thedailymirror--2020-04-29--Tekashi 6ix9ine teenage superfan tattoos entire face to copy rapper

A teenage student from Russia has been inspired by American rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine to cover his face with similar tattoos .
The 17-year-old loyal fan , called Vladimir Roslyakov , even had his mum pay for the facial ink .
The controversial U.S rapper that Vladimir had decided to dedicate his facial tattoos has been serving a two-year prison sentence in the United States .
The musician , real name Daniel Hernandez , pleaded guilty to conspiracy , drug offences , drug trafficking and firearm offences .
Although he was released from prison early at the start of April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his sentence under house arrest due to the coronavirus .
The Russian teenager , who hails from the south-western region of Sverdlovsk Oblast , revealed that he had only discovered the rapper over a year ago .
Although he was first inspired by the artist 's tattoos , the teenager has since come to also like his music .
Speaking to Newsflash about his dramatic new body art , Vladimir could n't wait to copy his idol .
“ At first , I was shocked how you could get such tattoos on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got one of those too.
” Although his mum has shelled out the cash for her teenage son 's ink , Vladimir explained that his family were initially not very fond of his face art .
“ She pays for them because she knows that I ’ ll do it anyway so it ’ s better for me that I have them done in a tattoo salon rather than God knows where , ” he explained about his mum 's decision .
Speaking about his family , he explained : “ They now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tattoos ) but they are at least happy when a new one is not on my face.
” Vladimir has vowed to launch his own rap career later this year and wants to carry on getting new tattoos .
In the meantime , however , he has also set his mind to finishing his studies .
“ My studies were so-so in the ninth grade .
Before then I was an excellent student but I ’ m getting bored often so I don ’ t have the willingness to study more .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have a story to sell ?
Get in touch with us at webcelebs @ trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 3303

A Russian 6ix9ine fan has been inspired by the rapper to get a number of facial tattoos - that were all paid for by his mum
A teenage student from Russia has been inspired by American rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine to cover his face with similar tattoos.
The 17-year-old loyal fan, called Vladimir Roslyakov, even had his mum pay for the facial ink.
The controversial U.S rapper that Vladimir had decided to dedicate his facial tattoos has been serving a two-year prison sentence in the United States.
The musician, real name Daniel Hernandez, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, drug offences, drug trafficking and firearm offences.
Although he was released from prison early at the start of April, he is serving the remaining four months of his sentence under house arrest due to the coronavirus.
The Russian teenager, who hails from the south-western region of Sverdlovsk Oblast, revealed that he had only discovered the rapper over a year ago.
Image: Newsflash/@igibob) Newsflash/@igibob)
Although he was first inspired by the artist's tattoos, the teenager has since come to also like his music.
Speaking to Newsflash about his dramatic new body art, Vladimir couldn't wait to copy his idol.
“At first, I was shocked how you could get such tattoos on your body but then liked it and got one of those too.”
Image: WireImage) WireImage)
Although his mum has shelled out the cash for her teenage son's ink, Vladimir explained that his family were initially not very fond of his face art.
“She pays for them because she knows that I’ll do it anyway so it’s better for me that I have them done in a tattoo salon rather than God knows where,” he explained about his mum's decision.
Speaking about his family, he explained: “They now don’t react to them (tattoos) but they are at least happy when a new one is not on my face.”
Image: Newsflash/@igibob) Newsflash/@igibob)
Vladimir has vowed to launch his own rap career later this year and wants to carry on getting new tattoos.
In the meantime, however, he has also set his mind to finishing his studies.
“My studies were so-so in the ninth grade. Before then I was an excellent student but I’m getting bored often so I don’t have the willingness to study more. I’ll finish it though.”
Do you have a story to sell ? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 3303


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--Luke Campbell determined to win world title despite WBC snub

Luke Campbell is determined not to be denied another world title shot by boxing 's power brokers .
The lightweight was preparing for a second tilt at the WBC belt having fallen short against Vasyl Lomachenko last August .
He was due to take on Javier Fortuna for the vacant strap after the injured Devin Haney was made champion 'in recess ' .
But the coronavirus crisis has allowed the American to recover and he was last week reinstated as the 135lb champion .
That leaves Campbell in limbo with his fight against Fortuna likely to be relegated to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
But the 32-year-old is determined to crown his career by adding a professional world title to his Olympic gold .
`` At the end of the day I 'm here to fight the best and I 've got a big name to be in massive fights and a big enough reputation to be in exciting fights against any of the champions , '' he told Mirror Fighting .
`` It will happen , I will fight for a title and I will win a title but it 's just who and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I was promised something and then they took it away from me through no fault of my own , so it can be a little disheartening and upsetting but it 's one of those things .
`` They hold the power and I do n't and I 've just to get on with it , keep training hard and the title fights will be there to take .
`` I 'm a fighter who just wants to fight but I do n't have the control to say I 'm fighting for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be patient . ''
Campbell was outpointed by Lomachenko last summer before the pound-for-pound No.1 was controversially elevated to 'franchise champion ' .
And despite his defeat , Campbell is confident he could turn the tables should the rivals meet again .
`` Every lesson hurt is a lesson learned and even though I did n't get the win in that last fight , I feel like it was the making of me , '' he added .
`` Sometimes when you 're winning all the time you do n't look at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you suffer a defeat you look at it closely and you study to try and make yourself better .
`` People were saying I was fantastic but the way I look at it I can be so much better and I will be .
`` I 've done a lot of studying of myself since that fight and I realised i did n't do a lot of things I 'm capable of .
`` I feel like I 'm just coming into myself , I really do feel I can beat any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting better than ever .
`` I 'd love to fight him again , I 'd love to be a in a position to have a rematch and I 'm probably the only boxer on the planet who is saying he wants to fight Lomachenko , the rest of them never mention his name , and I get it , I know why !
`` I also know I can do more in the second fight but I do need to earn it , I 'm not deluded and calling people out without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earn my second shot and I honestly believe I can get the win , as hard as that might be . ''

"I WILL FIGHT FOR A TITLE AND I WILL WIN A TITLE" LUKE CAMPBELL CONFIDENT HE'LL GET WORLD TITLE SHOT
"I WILL FIGHT FOR A TITLE AND I WILL WIN A TITLE" LUKE CAMPBELL CONFIDENT HE'LL GET WORLD TITLE SHOT
Campbell was due to face Javier Fortuna for the lightweight world title this month but the coronavirus crisis has put paid to his hopes for now
Luke Campbell is determined not to be denied another world title shot by boxing's power brokers.
The lightweight was preparing for a second tilt at the WBC belt having fallen short against Vasyl Lomachenko last August.
He was due to take on Javier Fortuna for the vacant strap after the injured Devin Haney was made champion 'in recess'.
But the coronavirus crisis has allowed the American to recover and he was last week reinstated as the 135lb champion.
That leaves Campbell in limbo with his fight against Fortuna likely to be relegated to a final eliminator when boxing returns after the pandemic.
But the 32-year-old is determined to crown his career by adding a professional world title to his Olympic gold.
Image: Ian Tuttle/BPI/REX) Ian Tuttle/BPI/REX)
"At the end of the day I'm here to fight the best and I've got a big name to be in massive fights and a big enough reputation to be in exciting fights against any of the champions," he told Mirror Fighting.
"It will happen, I will fight for a title and I will win a title but it's just who and when that I'm not sure.
"I was promised something and then they took it away from me through no fault of my own, so it can be a little disheartening and upsetting but it's one of those things.
"They hold the power and I don't and I've just to get on with it, keep training hard and the title fights will be there to take.
"I'm a fighter who just wants to fight but I don't have the control to say I'm fighting for the title next, i just have to be patient."
Campbell was outpointed by Lomachenko last summer before the pound-for-pound No.1 was controversially elevated to 'franchise champion'.
And despite his defeat, Campbell is confident he could turn the tables should the rivals meet again.
Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)
"Every lesson hurt is a lesson learned and even though I didn't get the win in that last fight, I feel like it was the making of me," he added.
"Sometimes when you're winning all the time you don't look at the lessons and learn from them but when you suffer a defeat you look at it closely and you study to try and make yourself better.
"People were saying I was fantastic but the way I look at it I can be so much better and I will be.
"I've done a lot of studying of myself since that fight and I realised i didn't do a lot of things I'm capable of.
"I feel like I'm just coming into myself, I really do feel I can beat any of them out there and that I'm getting better than ever.
"I'd love to fight him again, I'd love to be a in a position to have a rematch and I'm probably the only boxer on the planet who is saying he wants to fight Lomachenko, the rest of them never mention his name, and I get it, I know why!
"I also know I can do more in the second fight but I do need to earn it, I'm not deluded and calling people out without earning the right, but I will earn my second shot and I honestly believe I can get the win, as hard as that might be."


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--Barcelona star Arthur rules out Premier League switch amid transfer speculation

Barcelona superstar Arthur Melo has closed the door on a potential move to the Premier League after pledging his future to the Nou Camp .
Brazil midfielder Melo has been linked with several English clubs while Italian giants Inter Milan and Juventus have also been looking at him .
But the 23-year-old has been told he is a key part of Barcelona boss Quique Setien ’ s long term plans and is relishing the chance to flourish at the Spanish giants .
Melo said : “ There ’ ll always be rumours , but I ’ m honestly really clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m interested in is staying at Barcelona , I ’ m really sure and relaxed about it .
“ I feel very much at home here and thank the club and the coaching staff for the faith they ’ ve placed in me .
That ’ s yet another reason that makes me totally certain that all I want to do is stay here .
“ The rumoured interest from big clubs is always flattering for anyone and it ’ s a good sign , but my mind is totally focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come .
“ Barça is the club I ’ ve always wanted to be at and I want to remain an Azulgrana for a long time to come , that comes above everything else .
“ Every day I feel more at home here , in the team , around the club and in the city .
I also love the people and the culture here and really feel the the fans ’ support .
“ I ’ m 100 % focused on working and want us to get back and playing whenever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue improving here and fighting for more silverware in a Barcelona shirt.
” Barcelona are ready to listen to offers for Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic and fellow veteran Arturo Vidal which could put English clubs on red alert when the transfer window re-opens .

Rumours suggested a number of Premier League sides were interested in signing the Brazilian midfielder, but he has no intentions of leaving the Nou Camp this summer
Barcelona superstar Arthur Melo has closed the door on a potential move to the Premier League after pledging his future to the Nou Camp.
Brazil midfielder Melo has been linked with several English clubs while Italian giants Inter Milan and Juventus have also been looking at him.
But the 23-year-old has been told he is a key part of Barcelona boss Quique Setien’s long term plans and is relishing the chance to flourish at the Spanish giants.
Melo said: “There’ll always be rumours, but I’m honestly really clear about the fact that the only option I’m interested in is staying at Barcelona, I’m really sure and relaxed about it.
Image: AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images)
“I feel very much at home here and thank the club and the coaching staff for the faith they’ve placed in me. That’s yet another reason that makes me totally certain that all I want to do is stay here.
“The rumoured interest from big clubs is always flattering for anyone and it’s a good sign, but my mind is totally focused on being here for many years to come.
“Barça is the club I’ve always wanted to be at and I want to remain an Azulgrana for a long time to come, that comes above everything else.
“Every day I feel more at home here, in the team, around the club and in the city. I also love the people and the culture here and really feel the the fans’ support.
