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This Is Bradwell

1966 , Bradwell (Essex)

Cat no. 526

A day in the life of Bradwell Power Station.

The opening sequence of this film, over which the credits run, follows a bus along the lanes of Essex as it takes employees to work. There are overhead shots of the Power Station. A short history of the Bradwell Nuclear Power Station is given by the commentary. The Station became operational in 1962 and was one of the first two stations in the U.K. The film explains the distinction between nuclear power stations and conventional power stations. There is an explanation of how nuclear energy is produced using diagrams and animation. Nuclear fission is also explained. The main part of the film takes the form of a quasi-tour, offering insights into the areas into which the public could not normally access, either for reasons of space or comfort. In the fuel store, fork lift trucks move uranium around. The 'charge floor' over the reactor core is filmed with the fuelling machine drawing off spent fuel. In the 'cooling ponds' spent elements are handled by remote control. Steel skips are placed in the cooling ponds, treated with caustic acid to prevent corrosion, where they remain for 100 days. They are lifted out, also by remote handling. The film shows the work of the 'health physics laboratory' where the health and safety are monitored. Technicians are shown out in the field collecting samples. Throughout, the film offers reassurances as to safety, few of them seemingly based on any evidence. The film ends with stating that working in a Nuclear Power station is as safe as crossing Piccadilly.

Featured Buildings

Bradwell Nuclear Power Station

Keywords

Industries; nuclear energy; public information films

Other Places

Bradwell

Background Information

Raymond Baxter was a presenter of the long running BBC Science programme Tomorrow's World.

Manifestations

This Is Bradwell

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