14/11/2011 Inside Out North West

This week, I'm in at Lancashire, a village that formed the backdrop to

Whistle Down the Wind. More and that later. Also tonight: Why North

West veterans of atomic weapons tests and still fighting for

compensation. 50 years on. Christmas Island veterans will not

go away until we finish up in a box. The Liverpool boxer hoping to make

history in the first generation of women ever to compete for boxing

gold at the Olympics. Anyone from anywhere can be anything. Just

because I am black, a Bullman band from Liverpool doesn't mean I

cannot at inspire to what I want. When Holywood came to Lancashire.

Yesterday it was Remembrance Sunday, a time when we all paid tribute to

those who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

There's one group of veterans who feel they have been totally

forgotten, those who took part in the British nuclear weapons tests

in the 1950s. Today they returned to the Supreme Court in their long

fight for compensation from the Ministry of Defence.

Along this strip is a task force wedding to make history... Britain

carried out six weapons tests on Christmas Island between 1957 and

1958. Codenamed Operation grappled, it culminated in the decimation of

the first hydrogen bomb. People 10 miles away with their backs turned

are conscious of its fantastic brilliance. John Morris from

Greater Manchester was one of more than 2000 British servicemen

stationed on the Pacific island during the nuclear tests. Our aim

initially was to build a runway. At that time, we did not know we were

going to set off atomic bombs. nobody had given the information?

We had no idea at all. All we were told was that we were building a

runway and there would be some experiments and then we were

informed that they were going to do it nuclear tests. The very first

test took place in a nail-biting 56, it was 200 miles away from

Christmas Island. Too far away from them to see or hear the explosion

will stop the island was completely in the middle of nowhere and he

felt almost any variation of temperature or wind speed and the

sea level. The seed of rice. But in November 1957, Christmas Island was

chosen as the test case for a hydrogen bomb. An RAF Falcon

dropped the top-secret device over the southern tip of the island. The

explosion was 1000 times more powerful than the atomic bombs

dropped on Hiroshima. We didn't hear the explosion initially. We

felt more than we saw the sheer brilliant light. It is a light that

you could never ever experience. We had sunglasses on, we had this

cloth over our eyes and hands over our eyes and I could still see

through my hands. It was almost like an X-ray. Then he felt the

heat wave. I don't know if you have ever cooked something in the oven

and you have put the oven on a very, very high. You have them open the

oven door to look at what you have cooked and to get hit with the heat

from the oven. If I said that heat was 50 times greater, but don't

think I would be telling a lie. You felt you were going to go on fire.

They then said, you can turn around. That is when you saw all the heat

all that was then dispersed. We were all watching this, absolutely

in all of it. We could not believe what we were seeing. It was the

most magnificent sight. Then the blast hit us. At that time, I was

actually stood along with about 50 other people on some fallen trees.

It blew us off the trees. Simple as that. I remember us all on the

floor and almost to a man, we picked ourselves up and ran. Like

most of the servicemen on the island, John didn't think of the

health risks at the time. It was only later when a large proportion

of them began to develop cancer that they began to suspect there

might be a link. About 70% of us, I believe, have suffered with some

form of disorder. I finished up with prostrate cancer. It could be

argued that hundreds of men have prostate cancer, I am not disputing

that. Do you think the Ministry of Defence knew a lot more than they

told you about which omission was on Christmas Island? I would be

amazed, knowing what I know now, then, with all their so called

experts, they did not know, as I would say guinea-pig status that we

were being subjected to. I am convinced that we were being used

as guinea pigs. To see what would happen to the human body. Derek

from Doncaster or lost his long battle with cancer in April. His

wife is convinced his death is linked to his time on Christmas

Island. He didn't talk about it very much, it wasn't until later on

that we had been married and he was writing at his applications and he

said that he had been cut in Christmas Island. They were told

before the bomb went off, but they had to sit with their backs to it.

He said they had no covering on are anything, just to sit up at their

backs to the bomb. When the blast went, we had no sunglasses and he

said they had to put their hands over their eyes and when the flash

went, he said all your fingers, you could see the bones and the blood

in your fingers. It was one of his jobs that he had to clean the

aircraft when it landed. When they were coming back off the aircraft,

they had to be tested with the Geiger counter. When they went into

the washroom, they were told they had to use the soap because others

had washed at that, that was contaminated as well. But as more

and more veterans started to die from cancer, Derek, like others,

began to suspect there was a link. After developing cancer himself, he

was sure he would eventually receive compensation. He always

thought he would get compensation. If we did that, we would go to

Canada for our 50th anniversary but it never happened. What would it

mean to you to get the compensation it now at all the recognition?

would just like them to apologise, that is all. In July, lawyers

acting on behalf of the veterans were granted leave to appeal an

earlier judgment overturning their claim for compensation will stop it

was an emotional moment for Margaret's eldest son who travelled

down for the hearing. My dad served in Christmas Island, this was

something he was passionate about and I am here to carry on the fight

on his behalf but it is emotional. The Supreme Court must now decide

whether there is a case to be heard for compensation but with the

veterans dying at a rate of three and month, time is running out.

