Visit to Nuclear Bunker

3rd May 2023

On Tuesday 2 May JEC NI were on the move again to a refurbished underground nuclear monitoring bunker, one of the few remaining out of 58 scattered around Northern Ireland. These were manned by members of the Royal Observer Corp (ROC) in times of tension during the Cold War.

We were greeted by owner Alistair McCann and Colin Woods a former observer at this very bunker.

Alistair explained the former monitoring bunker was part of a wider network of similar structures all over the United Kingdom built to study and report the effects of nuclear explosions and the resulting radioactive fallout. He gave us a very informative talk and showed us the various surface mounted measuring instruments and primitive pin hole camera that were used to measure the direction and intensity of the nuclear wave.

Colin invited us down the 15ft ladder to view the restored operational area and cramped living quarters. In the event of a nuclear war the plan was for three observers to go down below for the duration of the attack.

The observers wouldn't have known what was happening above ground but the chances were that the bunker would become their tomb.

Whilst below ground they were able to relay the height, distance and probable spread of the nuclear blast back to Thiepval Barracks and onto NATO headquarters.

Alistair then joined us for some welcoming light hearted conversation over coffee and tray bakes at a local cafe. A harrowing but very interesting evening.