Oral history of British science
Raynor, Frank (Part 10 of 18) An Oral History of British Science
- Add a note
Log in to add a note at the bottom of this page.
- All notes
- My notes
- Hide notes
- Add to playlist
Log in to add this item to one of your personal lists.
- Add to favourites
Log in to add and display this item in your personal list of favourites on the right hand side of this page.
The British Library Board acknowledges the intellectual property rights of those named as contributors to this recording and the rights of those not identified.
Legal and ethical usage »
Type
sound
Duration
00:57:20
Shelf mark
C1379/76
Subjects
Electronics
Recording date
2012-07-31
Recording locations
Interviewee's home, Abingdon
Interviewees
Raynor, Frank, 1922- (speaker, male)
Interviewers
Lean, Thomas (speaker, male)
Abstract
Part 10: [57:20] [Interview four: 31 July 2012] Remarks on return from Australia after Operation Hurricane: birth of daughter Joy; anecdote about giving daughter a hard to abbreviate name; not receiving extra leave or other rewards; returning to routine work; cramped living conditions on voyage out to Australia. [03:30] Remarks on routine of Aldermaston after tests: working in health physics providing instrument service; secure A-Area of Aldermaston for radioactive work; making instrumentation for other tasks; FR building a specialist probe for Dr Lewis to test weapon hemispheres, with help of workshop run by Norman Harpwood; description of Norman Harpwood; [08:25] different types of measuring probe; description of alpha probe; [10:35] interaction between FR and Norman in making of probe; light-guide to transfer light within a probe; job making tritium counter; helpful explanation and interaction with scientists using equipment; physicist Frank Barnaby's career path, who would help explain physics, such as Bremsstrahlung radiation, to technicians; Frank Barnaby's later career and press profile. [17:20] Comments on improvements in equipment: slow speed of Cossor oscilloscopes, development of faster oscilloscopes by Fort Halstead; FR building a four-gun oscilloscope using Standard Telephone CRT, which he used tests in Australia; early transistor's insufficient speed; description of use of power transistors in inverters; sources of obtaining equipment, Nobby's helpful habit of passing round useful journal articles. [23:05] Comments on: FR promotion, grading structures; heavy responsibilities given to junior grades, such as Frank Whiteway and John Challens, who both became Aldermaston directors; effective but brusque senior administrator Admiral Brooking. [26:42] Description of position of technician of FR's grade within idiosyncrasies of hierarchies and gradings of Aldermaston, Harwell and Culham: example of section structure and ranks in Harwell, anecdote about FR not passing dummy interview board for promotion to experimental class, later promotion of FR at Culham. [31:20] Description of later integration of Scientific and Experimental groups into Scientific Officer [SO] Grade, and Engineers and Technicians into Professional and Technical Officer [PTO] Grade, FR promotion to PTO1; anecdote about FR's interview and lack of qualifications. [33:46] Discussion about various scientific civil service grades and changes to system over the years, status distinctions, Nobby Clarke's methods of managing his group. [38:00] Remarks on: stereotypically eccentric scientist; anecdote about colleague's attitude toward his mother-in-law; technical officer pay level when FR started; postwar rationing and conditions, FR first eating steak in Australia, FR wife caring for children; 'Bas' Pease and Nobby Clarke's motor vehicles; anecdote about Royal Navy and scientists ranks, Captain Capel's discussion with Nobby Clarke. [46:40] Remarks on: Aldermaston after Hurricane test; anecdote about head of explosive group Bill Moyce explaining waves to FR; Canadian NF Moody's publication based on telemetry work on test; senior staff talking to junior staff; limited discussion of next round of testing, personnel sent to subsequent Totem tests at Emu field; group effort toward supporting tests; [52:40] opportunities offered by travel to Australia, financial benefits; wives sometimes complaining at lack of husbands; FR wife's reactions to him going overseas again; FR enjoying work; FR learning he was being sent out to Australia; anecdote about FR trying to avoid being sent to the Grapple test series in 1957
Description
Interview with technician, Frank Raynor
Related transcripts
Frank Raynor interviewed by Thomas Lean: full transcript of the interview
Related links
Visit this interviewee's page on the 'Voices of Science' web resource
Metadata record: