Not an entirely random name for a blog, but close. I am not a goat herder - in the usual meaning of that word; nor does the Urban Dictionary definition apply to me either (for a decade at least): an extremely drunk male who having lost all self-respect and standards, loses his powers of discrimination when pulling females. It is said that Gateshead derives its name from a settlement near an early Tyne crossing where goats once roamed. The goats are long gone, but me - I like to roam these parts - or rather run - exploring new places, rediscovering old ones in and around Gateshead and Newcastle when I'm out jogging. This blog is a collection of my photos, thoughts, observations, rants, loves and hates about Newcastle and Gateshead.

Tuesday 26 April 2016

Chernobyl Fire-fighters Commemorated


26.04.1995 - 12.05.1995
Pilgrim Street Fire Station, Newcastle upon Tyne

It is 30 years since the Chernobyl nuclear accident happened in the Soviet Union - 26 April 2016. The accident occurred at a nuclear power plant in Ukraine, close to the border with Belarus.  Around 50 emergency workers were killed in the immediate aftermath, including the fire-fighters shown here, whose portraits adorned the roof of the then fire station on Pilgrim Street - 21 years ago.


"Natural History was premiered at Pilgrim Street Fire Station on the day of the ninth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. Large scanachromes (photographic reproductions on vinyl) of six individual 4.5 X 3 metre portraits were erected on a scaffolding structure measuring a total length of 18 metres.

 The portraits were of the first six firefighters to have died containing the disaster at Chernobyl Nuclear power station. Soviet firefighters were allocated three minutes each by the authorities to physically clear radioactive debris from the powerstation. The protective clothing which they were issued with was insufficient to block out the effects of the radiation."


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