Forewarned is Forearmed … Responding to a nuclear attack on the United Kingdom was very much in the mind of the Government in the 1950/60s when they tasked the Royal Observer Corps with monitoring and reporting on radioactive fallout in such an event – personnel were being trained for the unthinkable. In 1957 a massive construction project was started to provide 1563 underground monitoring posts and 31 protected centres throughout the United Kingdom.
On our doorstep in Skelmorlie was one of this massive network of underground monitoring posts which operated until September 1991 and was the subject of a recent talk by Frank Alexander to members of the Club. Frank was introduced by President Roddy Eunson and gave the members the history of the Royal Observer Corps and this “secret bunker”, which was restored back to its original condition in 2004. He advised that the monitoring post and Museum are now open to visitors at weekends on a pre-booked basis by telephoning him on 07513504115.
The members were particularly interested in the instrumentation he demonstrated to determine ground zero, blast and fallout effects of a nuclear strike on the West of Scotland, which were state of the art at the time but now superseded by modern technology. A vote of thanks was given by Norrie Hollywood who thanked Frank for giving what was an entertaining and well delivered talk on a very interesting subject.
The next meeting is on 16th August in the Willowbank Hotel at 10am when Gary Ennes will speak on Facebook. Men over the age of 50 who are retired, or nearing retirement, are welcome to join the Club by completing the Contact Form on this website.