“I’m 100% focused on working and want us to get back and playing whenever we can because I’m raring to continue improving here and fighting for more silverware in a Barcelona shirt.”
Barcelona are ready to listen to offers for Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic and fellow veteran Arturo Vidal which could put English clubs on red alert when the transfer window re-opens.


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--James Argent displays remarkable weight loss as he goes topless on video chat

James Argent fans haven been given a glimpse at his impressive weight loss as his latest Instagram offering shows his slimmed down figure .
Arg was chatting on a video call to Ferne McCann 's daughter Sunday , with whom he 's very close .
Lying down without a shirt , fans could observe that his hard work is paying off with a toned chest and stomach .
In an adorable caption , Arg wrote : `` You are the sunshine of my life .
`` I love & miss you Sunday , ca n't wait to watch you on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Arg 's TOWIE pal Ferne gushed in the comments : `` Ahhhhh this is so cute she loves her uncle Arg x . ''
Sam Faiers posted a heart emoji , while Scarlett Moffat called the pair `` too cute . ''
His followers noticed that his workouts have had an effect , one writing : `` Arg you 're looking really well . ''
`` Omg you 've lost loads of weight well done ! ''
another congratulated him .
`` Aww this is too cute , '' a third fawned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' 32 year old Arg was recently snapped working up a sweat as he got his daily exercise on a run near his Essex home .
He 's also opened up about how exercise has helped him with his mental as well as physical health .
`` I 'm making progress .
Inside & Out .
One day at a time , '' he wrote alongside a snaps to show how far he 's come .
Last year he told The Sun that he was the `` biggest '' he 'd ever been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to my body , I need to work on that .
`` I need to get back in the gym and boxing again .
I 'm desperate to get back on track . ''
He added : `` I struggle to get into a routine and structure with my job - I 'm here , there and everywhere . ''
Earlier this year , he was reported to have checked in to a specialist retreat in Thailand , having been admitted to hospital the month before .

Gemma says Arg's weight has affected their sex life
Gemma says Arg's weight has affected their sex life
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Arg showed off his slimmed down figure as he chatted to Ferne McCann's daughter Sunday on a video chat
James Argent displays remarkable weight loss as he goes topless on video chat
James Argent fans haven been given a glimpse at his impressive weight loss as his latest Instagram offering shows his slimmed down figure.
Arg was chatting on a video call to Ferne McCann's daughter Sunday, with whom he's very close.
Lying down without a shirt, fans could observe that his hard work is paying off with a toned chest and stomach.
In an adorable caption, Arg wrote: "You are the sunshine of my life.
"I love & miss you Sunday, can't wait to watch you on the tele tonight."
Doting mum and Arg's TOWIE pal Ferne gushed in the comments: "Ahhhhh this is so cute she loves her uncle Arg x."
Image: Instagram) Instagram)
Sam Faiers posted a heart emoji, while Scarlett Moffat called the pair "too cute."
His followers noticed that his workouts have had an effect, one writing: "Arg you're looking really well."
"Omg you've lost loads of weight well done!" another congratulated him.
Image: real_arg/Instagram) real_arg/Instagram)
"Aww this is too cute," a third fawned, "You look great Arg."
32 year old Arg was recently snapped working up a sweat as he got his daily exercise on a run near his Essex home.
He's also opened up about how exercise has helped him with his mental as well as physical health.
Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)
"I'm making progress. Inside & Out. One day at a time," he wrote alongside a snaps to show how far he's come.
Last year he told The Sun that he was the "biggest" he'd ever been.
Arg said: "In regards to my body, I need to work on that.
Image: Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com) Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com)
"I need to get back in the gym and boxing again. I'm desperate to get back on track."
He added: "I struggle to get into a routine and structure with my job - I'm here, there and everywhere."
Earlier this year, he was reported to have checked in to a specialist retreat in Thailand, having been admitted to hospital the month before.


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--When Britain exploded the most powerful weapon it ever built - and failed

In 1958 Eric Denson was 26 years old , a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force , and “ handsome and sexy as hell ” .
He was married to Shirley , then 24 , and father to daughter Suzanne , 2 .
“ He was one of the best pilots they had , ” said Shirley .
“ That ’ s why they chose him .
They had no idea what it would be like in that cloud , and he knew every inch of the Canberra bomber he flew .
He even trained others .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bomb , he was the one who would be able to do it.
” Eric ’ s job usually involved high-altitude patrols of the border with Iron Curtain countries in Eastern Europe .
His favourite trick was to evade the radar of other countries , and was so good at it he even managed to twice fool the Americans based at Lakenheath in Suffolk .
One day he came home and told Shirley he had to go away on a top secret mission for six months .
Shirley said : “ He looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I knew he wasn ’ t telling me everything .
But at that time there was real fear the world was coming to an end , or the Soviets would invade .
We were loyal to our country , so we had to make the best of it.
” When Eric left Shirley for Christmas Island with the rest of 76 Squadron , it was for a six-month mission they believed would keep them , and Britain , safe .
Eric and Shirley at the christening of their daughter Nicola who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire nuclear testing programme had been building up to .
The atomic devices that had been developed were to be used as triggers for even bigger , thermonuclear explosions – the hydrogen bomb .
It had the potential to be 1,000 times more powerful than the blasts that leveled Nagasaki and Hiroshima .
And a million times more terrifying to Britain ’ s enemies .
An H-bomb uses an atom bomb to tear atoms apart in a process called fission , using a conventional bomb to explode highly unstable radioactive uranium or plutonium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directed onto a second bomb within the same warhead to smash the atoms back together again – called fusion .
It ’ s the same reaction that powers our Sun , only on a much smaller scale , and an awful lot closer .
But public clamour for an end to nuclear tests was growing .
Top secret documents from planning meetings in 1955 revealed officials were concerned to get an H-bomb quickly , and that to quell objections they would need to be “ arranged in great haste ” and “ introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials and scientists even decided to spin their plans when presenting them to government – warning “ it should be phrased in a manner calculated least to alarm ministers ” .
And so Britain launched its biggest military operation since D-Day .
Servicemen from all three armed forces , scientists from the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston , and even ladies from the Women ’ s Royal Voluntary Service were sent to Christmas Island in the South Pacific – today renamed Kiritimati .
Engineers built water tanks , distillation systems , runways and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; the RAF provided aircraft and meteorologists to produce extensive weather forecasting over vast areas of ocean ; technicians converted bombers to sampling planes , ground crew set up decontamination facilities ; bulldozers and fire engines were shipped from Britain ; and army signals built communication systems while the navy provided ships to patrol and guard the test zones so no-one could observe what Britain was up to .
Grapple was to consist of three separate bombs – codenamed Short Granite , Green Granite , and Orange Herald .
All were dropped by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 400 miles away , and all went disastrously wrong .
The first , dropped in May 1957 , had a yield of 300 kilotons – much less than expected .
It was also 418 yards off-target .
Penney cancelled Green Granite and rebuilt the bomb with extra uranium .
Meanwhile they fired Orange Herald – 720 kilotons , but the bomber crew almost died when their plane stalled .
The bomb was on a clockwork timer and they would have been caught in the blast were it not for the quick-thinking pilot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Granite , did even worse .
At just 200 kilotons , it was an abject failure .
All three were declared H-bombs in the hope of fooling US observers into restoring co-operation .
That didn ’ t work either .
Billy Morris was the first to die – a strapping lad of 20 , reduced to skin and bone only months after being rated “ A1 fit ” .
His sister Rachel said : “ I remember him in his uniform – he was so handsome and such a lovely boy .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
He went to Christmas Island on National Service and a few months after he came back he wasted away to nothing and died.
” Billy pictured second from the left Billy , from Swansea , was a sapper in the Royal Engineers .
He was seen by 5 doctors when he enlisted , who recorded he was in peak condition .
He was one of 2,500 to witness the first three Grapple tests in 1957 , but reported sick on January 1 , 1958 with nosebleeds and swellings in his neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK , where he was diagnosed with “ an organic disease of the glands ” and then allowed home .
He collapsed and was readmitted , diagnosed with leukaemia , and died on June 14 – just 13 months after the Grapple began .
His girlfriend Sylvia was pregnant .
His inquest heard Billy ’ s only protection at the tests was a pair of dark glasses .
Asked about the risk of contamination by rainwater , an officer admitted that water did enter the men ’ s tents but “ the beds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground ” .
The verdict was “ death from natural causes ” , on the grounds his type of leukaemia was not linked to radiation .
Studies have since shown there may be a connection .
Rachel said : “ The Royal British Legion wanted to use Billy as a test case for compensation .
But his girlfriend lost the baby and my mother found it all too upsetting , so we decided to pull out.
” Derek Fiddaman was also there in 1957 – a 21-year-old naval rating on guard ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ island .
He was ordered on deck to watch the explosions , and believes prevailing winds later dropped fallout on the crew .
He said : “ I plotted the position of the ship at the point the bomb was dropped – and the wind was from the east.
” In 1975 he developed lumps on his face that were diagnosed as basal cell carcinomas – cancers rooted in the deepest layer of skin .
In the 43 years since he has had 1,000 hospital visits and more than 200 tumours removed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out every year Derek , now 80 , of Horsham , West Sussex , said : “ I have about five cut out every year , so if I live another 20 years there ’ ll be 100 more .
Each time they cut one out I go back and there ’ s another one growing in the scar.
” After a long fight with the MoD he won a 60 % war pension on the grounds his cancers were caused by radiation – from the sun .
He said : “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s not going to kill me .
All I want is to hear the word ‘ sorry ’ .
They never will , but that ’ s all I want.
” At home , politicians were aghast at the failure of the blasts .
The test ban treaty was expected within a year , and without an H-bomb Britain would never again be a global power .
Task force commander Air Vice Marshal Wilfrid Oulton was recalled to London and told to conduct more tests .
In his memoir Oulton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief scientist Bill Cook walked on the beach one evening , “ gin and tonics in hand ” , and realised they did not have enough time to do it at a distance .
This time , the bomb target would be 1.5 miles off the south-east tip of Christmas Island – where the servicemen lived .
He wrote : “ We knew we couldn ’ t do it from Malden again because that was 400 miles away .
We thought it would be safe at Christmas Island because the dropping point was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Later , on December 4 , 1957 , Oulton reported to the Atomic Weapons Trials Executive moving the test to Christmas Island “ had made the mounting of the operation much easier and had resulted in savings which might be as much as £2m ” .
The new tests were codenamed X , Y and Z. Servicemen who were expecting to go home were told they would be staying an extra year .
Another airfield was built , and further laboratories and bunkers .
Officers combated sinking morale by organising leave in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and regular propaganda sessions telling the men how vital the tests were to national security .
There were fewer safety checks .
While AWE records show that 96 % of those at Hurricane had film badges to record their radiation dose , the proportion dropped to just 8 % at Grapple X and 3 % at Grapple Y .
Veterans who had overalls and balaclavas at earlier tests now wore everyday shirts and shorts as they were mustered to witness the bombs .
The first bomb was supercharged with extra uranium in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beryllium to concentrate the force of the initial explosion and magnify the power of the blast .
Grapple X was dropped at 8.47am on November 8 , 1957 , with a yield of 1.8 megatons .
Britain finally had the H-bomb .
Grapple X had needed a lot of enriched uranium , which was expensive to produce .
Grapple Y aimed at using less of it by increasing other radioactive components .
This new bomb was dropped at 10.05am on April 28 , 1958 .
Flt Lt Denson ’ s Canberra was in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had been specially converted to collect samples so scientists could determine the strength of the blast .
Records show he entered the mushroom cloud 49 minutes after the blast , and spent 6 minutes flying through the incredible turbulence .
Into the jaws of death , into the mouth of hell , rode the six hundred ... A quote from Charge of the Light Brigade that Eric Denson repeated as he flew into the mushroom cloud Shirley remembers : “ Eric never discussed with me what had happened on Christmas Island .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with my father .
“ He said he had almost lost control as the plane went into the mushroom cloud .
They were tossed about by the most incredible forces .
He said he just held on , and recited that line from the Charge of the Light Brigade , ‘ Into the jaws of death , into the mouth of hell , rode the six hundred ... ’ over and over again.
” This time the bomb went according to plan .
It had a yield of 3 megatons , 112 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to governments worldwide that the British now had the most powerful weapon on Earth .
In 1958 AWE scientists wrote a document titled : “ Determination of the whole body dose of radiation acquired by Aircrew members while on Cloud Sampling detail.
” Its purpose was to compare readings on the ‘ Charlie meter ’ , mounted inside the cockpit , with film badges worn by the three crew .
It says : “ Care was taken to ensure that as little shielding effect as possible was given by the ejector seat and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the badges.
” Four badges were placed around the pilot , wireless operator and navigator – one on the headrest , two on each armrest , and the last “ in seat pan 1 inch from testicles ” .
It says using feedback from the first sampling mission , the second ‘ sniff ’ plane was able to stay in the mushroom cloud longest , and states : “ Thus the initial experiment was carried out on personnel flying the Secondary sampler.
” Eric Denson was pilot of the second plane .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and found the pilot was the most exposed crew member .
The badge behind Eric ’ s head recorded a dose of 18 Roentgen , equivalent to 165 years ’ worth of normal background radiation .
The badge next to his testicles had a dose of 8.8 Roentgen , which is about 30 years ’ worth of natural exposure .
The document proves scientists were aware Eric ’ s family might be affected .
It says the lower testicular readings “ are of interest and cheer in relation to the possibility of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Eric vomited for 48 hours .
His log book – signed off by two squadron leaders , one of them a holder of a Distinguished Flying Cross - shows that he was ordered back into the same plane two days later on April 30 for “ radar calibration and formation flying ” .
A navigator on his squadron , Joe Pasquini , claims the plane had not been decontaminated but left alone on an isolated patch of airfield .
He also says using an expensive , and radioactive , bomber to calibrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were many smaller , safer aircraft on the island .
He adds : “ We never flew in formation .
The only reason I can think of to send Eric back up , with another plane to observe him , would be to see how a RAF pilot and plane would operate after being irradiated .
Seeing as he was used in an ‘ initial experiment ’ , perhaps that was the second.
” The MoD says it has no record of the flight .
Scientists were well aware of the risks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the initial burst – and to which Eric was exposed while flying through the cloud - could be followed by fallout , when material sucked up and irradiated by the blast drops back to Earth below .
These ‘ alpha particles ’ are so weak they can not pass through skin or paper .
But if they are ingested in water , food or air , they can not escape again .
And thousands of servicemen were living next to the testing grounds .
Scientists believed that if the bombs were detonated high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , soil or sea water into the maelstrom .
But Grapple Y took place in the wet season .
The AWE document on Eric ’ s experiment mentions “ the wet weather encountered during the trial ” .
Veterans , observers , and contemporary accounts all say the bomb dropped lower and closer than it should have done , and that “ black rain ” fell on the island immediately afterwards .
More than half of those who have joined the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association , which has campaigned on claims of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present at Grapple Y .
Among the survivors , it is known as “ the bomb that went wrong ” .
The risks were known Britain was aware of the risks before the tests began .
Historical documents released from the state archives show that in 1951 Penney demanded insurance for scientific staff in case any developed radiogenic diseases .
Admiral Arthur Torlesse said he would only order his men into danger “ in the knowledge that the Admiralty accept liability for those killed or injured on duty ” .
And on May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research Committee discussed how troops would be affected by the blasts .
It said : “ The Army must discover the detailed effects of various types of explosion on equipment , stores and men with and without various types of protection.
” In 1955 Prime Minister Anthony Eden was warned that if the scientists were to build an H-bomb , it could damage troops ’ DNA .
A letter headed 10 Downing Street and dated November 14 says : “ The Prime Minister saw the report from Sir Harold Himsworth about the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Nuclear Radiation .
His comment was : ‘ A pity , but we can not help it ’ .
” In a draft report ahead of Grapple Y , Air Commodore Denis Wilson , the senior medical officer on the task force , said he expected servicemen to die .
He wrote : “ It is emphasised that in the event of the expected yield being obtained or increased there will almost certainly be in addition to considerable material damage , casualties to individuals , and this should be taken into consideration.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ servicemen face “ significant increases ” in radiation exposure compared to previous tests , should be dug into shallow foxholes to shelter from the blast and given protective clothing .
“ YOU are about to experience something no-one else in the world will ever see , ” the senior Army officer told a ship full of Royal Engineers .
Raymond Webber was a 21-year-old sapper when he heard it , and 60 years later remembers it ironically .
When the ship finally docked at Christmas Island in the South Pacific in 1958 he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but one of his tasks was to drive a truck through the fallout to collect heavily-contaminated equipment while wearing nothing but shorts and sandals .
Raymond , 81 , of Gillingham , Kent , said : “ A couple of senior types came and grabbed me one day , told me to drive them into the ‘ forward area ’ .
That was the sharp end of the island where all the bombs were exploded .
“ It was a huge truck , kicked up tons of dust and we had the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We drove to a shed that had three generators in it to run the monitoring equipment that took readings during the explosions .
I waited while they loaded some stuff in the back .
I asked what it was and they said I didn ’ t need to know .
“ When we left there was a mobile decontamination point that they had to go through , and they had shower after shower because their readings kept showing radiation .
They washed me down too but we all put our uniforms back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And the truck wasn ’ t washed , and we all climbed back in that.
” Raymond had joined the Army as a 16-year-old apprentice .
On returning home he married and had children , eventually leaving the Army in 1965 .
Her said : “ It wasn ’ t long after I came back that I was wearing false teeth , and I ’ ve got osteoarthritis in my knees and neck .
But I ’ m not worried about me .
It ’ s my children.
” Raymond had 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The oldest was diagnosed with arthritis while undergoing Army basic training , and now has crumbling discs and cluster migraines .
The second son has arthritis , a deformed lung and chronic condition lymphodoema .
Another son has generalised arthritis and a thyroid condition , and the youngest child is the healthiest .
Third son Philip , 55 , has arthritis in all major joints , stage 3 chronic kidney disease , diverticulosis , cellulitis , depression and insomnia .
His daughter , aged 26 , has pain in her knees and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radiation knows no time limits .
None of us knew what we were letting ourselves in for , and we had absolutely no protection .
Ever since we ’ ve tried to get people to believe that what went on should never have happened.
” RAF sergeant Roy Kirkland was ordered to sleep just half a mile from Ground Zero .
In a memoir , he wrote about living in a tent next to a target area that was turned to glass by the bombs , and said he was also told to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scientists to monitor the blast .
It reveals that after a few months his unit was ordered to move from the main camp , which was 30 miles from the blast zone , to ‘ B site ’ , right next to the target area .
Roy wrote : `` Scientists were going to explode an A-bomb .
This was to be done by putting the bomb in a large basket slung under a flying barrage balloon tethered to the floor by steel cables rooted in large concrete pads .
Now we knew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from our tent lines were for.
” He said they were not moved back to main camp during the actual explosions , but to a level area near ‘ B site ’ .
He wrote : “ We huddled together in total terror , stunned and silent by this phenomenon .
There are not enough words to describe everything at that moment in time .
I would say it took at least half an hour for us to contemplate even talking in any semblance of normality .
“ What right had the British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and thousands more to that torture without facts being explained to us first about the after-effects ?
We stayed at B site as life went on , writing letters home and yearning for the day when we could go home.
” Roy returned home to Burton-on-Trent , his wife Angela and baby Denise , who was born while he was away .
The couple went on to have four more children , two with chronic health problems .
Daughter Melissa Cooke has severe thyroid and joint issues , and her son was born @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter , Claire Kinson , has had skin cancer , chronic fatigue syndrome , and has unexplained lesions on her legs .
But it was Claire 's son Wayne who paid the highest price .
He was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer of the nervous system , called a neuroblastoma , aged just 3 .
He underwent four years of aggressive treatment before dying when he was 7 .
Wayne 's aunt Denise Venning told the Mirror : “ My dad used to say all they had on was a pair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were simply told to look the other way .
Afterwards he was told to clear the beach of all the dead birds and debris from the bombs using their bare hands .
“ He was devastated to see the illnesses in our family and particularly when Wayne was diagnosed he would say ‘ I wonder if it was anything to do with me ’ .
” There were still 4 more tests to come – known as Grapple Z , they were aimed at refining the weapon to get as big a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weighing no more than a ton , and to do so before an international moratorium began in October 1958 .
They took place in August and September .
Pendant , which used different ingredients to prime the bomb , was suspended from barrage balloons .
Flagpole was dropped from a plane using blind radar techniques .
Halliard had a three-stage design to trigger the blast and used pilot visual targeting , while Burgee was exploded using barrage balloons and tritium gas .
They had a combined yield of just over a megaton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Britain ever fired .
In the aftermath , American co-operation was re-established , weapon systems were designed , and eventually the two nations entered an agreement whereby US missiles were used with British nuclear warheads .
Between 1962 and 1991 the UK exploded a further 24 devices underground in Nevada , using US expertise and sharing results with their scientists .
These were tests on specific warhead designs , with comparatively low yields .
The last one took place under John Major ’ s government , and involved testing a refinement that enabled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its precise yield , and therefore circle of damage it would cause .
As the Cold War thawed and Ronald Reagan held summits with Mikhail Gorbachev , nuclear weapons began to be decommissioned all over the world .
Today Britain retains one nuclear weapons system – Trident .
Four nuclear submarines , each armed with 16 missiles , patrol the seas , while a further 150 or so warheads are stockpiled and maintained by US experts .
While the MoD disputes all claims of servicemen being used as guinea pigs , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the scientists – not experimented upon , perhaps , but certainly experimented with .
Used like pokers to stoke a fire , and discarded if damaged .
Veterans insist , whatever the official safety regulations claim , that they had little to no protective clothing , and no briefings whatsoever about the possibility of genetic damage to their future children .
If you would like a relative included here , please email a photograph with details of name , rank , unit , bomb test , any health problems or cause of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues , to damned @ trinitymirror.com Or if you want to get involved in the fight for justice for our veterans by signing a petition or more , visit the Get Involved page to find out how you can help .

Chapter 3 Operation Grapple The bomb tests moved to a desert island in the South Pacific, where Britain exploded the most powerful weapon it has ever built
In 1958 Eric Denson was 26 years old, a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, and “handsome and sexy as hell”. He was married to Shirley, then 24, and father to daughter Suzanne, 2. “He was one of the best pilots they had,” said Shirley. “That’s why they chose him. They had no idea what it would be like in that cloud, and he knew every inch of the Canberra bomber he flew. He even trained others. If you wanted someone to fly through a nuclear bomb, he was the one who would be able to do it.” Eric’s job usually involved high-altitude patrols of the border with Iron Curtain countries in Eastern Europe. His favourite trick was to evade the radar of other countries, and was so good at it he even managed to twice fool the Americans based at Lakenheath in Suffolk. Eric Denson in the cockpit One day he came home and told Shirley he had to go away on a top secret mission for six months. Shirley said: “He looked very worried as he told me, and I knew he wasn’t telling me everything. But at that time there was real fear the world was coming to an end, or the Soviets would invade. We were loyal to our country, so we had to make the best of it.” When Eric left Shirley for Christmas Island with the rest of 76 Squadron, it was for a six-month mission they believed would keep them, and Britain, safe. Eric and Shirley at the christening of their daughter Nicola who is now deceased
1,000 times more powerful than the blasts that leveled Nagasaki and Hiroshima
Operation Grapple was what the entire nuclear testing programme had been building up to. The atomic devices that had been developed were to be used as triggers for even bigger, thermonuclear explosions – the hydrogen bomb. It had the potential to be 1,000 times more powerful than the blasts that leveled Nagasaki and Hiroshima. And a million times more terrifying to Britain’s enemies. An H-bomb uses an atom bomb to tear atoms apart in a process called fission, using a conventional bomb to explode highly unstable radioactive uranium or plutonium. All of that energy is then directed onto a second bomb within the same warhead to smash the atoms back together again – called fusion. It’s the same reaction that powers our Sun, only on a much smaller scale, and an awful lot closer. But public clamour for an end to nuclear tests was growing. Top secret documents from planning meetings in 1955 revealed officials were concerned to get an H-bomb quickly, and that to quell objections they would need to be “arranged in great haste” and “introduced by very careful publicity”. The officials and scientists even decided to spin their plans when presenting them to government – warning “it should be phrased in a manner calculated least to alarm ministers”.
It all went disastrously wrong
And so Britain launched its biggest military operation since D-Day. Servicemen from all three armed forces, scientists from the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, and even ladies from the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service were sent to Christmas Island in the South Pacific – today renamed Kiritimati. Engineers built water tanks, distillation systems, runways and roads with the help of local islanders; the RAF provided aircraft and meteorologists to produce extensive weather forecasting over vast areas of ocean; technicians converted bombers to sampling planes, ground crew set up decontamination facilities; bulldozers and fire engines were shipped from Britain; and army signals built communication systems while the navy provided ships to patrol and guard the test zones so no-one could observe what Britain was up to. Royal Engineers construct the airfield runway on Christmas Island Wikipedia Grapple was to consist of three separate bombs – codenamed Short Granite, Green Granite, and Orange Herald. All were dropped by Valiant bombers over uninhabited Malden Island, 400 miles away, and all went disastrously wrong. The first, dropped in May 1957, had a yield of 300 kilotons – much less than expected. It was also 418 yards off-target. Penney cancelled Green Granite and rebuilt the bomb with extra uranium. Meanwhile they fired Orange Herald – 720 kilotons, but the bomber crew almost died when their plane stalled. The bomb was on a clockwork timer and they would have been caught in the blast were it not for the quick-thinking pilot. The rebuilt bomb, now named Purple Granite, did even worse. At just 200 kilotons, it was an abject failure. All three were declared H-bombs in the hope of fooling US observers into restoring co-operation. That didn’t work either.
A dress rehearsal for the death of the world
The Press had been invited to watch the blasts, and took the MoD’s assertion of success on face value. The Daily Mirror’s famous columnist Cassandra – real name William Connor – watched from aboard HMS Alert. Daily Mirror’s famous columnist Cassandra He wrote: “It was a dress rehearsal for the death of the world... through closed eyes, through dark glasses and with my hands covering my face, I saw the flash. Brighter than the sun, hotter than the sun, and ripped out of the secrets of the heart of the universe... “AND THERE IT HUNG BEFORE US, A BOILING RED AND YELLOW SUN LOW ABOVE THE HORIZON. IT WAS AN OIL PAINTING FROM HELL, BEAUTIFUL AND DREADFUL, MAGNIFICENT AND EVIL.”
He was never sick a day of his life... he came back he wasted away to nothing and died Billy Morris' sister Rachel
Billy Morris was the first to die – a strapping lad of 20, reduced to skin and bone only months after being rated “A1 fit”. His sister Rachel said: “I remember him in his uniform – he was so handsome and such a lovely boy. He was never sick a day of his life. He went to Christmas Island on National Service and a few months after he came back he wasted away to nothing and died.” Billy pictured second from the left Billy, from Swansea, was a sapper in the Royal Engineers. He was seen by 5 doctors when he enlisted, who recorded he was in peak condition. He was one of 2,500 to witness the first three Grapple tests in 1957, but reported sick on January 1, 1958 with nosebleeds and swellings in his neck. Billy's sister Rachel He was flown back to the UK, where he was diagnosed with “an organic disease of the glands” and then allowed home. He collapsed and was readmitted, diagnosed with leukaemia, and died on June 14 – just 13 months after the Grapple began. His girlfriend Sylvia was pregnant. His inquest heard Billy’s only protection at the tests was a pair of dark glasses. Asked about the risk of contamination by rainwater, an officer admitted that water did enter the men’s tents but “the beds were all at least 12 inches above the ground”. The verdict was “death from natural causes”, on the grounds his type of leukaemia was not linked to radiation. Studies have since shown there may be a connection. Rachel said: “The Royal British Legion wanted to use Billy as a test case for compensation. But his girlfriend lost the baby and my mother found it all too upsetting, so we decided to pull out.”
