A unique memory for Julie and her family

Julie Bradbury pictured with her father's cherished medal

A dedicated Saddleworth nurse made a poignant pilgrimage to mist-shrouded Pots and Pans cherishing a unique medal for Remembrance Day.

Julie Bradbury’s father, Gordon (pictured below) was stationed on Christmas Island just after the last atomic bomb test.

In an interview with Oldham community radio 99.7fm, she recalled: ”He wasn’t there for the whole terrible time where they were using people as guinea pigs.

‘“I saw last year at the service at the cenotaph that it was the first year that the nuclear test medal had been awarded - I didn’t even know it was a thing.

“Robert Cragg put me in touch with Suzie Fleetstreetfox Boniface on Facebook as she is doing a lot to raise awareness for the nuclear test veterans, and she told me how to apply for the medal.

“Dad had quite a nice time during his NS, not like a lot of others,” she added.

“We are all hugely proud of him.

“I follow the Christmas Island veterans page and it’s horrific to hear some of the stories about what they went through.

“Some of the birth defects of their children, miscarriages with their wives, really rare cancers… just awful.

“Dad developed MS when I was four years old and they did always question whether him being stationed there had anything to do with it.

"And mum also had a miscarriage between me and my brother - it makes you wonder.”

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