LABRATS representatives attended the 2026 NCCF Conference at the Hilton Hotel, East Midlands Airport. An annual conference, it brought together the organisations that are working on behalf of the nuclear community, including the Nuclear Community Charity Fund, BNTVA Museum and LABRATS. Throughout the day, there were tea and coffee breaks, lunch and a Gala dinner. Wesley Perriman displayed material from the museum and displayed hundreds of photographs for the attendees to look

New documents released as part of the Merlin database expose the AWE's knowledge and the restriction of information to protect their narrative. In this blog, we concentrate on a letter sent from the AWE to Dr C J Morgan at the Ministry of Defence. It is dated 4th August 1992. The letter is in response to a Rainout Report HRP/RAIN/92/P1 and contains 8 paragraphs. So the rain could be contaminated, and the MOD are aware of this fact, yet they have always denied it. Science know

Leading Seaman WB Plewright (second from right) and crewmates from HMAS Fremantle in Fremantle, Western Australia, 1956 (WA News) William Bryan (Bill) Plewright was born on 28 November 1929 in Bunbury, Western Australia. Bill worked as a brickie’s labourer before joining the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1947. He served in Occupied Japan with HMAS Bataan from 1948 to 1949 as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF). He and his fellow sailors visited Hiroshima

I have seen thousands of documents relating to the nuclear testing programs across the world. I have seen thousands of incredible pictures and listened to thousands of veterans' testimonies and stories. Yet when I received a copy of a document from the Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandhers-Jones, a few weeks ago, I was blown away by its contents. For years, Doug Hern had told me that the fish contained the key to increased radiation levels; he had caught the fish,

Today has been a positive day for the Nuclear Community. An extremely busy day of meetings culminated with the Adjournment debate in Parliament. The day started with a letter from the Prime Minister regarding our correspondence last week. A firm commitment from him to our cause. We are working with number 10 to schedule a meeting with the Prime Minister so that it is at the optimum time. He needs to be briefed on the records review and the answers to the many questions raised

Seventy years of the same story, until this week - From the desk of Tom Watson, Baron Watson of Wyre Forest. With thanks and deep respect to investigative journalist Susie Boniface. On Tuesday a restricted document landed in my hands that helps explain one of the grimmest habits of the modern British state: its ability to turn human misery into a technical footnote and then sit on it for decades. The report is called the Christmas Island Nuclear Tests Radiation Survey Report.

In this time of increasing nuclear threats and fast moving conflicts led by nuclear armed states, it is more important than ever to work on nuclear justice issues which centre community members and affected communities. In light of this, we are happy to share that we held our first meeting of the Reclaim Community Fellowship on 18/19 February! Six activists from regions impacted by nuclear weapons testing, the Marshall Islands, Qazaqstan / Kazakhstan and Māòhi Nui came togeth

INTRODUCTION Avro Vulcan XH558 “The Spirit of Great Britain” is undoubtedly the most famous V Bomber. It first flew in 1960 and was the last remaining Vulcan to fly, with its final flight being on the 28th October 2015 at Doncaster Airport (previously RAF Finningley) where it remains today under the custodianship of “The Vulcan to the Sky Trust”, a charity committed to its preservation. On the “Vulcan to the Sky” website, currently there is scant detail on XH558’s role from

Alan Owen and Jeff Edwards OBE DL On Tuesday 3rd of March 2026, we were privileged to speak at the Candour and Communities event with Jeff Edwards OBE DL, a survivor of the Aberfan disaster and Professor Helen Stalford of the Centre for People's Justice. The event was held at the Orbit Business Centre in Merthyr Tydfil, which is approximately 5 miles from Aberfan. The event was very emotional. Jeff's speech, recalling his time as an 8-year-old in the Aberfan disaster, was ver

Peace Movement Aotearoa Remembering the tragedy of nuclear weapons "testing" in the Pacific and reflecting on some of the ongoing issues for a Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific ... Sunday, 1 March is Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day - commemorated as Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day in the Marshall Islands - the 72nd anniversary of the 'Bravo' nuclear bomb detonation by the United States close to the surface of Bikini Atoll, in the Marshall Islands, which blaste

