By the Skin of our Teeth - The Windscale Nuclear Accident

...And a wonderful walk in the Lake District National Park.
In October 1957 the Windscale Pile 1 Nuclear Reactor suffered a nearly catastrophic failure: A fire spread from a fuel cartridge and compromised large parts of the graphite core. Several attempts were made to get the reactor under control, but, in the end, it was the Site manager, Tom Tuohy, who prevented the ultimate catastrophe by ordering the only remaining way out: Douse the flames with simple water. Heroically, he ordered all but the indispensable core people off site and personally oversaw this last effort. He was successful and saved a large part of northern England from becoming a radioactive no-go area, avoiding what would have been the world's first nuclear disaster.
On the insistence of John Cockroft, Nobel-Prize winning nuclear physicist at the site, high performance filters had been installed at the top of the stacks.
Without them, the pile 1 fire would have emitted ten times more radioactive particles into the air than it actually did. That would have been a deadly dose for many.
This is a video about nuclear technology in its infancy, about the sacrifices we have made during the cold war and about some unsung heroes who prevented a disaster without most people knowing about it at the time. We also learn why the Windscale Piles were built that way.
Today the place is known as Sellafield site. Its cleanup and decommissioning is estimated to last until the year 2120.

[@teprakp]

Your channel popped up with the beautiful White Horse. I was entranced, and have subscribed. I’m looking forward to amazingly interesting and beautiful education ! Many thanks from Australia 🇦🇺🦘🇦🇺

[@MattMesserPics]

Very kind, thank you! I'll do my best not to disappoint!

[@Daniel-xy1wn]

I had no idea how close Sellafield is to nature. Very informative (also slightly worrying) video - love it!

[@MattMesserPics]

Thanks! Yes, great - you can have a walk up the hills and then a refreshing bath in the Plute-pool - except that they don't let you, those HSE fanatics 😂

[@peace_oceans]

Really interesting story and beautifully told. I was raised in and around the lakes, many teenage years with an o/s map & compass, tramping the hills in the 70s & 80s. So, really lovely to see some views with a fascinating physics drama to boot. Thankyou! Digging your channel, thanks to yt pitching me the chalk horse a few months back.

[@MattMesserPics]

Thanks a lot for that nice comment! Let's hope that this one gets some more views - I am actually involved in the cleanup at Sellafield (as a supplier) and always spend as much time as I can around the lakes whenever I am up there.

[@daveyr7454]

Another excellent video Matthias. Very informative, visually super and filled with the dry humour that one usually expects from an Englishman! So many, many thanks.

[@MattMesserPics]

And many thanks, Dave, once more, for liking and taking the trouble to write a nice comment!

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

This is a stunning video on two counts, Matthias. The videography itself is superb - showcasing the beauty of Lakeland in the most spectacular way. The story of the Windscale reactor accident is chilling and expertly told here. To think what could have happened. I too think the post war British governments displayed bravery and vision in the face of a desperate economic situation. This does not appear to be the case today, where as you suggest, it all comes down to counting pennies and returns on spreadsheets. Very impressed by the shots of Sellafield too. Bravo!

[@MattMesserPics]

Well, Darren, what shall I say...I'm totally flattered by that comment. You do know how to make a battle-hardened old fellow blush in front of his screen. Thanks!

[@zacsayer1818]

The second of your videos I have watched now and I’ve decided to subscribe! More wind to your sail my friend, good luck!

[@MattMesserPics]

Thanks for the praise! I shall endeavour not to disappoint with what's next. Sadly, I don't have the time to film as much as I would like to.

[@bernardkealey6449]

I’ve read and watched a lot about Windscale, but none told so beautifully. Bravo. (found your channel because YT thought that today i needed to be cheered up by a 3000 year old massive dong)

[@MattMesserPics]

🤣Yes, the Cerne Giant is quite something, isn't it? Thanks for your comments on the Windscale video. Given the amount of work it was, I am a wee bit disappointed about its performance, so your kind words are all the more welcome!

[@bernardkealey6449]

@@MattMesserPics your introduction describing the dichotomy of your normal interests to this subject possibly sums up others too… but who knows, maybe in one of those quirky KZbin moments of fate this will hit the radar of the Sellafield nerds (I use that term endearingly not as an insult) and they’ll love it and subscribe for the joy you bring with your quiet, confident lovely cadence, well thought and executed editing, and timeless subject matter

[@MargitMesser-vo5or]

Absolutely your best so far, fascinating and highly interesting and what beautifully made film of this wonderful landscape! Thank you!

[@MattMesserPics]

I did my best, thanks!

[@bikepilot]

What a beautifully crafted video! I love the contrast of a dark nuclear episode with the countryside it could have ravaged. Great editing, drone work, use of music and general presentation. Loved it.

[@MattMesserPics]

Oh, thank you so much! That was exactly the contrast I was aiming for, but I feared I was sticking my neck out a bit with this one. Glad you liked it the way it was intended!

[@philipsmith7913]

I’d heard of the incident but was fascinated by the details you explained. Terrible to contemplate no Lake District!

[@MattMesserPics]

I'm glad you liked it - I did stick my neck out a bit with this one.

[@museonfilm8919]

Very different, and interesting - thankyou!

[@MattMesserPics]

I did fear that it might be a bit too 'different' for my audience. Thank you for likeing!

[@mikemcgrath5188]

where i live, in the states, they shut down a reactor pile 30 miles north of nyc but left the spent fuel rods there becuz no one wants them or for that matter what to do with them. this is fine. it's all good.

[@MattMesserPics]

Thanks for the info! That's interesting...I don't recall that one - and I used to work on Long Island for a few years. Do you remember the name of the plant?

[@philcollinson328]

Hmm Cumbrians might have let him get away with shooting cannons at them ...Geordies would have snuck up behind him and tossed him over the walls.

[@MattMesserPics]

@@philcollinson328 😂

[@acccardone7679]

The American President you were attempting to refer to is actually named Franklin D. Roosevelt. Otherwise, this was an interesting video. (Your inaccuracy in the name of one of your major players in this video, however, leads me to question the accuracy of the rest of your details...)

[@MattMesserPics]

I just watched it again myself and I could swear I hear myself saying Franklin D. Roosevelt at the 10:08 mark. So, I can hereby reassure you about the accuracy of the other information conveyed 😁 OK, I know I mispronounced the name...but ever so slightly. Anyway, thanks for the comment!