the original 12 claimants but were there, five have passed on since

the original judgment. God knows how many of us will be left but

most of us are well into our seventies and we are getting fewer

and fewer. He has always said that we would get some compensation,

even ride at the end he said they would see a stride. But I don't

think they will. He has got more feared than I have. They should

have done it years ago so it benefited him. It would have

benefited him. Many other countries including America, New Zealand and

Australia have all given some compensation to their atomic test

veterans so we wanted to know whether Ministry of Defence haven't

The Christmas Island veterans, like me, will not go away until we

finish up in a wooden box. But my family will carry on pursuing what

we think it's just us. -- justice. Coming up: 50 years on, the

Lancashire villagers who starred alongside Hayley Mills in the

iconic Whistle Down the Wind. didn't understand anything about it

whatsoever, it was an adventure really, we didn't even know what a

film was. By this time next year, a young

woman from Liverpool could be the proud owner of a unique Olympic

medal. The London 2012 games is the first where women's boxing has been

allowed. Natasha Jonas from Toxteth soaping to be one of the chosen few

to represent Great Britain. At 26, Natasha Jonas is hoping to

make history, to be the first generation of women to ever compete

for a boxing gold at the Olympics. Obviously it's the first time it is

going to be in the Olympics and we've got it in London so it's on

home soil. I am really proud of my achievements so far but to get to

the Olympics for an amateur, it's just the greatest achievement.

Olympic dreams still hang in the balance. Tasha is 4th in the world

amateur rankings but was only one of eight women in the GB squad. By

May next year, that will be reduced to three fighters who will go on to

the Games. While she waits for the selection decision, she competes,

Tasha is a customer service advisor for Liverpool City Council. They

support her with an Elite Sports scholarship. It means she can be

flexible about when she works, and can also continue with her

relentless training. When you first started working here,

did anyone know who you were? think there were rumours around the

office that I was some kind of athelete, but no one actually knew

what I did. But now, obviously everyone knows and.... Do they

support you? Yeah, they've come along to the Echo Arena when I was

in the GB Championships last year, and they always know when I'm going

somewhere and they're always Tasha trains at the Rotunda ABC in

Kirkdale - one of the most successful amateur clubs in the

country. It's produced 33 national champions in the last 15 years and

trainer Mick McAllister knows why Her discipline, her dedication. And

she trains very hard. She never questions anything that, you know,

you give her, she just gets on with it. But for Tasha, boxing is a

relatively new sport. She first stepped into the ring at the ripe

old age of 21. Sport, though, is in At home in Toxteth, she took up

karate while at primary school because her Uncle Harris was a

If you think of a bow and arrow, attack with it. She was always

active. She always wanted to do, regardless whether it was karate,

it was football or boxing - you know, there was always something.

The boxing she wasn't really into at a younger age, but she wanted to

be around any active sport. After Karate, Tasha took up football, and

once had a trial for Tranmere Rovers' ladies team, as well as

spending a year in America on a soccer scholarship. When I was

playing in those football teams I was a 14-15 year-old girl. Most

Friday and Saturday nights, a lot of the young people around my area

were going out drinking, and girls were getting into boys and stuff.

And to be honest, I just...I didn't really get into it as much as other

kids, because I knew I always had As part of the GB team, attache now

spends most of heard week in Sheffield. $$$WHITE Paul Walmsley,

the Head of Development on the GB squad, used to be head coach at The

Rotunda, and has trained 75 national champions. Traditionally,

scousers are fantastic boxers - why is that? I think that Liverpool is

traditionally a hot-bed of boxing, and there's a lot of clubs. It's

just in our genes, if you like. She's a very skillful boxer, but I

think her calmness and her ability to box under pressure, if you

like... She's so laid back? Yeah, I think it's a good credit to her,

big credit to her. I've never been a nervous person, so from my first

bout I wasn't one that was biting my nails and thinking "Oh, my God,

I've got to get in the ring." That wasn't me. That's not the type of

person that I am. I think nerves are good to have, but it's the

balance that you have. Some people are naturally nervous, and

therefore they don't need any more nerves. It'll just be detrimental

to the performance. I'm a bit, I suppose I was a bit too relaxed, so

I did need a bit more nerves. But Tasha and I are off to meet a woman

who's had an enormous influence on her - and the other 33

grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 10 children that

she has. Her grandmother. What do you think about your grandaughter

boxing? I'm made up for her in a way, because it's her choice, it's

something she wants to do. didn't push her into that - no one

pushed her? No. I wouldn't push her into it, because I'm always

frightened in case she gets hurt. In fact, when I've gone to her

boxing, I look the other way. And it's only when they all cheer and

go "Come on, Tasha," and she's won that round that I turn round and

face her and clap. But I couldn't watch her. But she doesn't get hurt.

She hardly ever gets punched, she does all... I know, but I don't

know that, do I? I don't know that. I can feel every punch that

someone's giving her. So I would sooner look the other way. If Tasha

is to realise her dream of walking into the Olympic stadium in

Stratford for next year's opening ceremony, she must maintain her

status as Britain's number one in the lightweight division and then

win the final qualifying bout in China. Given her determination,

it's going to be hard to stop her. You can be anything you want to be.

Anyone from anywhere can be anything. Just because I'm black,

or I'm from Liverpool or I'm a woman doesn't mean that I can't

aspire to be what I want. And if you ask for it and you fully

believe it, then that's what you'll get if you put in all the hard work

and that's what you'll achieve and. And I'd like to think that other

people can be in a similar situation or maybe better or maybe

a bit worse and they can still look at the positives and think "You

know what, anyone can do it." If you are a movie fan, you have

probably seen Whistle Down the Wind. It was filmed in 1961 and is

celebrating its 50th anniversary. It is a classic, and it had

everything - great Scripts and a fantastic backdrop. But it could

have been different if the producers had stuck to their

50 years on, the script is still as fresh as ever. This classic opening

of a mystery man carrying a sack is a chilling introduction to a

wonderful story of childhood A group of children find a murderer

on the run, and hiding in a barn. They make the mistake of thinking

he is Jesus. The film follows their It is hard to believe when you look

at it now that this picture-perfect village in Lancashire was the

backdrop for one of Britain's most iconic films. He did come to me,

and he did comfort me. I was alone, I needed help. And in his infinite

goodness, she reached out and gave me help, even though I had sinned.

Whistle Down the Wind was a low- budget production produced by

Richard Attenborough. Alan Bates and Hayley Mills Weather two main

stars. But it was the village and the cast of children recruited from

the local schools that stole the show. When you look at the camera

angles, the way it was shot, and the very stark environment, it was

ground-breaking for the time. has been part of the celebrations

organised to mark the 50th anniversary. But it could all have

been different if they had not -- fate had not intervened in 1961.

Four the film was set on a farm in Sussex. And I do not know who work

for the film company, he was born in Burnley, he suggested to Richard

Attenborough to put it in Pendle. Richard Attenborough found this

perfect location. For many of the local children involved, it was the

opportunity of a lifetime. But for people like Diane Poole, who had a

starring role as Nan Bostock, it would be many years before she

realised just how important the film had been. Did you understand

when you were told you had got the part how important it was? For no,

no idea. It sounds incredulous now, but we did not realise what we were

part of. We do now. What was it like being on the set with Bryan

Forbes and Hayley Mills? First of all, you have to understand it was

1961 - we did not know who these people were because we did not go

to the cinema. They were just nice people to us. We did not understand

who they were, totally. A lot of the time, we were sitting around

waiting for things to happen, and we had to have school lessons in

between. They made it into almost like a game, really, for us. So it

was not as boring. It is my find as much as years. And I want to see my

kitten! Who is that. Here is that fellow? It's not a fellow. It's

Jesus. For many, it was Alan Barnes whose cheeky personality shines

through it every scene, and who they remember most. The is he dead?

Of course not. That is not Jesus! He now lives in Longridge, so I to

come back for a walk down memory lane. When you look back at the

film, how does it make you feel? is very strange. You can look back

at yourself when you were seven years old. Not many people can do

that in that detail, only out of a photograph. I can watch how I was

at seven. Five British bulldog, British bulldog! It is my party,

and I can do what I like! capture the innocence and naivety

of the children, Bryan Forbes used some unusual methods. We did not

get a script, that was the whole thing that Bryan Forbes wanted to

do. He wanted innocence and spontaneity. And he did not give us

a script to read. He just explain to us before each take what he

wanted us to do. And how to say things, what to say, the movements.

And if we did something slightly different way and he thought it

fitted, he just left it in. Shut up, you two! You why not to say

anything, you why not to breathe it to our Aunt Dolly, she will did you

understand how big the film would be? I did not understand anything

about it whatsoever. It was an adventure, really. I did not really

know what a film was, what they did. So why did not take it that

seriously. At seven, how do you learn scripts and take direction?

You do what you're told! Somebody will tell you, say that part, lit

in this direction, looked surprised, whatever. And you just follow what

they say. Back in 1961, over 100 children were recruited locally,

many from Chatburn Primary School. They were cast as disciples in the

film. A screening of the film was shown at the Village Hall as part

of the 50th anniversary celebrations, and many of the

original cast were invited a special guests. I am a bit choked,

actually. It is a long time. It means a lot, really. It is a

reminder of what we used to look like, and I have a copy of it at

home, obviously. The children are quite proud their dad was in it.

was so little, I remember you telling me to keep back. And when

the actual film is being shown, I can spot you sell -- myself under

your arm on the screen. That was my moment! It is a lovely film, a

beautiful film. I loved being in it, and we still keep in touch with

everybody, we are still friends. It is just lovely. It has been

absolutely fantastic. To meet people I have not seen for years,

and also to meet new people as well. People who have travelled from far

and wide to come to the reunion. The film has many hidden messages.

Did you get them at that time, when you were filming it? No, not at all.

I think the only thing that did strike me was when Alan Bates was

brought out and the police were going to escort him, and he stood

there in the shape of a cross with his arms stretched out. That hit me

at that time, when we watched the film back. But now, you watch it

with a different pair of eyes. And each time you watch it you see

something different. The innocence of children against trying to

defend someone they believe is somebody else, and it was just an