nuclear attack in the cold war era. All the facilities to govern this area were based there. They remain as they were, ready for use.

This chilling reminder of that time now looks somewhat dated yet is a fascinating piece of history.

You can see what might have happened if the bomb had been dropped.

There are many public information films that were never released, explaining what we should do – rather reminds me of that cartoon ‘When the wind blows’.

Visit to National Coal Mining Museum for England

Wednesday, 9th October. 44 members travelled by coach to the National Coal Mining Museum near Wakefield, Yorkshire. After kitting out with helmet and headlamp, we descended the mine in 3 separate groups, each led by an experienced old miner armed with many an anecdote, and not a few dire warnings about safety!

The tour of the mine took us on a chronological progression of evolving mining techniques and machines, and by the end we could appreciate something of the horrendous conditions endured by young children and women working in the mines up to 1842.

Above ground, we were able to take a brief look at exhibits describing other facets of the history of mining, before watching a film about notable mining disasters, and how each one led to legislation and action to improve safety and conditions of work.

All in all a very interesting visit, and one that can be recommended if you are ever in that part of the country.

Farington Waste Recovery Park visit

On a hot summer’s day in late July, a waste recovery centre is the last place you’d wish to visit – yes?
Well, not everyone would agree, especially the two dozen or more who made their way to Farington, near Leyland, last week, and enjoyed a truly educational tour of the facility that processes nearly all of Lancashire’s domestic waste.

The Farington Waste Recovery Park is operated by Global Renewables Lancashire Ltd, under a 25-year PFI contract with Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council. When built, it was the second fully enclosed waste treatment facility in the UK.

We followed the progress of household waste as it arrived from one of the waste collection centres in Lancashire (our nearest is in Skelmersdale), and then passed through a series of separation stages to recover as much material as possible, and minimise the amount that has to be sent to landfill.

More photos in the gallery.

Bletchley Park visit (including Oxford and Cambridge)

For a brief report of the visit in the words of one who took part, Alastair Sutcliffe, see the separate page.

Visit to Bletchley Park

The planned trip to Bletchley Park, home of the British code-breaking effort during WWII, and the subject of an extremely interesting monthly talk about the German “Enigma” machine by Dr Mark Baldwin in May 2011, is now full.

The visit will include a guided tour of the park and buildings, entry to the Colossus and Tunny galleries and to the National Museum of Computing, situated inside Bletchley Park.

There are also many items of wartime memorabilia, a wartime mini cinema and an outstanding Churchill collection.

The visit is from Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st June, and to make the trip even more interesting we are calling in at Oxford on the way down, and Cambridge on the way back. The visit, including 2 nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast, and lunch at Bletchley Park, will cost £179, plus a supplement of £40 for anyone wanting a single room.

Further details of things to see in Oxford and in Cambridge will be sent out to those booked on the visit in the weeks to come.