'I can't put a medal on a gravestone'

2022 is the 70th Anniversary of Operation Hurricane and the 60th Anniversary of Operation Dominic.

To commemorate this anniversary, LABRATS hosted a seminar entitled 'The 70 Year Hurricane. Time to end the Storm'

The seminar took place at the Pendulum Hotel in Manchester on the 19th February 2022.

Guests from around the world attended the event which was broadcast live across the internet.

Even with storm Eunice, veterans, wives & widows and descendants journeyed to Manchester for the seminar.

The seminar was opened by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Tommy Judge.

The Lord Mayor and Mayoress pictured with Andy Burnham, Anne Quinlan and Terry Quinlan

Rebecca Long-Bailey MP gave a very emotional speech to start the seminar.

Angela Rayner MP, John Healey MP, Siobhain McDonagh MP, Ian Blackford MP, Carol Monaghan MP, and Johnny Mercer MP gave messages of support.

We were privileged to receive presentations from Alicia Sanders-Zakre (ICAN), Richard Outram (Mayors for Peace), Jaroslav Krasney, and Dr Rebecca Johnson.

Three discussion groups took place, starting with the Veterans discussion which was introduced by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham with messages of support from the Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram.

Steve Rotheram. Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region

The veteran's discussion group was joined remotely by Ken Brownell and Keith Kiefer linking in from the USA.

Susie Boniface chaired the veteran's discussion group.

LABRATS Founder Alan Owen, with Andy Burnham, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Susie Boniface and the veterans

This was followed by a very emotional Wives and Widows discussion chaired by Dr Keeley-Jones. Marion Gumbrill who could not attend in person, linked in via zoom.

This discussion was very emotional and there was not a dry eye in the house. Following this discussion, we reflected on 'The Black Rain Case' with a presentation from Jaroslav Krasny.

The final discussion was from the descendants, chaired by Rebecca Long-Bailey MP. This proved to be a very emotional discussion, with waves of sadness and anger across the stage.

We were privileged to be joined by Karina Lester from Australia and Kathy Sinai & Victoria Moore from the USA.

Closing remarks were given by Alicia Sanders-Zakre and Susie Boniface. A special guest was unveiled at the seminar, who will provide our educational talks to children so that they can understand that nuclear testing took place and that these tests should never be forgotten.

In the evening, an informal dinner was held, with a chance for veterans and their families to have their pictures taken with our 4 rats. (Jessie, Dom, Runit, and Kitty)

We would like to thank everyone who attended the seminar, those who battled the storm to attend, and those who linked to us remotely. Thank you to everyone for their messages of support. It is this dedication that will ensure that we do get recognition for these veterans and their families.

We would like to thank our sponsors, ICAN, The Not Forgotten, ICARIS, UKFast, the Pendulum Hotel and extramile design. Everyone who contributed was presented with a unique Challenge Coin commemorating the event.

You can view the videos of the seminar by visiting our website. Click HERE for details.

Further videos and soundbites can be found on our YouTube channel. Click HERE for details.

Conclusion

It was a very emotional and powerful day, the headline to this blog ''I can't put a medal on a gravestone' came from Anne Quinlan, daughter of Terry Quinlan. 70 years is too long to wait for recognition and justice.

On Monday 21st February, Andrew Gwynne MP asked the Secretary of State if the UK Government would look again at the decision not to award a medal to the British Nuclear Veterans:

Andrew has fully supported the #lookmeintheye campaign and we thank him for his support.

Ben Wallace has asked officials to go back and look at the medal award. This is a significant step after Colin Moir (Christmas Island veteran) received this message from the Defence Peoples Secretariat on the 2nd of February:

"As you are aware, the MOD has no plans to undertake a review of non-campaign medals and this decision is final. I must advise that repeatedly writing on whether this matter will be revisited will not change the outcome of that decision.”

As Anne says, do not insult us, do not drag your heels, she cannot put a medal on a gravestone, award her father a medal and let him wear it with pride.