L-R Dr Jon Hogg, Veteran Owen Coker, Terri Pollard.
Local schoolchildren had the opportunity to meet a veteran of Britain's 1950s nuclear test programmes at a special event at Blackburne House in Liverpool today (26 June 2025).
As part of the School Citizens Assemblies initiative, students from schools across Liverpool and Wirral met Derek Woolf who was present at the Christmas Island (Kiritimati) nuclear tests in 1957. These tests, part of 'Operation Grapple' were the culmination of the UK's quest to become, at the time, one of only three countries in the world with a nuclear weapon capability.
Mr Woolf, who was stationed to the Christmas Island RAF hospital in 1957, not only treated British service personnel, but also members of the local indigenous population during his time there. He shared his experiences of the tests as well as the subsequent experiences of those also present over the intervening years.
Mr Owen Coker, one of the test veterans, and his daughter Suzanne were also in attendance, helping bring to life the sometimes complicated and contentious legacy of Britain's race for the bomb and its effects on the health of the families of the servicemen involved. Representatives from the Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA), as well as a genetic scientist and historians were also there to shed light on the tests, their historical context and their long-term impacts.
As a show of gratitude for Derek Woolf's work with the indigenous population, he was presented with a ceremonial sword by the people of Christmas Island. At the Assembly on the 26th, Mr Woolf returned the sword to Teraabo 'Terri' Pollard, an indigenous islander who now lives in the UK. Mr Woolf hopes this will help recognise the sometimes-forgotten role that local people played in this chapter of British history.
Collecting veterans' stories
The event, run in collaboration with the Liverpool World Centre, is part of a larger project for University of Liverpool researcher Dr Jonathan Hogg. 'An Oral History of British Nuclear Test Veterans' has been run in partnership with the British Library and the University of South Wales and is funded by the Office for Veterans' Affairs. This two-year project has collected veterans' stories in their own words, and the project website which includes a suite of educational resource, a film directed by BAFTA award winner Sasha Snow and a graphic novel illustrated by artist Gareth Sleightholme, will be launched at The British Library in September.
Dr Hogg said: "This School Citizen Assembly is a unique opportunity for young people in Merseyside to hear a range of voices relating to the experiences of nuclear test veterans.
"This event is related to a bigger oral history project where we interviewed over 40 nuclear test veterans and explored the complex legacies of nuclear testing in the Cold War era. We would like to thank everyone taking part, especially nuclear test veterans and their descendants."
Suzanne Davidson, daughter of nuclear test veteran Owen Coker, said: "Both my Dad and I were genuinely touched and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The students were a true credit to themselves and to their schools - inspiring ambassadors for the next generation.
"It was not only engaging from start to finish, but also filled with such meaningful connections.
"And to witness two veterans - my dad Owen and Derek who served on Christmas Island nearly 70 years ago - reunite was something I will never forget. A moment of pure magic."
School Citizen Assemblies are an initiative to encourage young people and communities to engage with a range of complex issues, helping them to gain a wider understanding of the world whilst practicing collaboration, critical thinking and compassion. Children from years 8 to 11 will be present at the Blackburne House event.
This event has been made possible with funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Acceleration Account (ESRC IAA). This funding is specifically to help maximise the societal and economic benefits from social science research. AHRC IAA supported projects focus on driving impact in a wide range of social science, economic, management and digital fields.