As we move into March 2026, we wanted to share updates on the Campaign for Truth and Justice. A lot of work has already been undertaken with government officials and the police. Thames Valley Police - Misconduct in Public Office We wrote to the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police regarding the investigation into the Misconduct in Public Office. We received this response: Obviously, they are extremely busy investigating the Misconduct in Public Office complaints for Lord M

Earl Curley, Cosmos 954, and the knowledge institutions could not keep In January 1978, a Soviet satellite powered by a nuclear reactor fell out of the sky and broke apart over northern Canada. The object was known as Cosmos 954 , and when it failed, it scattered radioactive debris across thousands of square kilometres of the Northwest Territories. It triggered one of the most complex recovery operations in Canadian history and a rare joint mission between Canadian and Ameri

After 3 years, 150,000 km across 5 countries, over 50 interviews and being hunted down by dingos (actually happened…), we are proud to announce that the documentary 'Our Planet, The People, My Blood' is being screened in cinemas across the UK. This deeply moving film provides a powerful and emotional reminder about the sacrifices made by the affected communities and the long-lasting impact that it has had on them and their families. The documentary is an incredible piece of w

This year has already been a sad year for the Nuclear Community, with three members of our community passing away. Alan Dowson, Pete Peters and David Strange. As always, our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time. Whilst the world is embroiled in the mess that is UK politics, these families are grieving for their loved ones. Men who did not live to receive the apology that they and their families deserve. Instead, the UK Prime Minister is busy saving his own jo

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) marks its fifth anniversary on the 22nd of January 2026. This treaty is incredibly important for our future and for the entire planet. Yet the United Kingdom refuses to sign or ratify the treaty. In fact, the UK has not even sent observers to any of the meetings and is refusing to engage with the treaty. There are currently 74 states parties, as well as a further 25 signatories to the treaty. You can check to see if your

Sir John Hayes MP, Brian Unthank, Paul Wugh MP, Cameron Thomas MP and Alan Owen. Cross-Party MPs Unite Over Urgent Call for Nuclear Test Veteran Justice A private parliamentary screening of the new documentary Our Planet, the People, My Blood was held on 13 January 2026, sponsored jointly by Rebecca Long-Bailey MP (Labour, Salford) and Sir John Hayes MP (Conservative, South Holland and The Deepings). The screening drew Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum

The Montebello Islands, where Britain tested nuclear weapons, still display a sign to this day stating that elevated radiation levels exist and that the visits must be restricted to 1 hour per day. But why are the signs displayed? It comes down to who is responsible for any harm caused if you suffer from any radiation-induced illness because of your stay on the island. November 1952 The action to be taken when HMAS Hawkesbury departed the Islands and no longer patrolled the a

Each new year brings hope that the Nuclear Community will finally receive the truth and justice they deserve. There have been many campaigners, many organisations who have fought the UK Government, and there has never been an apology or any financial redress. But is 2026 the year that changes? Many people have fought hard for recognition for decades, and many of those are no longer with us. Incredible campaigners who will never see the UK Government apologise for their wrongd

Introduction President Charles de Gaulle insisted on maintaining a fully independent nuclear deterrent (force de frappe) which France had established during the Cold War; that was free from dependence on either the USA or NATO. France’s first nuclear tests were carried out between 1960 and 1966, were conducted at Ekker in the Sahara Desert in what was then French Algeria. This consisted of a series of 13 underground nuclear tests and 5 complementary subcritical atmospheric

At LABRATS, we are always asked to work on and endorse projects. We have to be extremely careful with our selections due to the pressure of time and, most importantly, suitability for the community. Our Directors are consulted and decisions made. We wanted to highlight some exciting projects which we have signed up for. These projects are not just about campaigning; they are about education and raising awareness. Office for Veterans' Affairs Working with the Office for Vetera