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Feature | The Beacon
Our Beacon now shines brightly says Brian Cox
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“The new Sellafield Story at The Beacon is the perfect thing to happen. Very few people in the world can do what we do and there’s probably none that have a heritage that stretches 50 years like ours,” said Prof Cox.
Not his first visit to Whitehaven Prof Cox was delighted to be back and opening something so closely related to his field of interest, he described it saying: “This encapsulates everything I promote and shout about, which is basic physics and engineering industry.”
Educational, interactive and bite-size, The Sellafield Story recounts the nuclear story from the beginning, in a noncorporate, accessible way that breaks down the barriers for the families of those who work at the plant, helping them understand what happens there, from the uniforms, to games that relate to jobs at Sellafield and the ariel photo that shows the full scale of Sellafield.
ITH his floppy-haired boyish looks and a genuine enthusiasm for all things engineering based and science-y Prof Brian Cox was the perfect person to open The Beacon.
The new and improved Beacon tracks Whitehaven’s fascinating history from Roman times to the present, including the exciting new addition of the all new Sellafield Story. Whitehaven’s history is undeniably interwoven with that of Sellafield, the exhibition shows the development of West Cumbria’s nuclear involvement from its early days as a munitions factory and its role in supporting the development of a nuclear deterrent, through to the pioneering start of the UK’s civil nuclear industry, reprocessing and the decommissioning challenges that the site faces today.
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The first thing you see when you enter the Sellafield story is the powerful image of the famous mushroom cloud that was the explosion of the first nuclear bomb leaving no doubt about Sellafield’s origins… something that appealed to Prof Cox: “What I like about it is that it’s honest. It starts with the cold war, you can make your own mind up whether it’s a good thing or not.” The Sellafield Story is full of interactive features for children (and adults) with interactive screens, there’s the opportunity to construct their own power plant and use augmented reality to give 360 degree view of Calder Hall and an atom split.
The Beacon| Feature
Prof Cox said: “My view is at the moment that nuclear power is the safest, cleanest and best understood way of making a lot of energy, which is a strangely controversial thing to say, but I think it’s true, and it’s about education.” With an undeniable passion for physics it’s not surprising that Prof Cox’ interest in science started when he was young: “I’ve been interested in science since I can remember, probably since I was four or five years old. I think it was probably the moon landings for me because I was born just before we landed on the moon, so I grew up knowing that we’d landed there and those are the things that capture imagination.” Despite having a degree and a masters in physics maths what not something that a young Prof Cox excelled in: “Maths is the language of nature and requires practice, like any language, and what I found out later and fortunately got away with, is that if I practised I found out how to speak that language.” “I think many working physicists and engineers right at the top will tell you that they weren’t natural mathematicians, very few people are but I think anybody interested in physics or engineering can learn the language and then you do your job and see the beauty of and there is beauty in it and you’ll enjoy it if you practise.” Prof Cox has become some-what of a poster boy for science with a voice that draws you in, he adds sex appeal to what, in the wrong hands, could be a dull subject. A little embarrassed by the idea of being a “sex symbol in the world of science” he said: “I’m getting a bit old for it now you may need to start finding someone younger.” Joking aside, he said: “If it’s true then it’s wonderful. Science and engineering are fascinating; to have a job learning about the universe or building batteries for spacecraft is amazing but it’s also utterly vital, in that the more people who understand that way of thinking the better.” “The deeper point is that science and engineering are an important part of popular culture so why would you leave popular culture to footballers and people on The X-Factor? It’s ridiculous because that’s just trivial really. We need science and engineering to be part of popular culture, things like The Beacon encapsulate them and make them more accessible. If getting people interested in science means we have to use the levers of popular culture to do that then I’m happy to be seen as ‘sexy’.”
The Beacon’s third floor remains dedicated to Whitehaven’s earlier history, starting with the geology of the area and the development of the town from a small fishing town to a thriving industrial town and harbour. It recognises other successful industries such as Kangol, Cleator; Sekers’ fabrics; iron ore mining and displays some new time pieces representing Whitehaven’s clock-making history. BY ALI HIPKIN
June / July 2014 | 13
Brighter future
for Beacon
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HITEHAVEN’S new-look Beacon is hoping to be open in time for the May half-term holiday next year.
