Debt of gratitude to nuclear tests men
The Ministry of Defence has publicly acknowledged the "debt of gratitude" owed to veterans of Britain's nuclear testing programme, including two Shropshire pensioners. The Ministry of Defence has publicly acknowledged the "debt of gratitude" owed to veterans of Britain's nuclear testing programme, including two Shropshire pensioners. The acknowledgment was made yesterday afternoon at London's High Court in front of a packed courtroom of veterans, who claim they have suffered ill health after witnessing the atomic bomb testing in the South Pacific in the 1950s. About 1,000 servicemen, including Leslie Lund, 73, of Hollinswood, Telford, and Charlie Price, 69, of Leebotwood, near Church Stretton, claim their involvement in the atomic bomb testing caused a catalogue of health problems due to the radiation fall-out. Opening its defence case, Mr Charles Gibson QC told Mr Justice Foskett and a courtroom packed with members of the British Test Nuclear Veterans' Association he would take a "firm line" towards the way the case is conducted. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
The Ministry of Defence has publicly acknowledged the "debt of gratitude" owed to veterans of Britain's nuclear testing programme, including two Shropshire pensioners.
The acknowledgment was made yesterday afternoon at London's High Court in front of a packed courtroom of veterans, who claim they have suffered ill health after witnessing the atomic bomb testing in the South Pacific in the 1950s.
About 1,000 servicemen, including Leslie Lund, 73, of Hollinswood, Telford, and Charlie Price, 70, of Leebotwood, near Church Stretton, claim their involvement in the atomic bomb testing caused a catalogue of health problems due to the radiation fall-out.
Opening its defence case, Mr Charles Gibson QC told Mr Justice Foskett and a courtroom packed with members of the British Test Nuclear Veterans' Association he would take a "firm line" towards the way the case is conducted.
He said: "I recognise that appearing in court is a real burden, even when you are in good health, but I will try and be as sympathetic as I can in cross-examination, consistent with my duties to the court.
"But, may I make it absolutely clear that I - and those I represent - recognise that this country owes a debt of gratitude to all these veterans and if, occasionally, a moment of humour arises, I hope I may be forgiven for taking advantage of it."
Mr Lund claims he has suffered breathing problems, black outs and needed hip replacements since he witnessed the atomic bomb testing in 1956 aboard Royal Navy ship HMS Diana.
While Mr Price has suffered stomach problems and seen his teeth fall out for no reason.
Other veterans say they have suffered cancers, skin defects and fertility problems allegedly because of exposure to ionising radiation during tests on the Australian mainland, Monte Bello islands and Christmas Island between 1952 and 1958. Mr Gibson, who is arguing the preliminary issue that the action cannot proceed because it was launched outside the legal time limit, said that lawyers for the claimants had misconstrued the law.
Their QC, Mr Benjamin Browne, has said that new scientific evidence had made the link between participation in the tests and ill health, and established the case for compensation.
By Kirsty Smallman
