News Article
SRP Shares 50th birthday year with Doctor Who
News Story from 18th Nov 2013
The Society proudly shares its 50th Birthday Year with the TV series 'Doctor Who'.
The connection doesn’t end there either - In 1975, the episode “The Android Invasion” was filmed at NRPB Chilton (now PHE).
A number of SRP members remember it being filmed but sadly didn't manage to get close to the action. A picture of the scene at NRPB can be seen here (Crown Copyright Public Health England) and more photos here.
Some members accounts of the day:
Geoff Webb, Honorary Fellow, Past President.The Dr Who filming occurred shortly after I had moved to NRPB Harwell (only Chilton later) following the closure of NRPB Sutton (or RPS Sutton as many regarded it) and I was staying in the UKAEA Rush Common hostel in Abingdon. A major scene in the story was when someone ran along the four storey central block of the NRPB building before jumping off. Fortunately for 
Tom Baker/his understudy the top of the single storey workshop block is identical to that of the central block and the jump could be made from there. Even so "Health & Safety" was in evidence and a large pile of of empty cardboard boxes were in place to break the fall. Since it had been pointed out to us that a sea of faces looking out of windows would not enhance the plot, few NRPB staff probably viewed the takes. There was, however, plenty of time between takes to approach the cast, and I recall having a few words with Dr Who's companion, Elizabeth Sladen. On returning to Rush Common I recounted the day's happenings to the largely UKAEA contingent over dinner and was immediately attacked for not having let them know what had been going on - there had been no widespread Harwell site notice of what was taking place. One fellow diner was particularly aggrieved as Elizabeth Sladen was, apparently, the main reason he ever watched the programme. The chance of a meeting had, however, passed as next day filming moved from what was regarded as the ultra-modern NRPB building to the old-world charm of East Hagbourne.
Tom Baker/his understudy the top of the single storey workshop block is identical to that of the central block and the jump could be made from there. Even so "Health & Safety" was in evidence and a large pile of of empty cardboard boxes were in place to break the fall. Since it had been pointed out to us that a sea of faces looking out of windows would not enhance the plot, few NRPB staff probably viewed the takes. There was, however, plenty of time between takes to approach the cast, and I recall having a few words with Dr Who's companion, Elizabeth Sladen. On returning to Rush Common I recounted the day's happenings to the largely UKAEA contingent over dinner and was immediately attacked for not having let them know what had been going on - there had been no widespread Harwell site notice of what was taking place. One fellow diner was particularly aggrieved as Elizabeth Sladen was, apparently, the main reason he ever watched the programme. The chance of a meeting had, however, passed as next day filming moved from what was regarded as the ultra-modern NRPB building to the old-world charm of East Hagbourne.Frank Bland, Past Hon Treasurer
Geoff Roberts, Honorary Fellow, Past President.
OTHEA: Learning the lessons from radiation incidents
Posted 17th Nov 2013
This is a reminder about the OTHEA website (www.othea.net), which contains descriptions of radiation…