It’s future secured for the time being thanks to Sellafield’s intervention, the steering group comprising Beacon, Copeland Council and Sellafield representatives is now working frantically, to a tight deadline, to re-develop and re-launch the facility for a new lease of life staring next Spring. It will incorporate a new Sellafield exhibition which will occupy the building’s entire second floor and which, at present, is still being planned and designed. It had originally been hoped that, after closure of the present operation, on January 5, 2014, that The Beacon
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would be re-vamped and re-opened by April but, more realistically, that date has now been revised until the summer half-term, May 26. The Sellafield section will, naturally, tell the Sellafield Story and in doing so will be working closely together with Copeland to continue to operate the facility and the steering group will continue to operate even after the re-launch. The move sees Sellafield once again able to operate a much-needed visitor-attraction which will go some way to compensating for the loss of the former on-site Sellafield Visitor Centre which was once the most popular tourist attraction in Cumbria.
“ Some of The Beacon’s favourite exhibits such as the Pop Gallery (1970s-80s) will be moved and freshened up but will be retained.” Over the years at least £16 million of taxpayers’ money was lavished on the Sellafield centre, which opened in 1988, to draw people to the nuclear site centre but intense security to combat the threat of terrorism in the wake of 9/11 proved the beginning of the end of it as a visitor attraction
Feature
once the general public were no longer allowed on site to combine Sellafield Sightseer bus tours with a trip to the off-site facility. The new Sellafield exhibition is still being designed, so it’s not yet known exactly how it will look – but it will be centred on the history of the Sellafield site and the nuclear industry in West Cumbria, up to and beyond the present day but it won’t simply be a “There’s the Sellafield floor and then there’s everything else” approach. “We’ll be working together as much as possible,” said Copeland Communications manager, Ian Curwen, especially in areas where there can be crossover, such as the education events we already put on and science in particular”. Some of The Beacon’s favourite exhibits such as the Pop Gallery (1970s-80s) will be moved and freshened up but will be retained. The first floor reception and Harbour Gallery will remain; floor two, currently “Work & Play” which houses displays of paintings, prints and photographs from the museum collection becomes Sellafield’s new display / exhibition area but fans of the ever popular WW 2 air raid shelter will be pleased to hear that it will remain.
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KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER EVENT Come along and hear what your new customers want and how we can help you prepare! We have surveyed over 1,000 workers and we will feed back the results!
CALLING ALL WHITEHAVEN BUSINESSES! COPELAND CENTRE Bainbridge Room Wednesday 2nd July 3pm to 7pm
Come to the FREE business support event and you will:
Find out what the potential new customers need Find out what support we can offer you to prepare your business Be the first to hear the results of a mystery shopping exercise Get an update on the Albion Square Development Get your questions answered Hear from other business owners in the town Get new ideals and business support to improve your business
To book your FREE place call
01900 609160
or email info@cforlp.org.uk
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HE completion of Albion Square, in Whitehaven, is drawing ever nearer and to help local businesses prepare for the influx of over 1,000 potential new customers, who will be the workers of Albion Square. There will be a Business Support Event on July 2 at the Copeland Centre, (council offices) in Catherine Street. It will discuss the potential new customers’ needs, what support can be offered to prepare businesses; it will reveal the results of a mystery shopping exercise; give updates on
Helping you to prepare for your new customer Hear from a retail expert get useful tips and advice Mystery Shopping Results Revealed Get free advice from local support agencies tell them what support you need
the Albion Square development; give ideas and business support to improve local businesses and answer questions. The event, which is being run by the Centre for Leadership Performance in partnership with Copeland Borough Council, Britain’s Energy Coast, The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield, Whitehaven Locality and Town Team and other local business member and support agencies, demonstrates the determination that Albion Square will benefit the town and local traders. To book a free place call 01900 609160. June / July 2014 | 15
Fowlers’ Fayre: Unrecognised artists of Eskdale
Beacon Museum| Feature
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Y now you may have paid a visit to the new Beacon Museum but whether you have or haven’t the current exhibition is ever-changing and well worth a visit. The latest show is The Uncelebrated Art of The Fowlers; Eskdale Artists, which runs until September 7. Perhaps even more attractive than the artwork itself, is the story of the couple behind it; which started when the pair met at the Herkomer Art School, at Bushey, in Hertfordshire and became virtually inseparable. Beryl Fowler became a professional portrait painter, working mostly in watercolour. She travelled around homes of northern upper class families to paint the children and adults. Her auntie was, apparently, furious on learning that this was her job as she did not consider it to be a suitable employment for her niece. Frank began his career producing art and illustrations for advertisements but again this was not considered suitable employment and in order to marry Beryl he had to find alternative employment, which saw him teaching art, at Bolton Grammar School. But where is the Cumbrian connection? Long Yocking House, near Eskdale Green, was a holiday destination for Frank during his childhood and for
the couple when they married and their artwork captures their fondness for the area. When Frank retired from is role of housemaster, at Bolton Grammar, he was put in charge of the Home Guard, in Eskdale, during World War II. The collection of paintings was acquired by The Beacon in the late 1980s; The Beacon is encouraging local uncelebrated artists to tweet pictures of their own work to them using #uncelebratedartists and they’ll share your work.
August / September 2014 | 7
Feature | Albion Square
The NDA, Sellafield and Copeland Council have been committed to working closely with local businesses to make sure they are ready for their new customers; holding a “Know your customer” event in June and encouraging the workers of Albion Square to get out of the office and see what the town has to offer. While some members people remain sceptical about whether Albion Square workers will use the town, statistics collected for the Know your Customer event showed that 75% of workers are planning to use their lunch break to run errands, 90% admitting they’ll go for a walk at lunch time and 53% suggesting they will visit town after work, rather than of going straight home. These encouraging statistics, set alongside the starting and finishing times of workers, paint a positive picture of the “Albion Square Effect”.
Back to
the future…
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lbion Square has, been the talk of the town for months but whether you’re for it or against, it’s here so perhaps we should embrace what we’ve been given… an extra 1,000 people in Whitehaven five days a week? With a design nod to the town’s past, the Square is just one of two buildings that the current government has funded since its been in power and the effect of it is already being felt in town, as other large companies look at possible sites for development. The offices’ design has been based on the old warehouses from Whitehaven’s once thriving shipping industry acknowledging, the town’s history and its future, says Brian Hough, the NDA’s Socio-economic manager. “The building itself is an impressive addition to the Whitehaven skyline and we hope will become the first of many exciting new developments for the town.”
Shelley Williamson, owner of Strange Fruit, who chairs the Whitehaven’s town team, said: “Another 1,000 people filtering through our town can only be a good thing. There will be people in the offices who have never been to Whitehaven; it will be nice to show them what we have to offer. I have to say that Morgan Sindell have given the town a boost already and have been a positive presence”. The move is part of a wider review of security arrangements at Sellafield, moving non-essential staff off site. Mr Hough added: “Albion Square is an £18m investment in the heart of Whitehaven that will help revitalise the town centre economy and move staff off the Sellafield site, freeing up space and allowing greater efficiency in the running of decommissioning projects and operational plants.” As local businesses put their best foot forward and prepare there’s an air of optimism among the business community. Andrew McDowell, from the Market Place Post Office said: “It’s been good for us so far; we’ve got on well with the Morgan Sindell workers so we’re looking forward to working with the people of Albion Square.” The development has been located to create a gateway to the town centre and encourage its workers into town. David Blackwell of the Flower Basket said: “It can only be good. It’s been a long time coming and it’s very welcome. It may take a while to adjust but I can only praise BNFL and the people at Copeland for getting together and making it happen.”
Albion Square | Feature
Brian Holt from Holts Art Shop said: “We’ve always been quite positive about it. It’s got to be a good thing; even if people can’t see it yet. There maybe a few teething problems with parking and traffic but we remain positive about it.” And while concerns remain about the impact Albion Square will have on traffic congestion Mr Hough pointed out: “The NDA’s agents on site, along with Cumbria County Council as the highways authority, continue to work closely with local businesses and residents to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum during building works and the essential road upgrades associated with the project.” August / September 2014 | 9