I’m one of the lucky ones. It’s not going to kill me. All I want is to hear the word ‘sorry’ Derek Fiddaman was ordered on deck to watch the explosions
Derek Fiddaman was also there in 1957 – a 21-year-old naval rating on guard ship HMS Cossack, stationed west of the island. He was ordered on deck to watch the explosions, and believes prevailing winds later dropped fallout on the crew. He said: “I plotted the position of the ship at the point the bomb was dropped – and the wind was from the east.” In 1975 he developed lumps on his face that were diagnosed as basal cell carcinomas – cancers rooted in the deepest layer of skin. In the 43 years since he has had 1,000 hospital visits and more than 200 tumours removed. Derek Fiddaman has about five tumours cut out every year Derek, now 80, of Horsham, West Sussex, said: “I have about five cut out every year, so if I live another 20 years there’ll be 100 more. Each time they cut one out I go back and there’s another one growing in the scar.” After a long fight with the MoD he won a 60% war pension on the grounds his cancers were caused by radiation – from the sun. He said: “I’m one of the lucky ones. It’s not going to kill me. All I want is to hear the word ‘sorry’. They never will, but that’s all I want.”
Codenames X, Y and Z
At home, politicians were aghast at the failure of the blasts. The test ban treaty was expected within a year, and without an H-bomb Britain would never again be a global power. Air Vice Marshal Wilfrid Oulton Wikimedia Task force commander Air Vice Marshal Wilfrid Oulton was recalled to London and told to conduct more tests. In his memoir Oulton said that on his return he and chief scientist Bill Cook walked on the beach one evening, “gin and tonics in hand”, and realised they did not have enough time to do it at a distance. This time, the bomb target would be 1.5 miles off the south-east tip of Christmas Island – where the servicemen lived. He wrote: “We knew we couldn’t do it from Malden again because that was 400 miles away. We thought it would be safe at Christmas Island because the dropping point was 30 miles away from the main camp.” Chief scientist Bill Cook Wikimedia Later, on December 4, 1957, Oulton reported to the Atomic Weapons Trials Executive moving the test to Christmas Island “had made the mounting of the operation much easier and had resulted in savings which might be as much as £2m”. The Grapple X blast Wikimedia The new tests were codenamed X, Y and Z. Servicemen who were expecting to go home were told they would be staying an extra year. Another airfield was built, and further laboratories and bunkers. Officers combated sinking morale by organising leave in Fiji and Hawaii, evening radio programmes and regular propaganda sessions telling the men how vital the tests were to national security. There were fewer safety checks. While AWE records show that 96% of those at Hurricane had film badges to record their radiation dose, the proportion dropped to just 8% at Grapple X and 3% at Grapple Y. Veterans who had overalls and balaclavas at earlier tests now wore everyday shirts and shorts as they were mustered to witness the bombs. The first bomb was supercharged with extra uranium in the core, surrounded by a jacket of beryllium to concentrate the force of the initial explosion and magnify the power of the blast. Grapple X was dropped at 8.47am on November 8, 1957, with a yield of 1.8 megatons. Britain finally had the H-bomb. Grapple Y blast Grapple X had needed a lot of enriched uranium, which was expensive to produce. Grapple Y aimed at using less of it by increasing other radioactive components. This new bomb was dropped at 10.05am on April 28, 1958. Flt Lt Denson’s Canberra was in a fleet of “sniff planes” that had been specially converted to collect samples so scientists could determine the strength of the blast. Records show he entered the mushroom cloud 49 minutes after the blast, and spent 6 minutes flying through the incredible turbulence. Into the jaws of death, into the mouth of hell, rode the six hundred... A quote from Charge of the Light Brigade that Eric Denson repeated as he flew into the mushroom cloud Shirley remembers: “Eric never discussed with me what had happened on Christmas Island. I once overheard him talking about it with my father. “He said he had almost lost control as the plane went into the mushroom cloud. They were tossed about by the most incredible forces. He said he just held on, and recited that line from the Charge of the Light Brigade, ‘Into the jaws of death, into the mouth of hell, rode the six hundred...’ over and over again.” This time the bomb went according to plan. It had a yield of 3 megatons, 112 times greater than Nagasaki. It was clear to governments worldwide that the British now had the most powerful weapon on Earth. Whole body dose of radiation In 1958 AWE scientists wrote a document titled: “Determination of the whole body dose of radiation acquired by Aircrew members while on Cloud Sampling detail.” Its purpose was to compare readings on the ‘Charlie meter’, mounted inside the cockpit, with film badges worn by the three crew. It says: “Care was taken to ensure that as little shielding effect as possible was given by the ejector seat and that no equipment of any description shielded the badges.” Open the radiation document Four badges were placed around the pilot, wireless operator and navigator – one on the headrest, two on each armrest, and the last “in seat pan 1 inch from testicles”. It says using feedback from the first sampling mission, the second ‘sniff’ plane was able to stay in the mushroom cloud longest, and states: “Thus the initial experiment was carried out on personnel flying the Secondary sampler.” Eric Denson was pilot of the second plane. The experiment proved the Charlie meter was inaccurate, and found the pilot was the most exposed crew member. The badge behind Eric’s head recorded a dose of 18 Roentgen, equivalent to 165 years’ worth of normal background radiation. The badge next to his testicles had a dose of 8.8 Roentgen, which is about 30 years’ worth of natural exposure. The document proves scientists were aware Eric’s family might be affected. It says the lower testicular readings “are of interest and cheer in relation to the possibility of genetic damage”. Eric's log book After the flight, Eric vomited for 48 hours. His log book – signed off by two squadron leaders, one of them a holder of a Distinguished Flying Cross - shows that he was ordered back into the same plane two days later on April 30 for “radar calibration and formation flying”. A navigator on his squadron, Joe Pasquini, claims the plane had not been decontaminated but left alone on an isolated patch of airfield. He also says using an expensive, and radioactive, bomber to calibrate ground radar would be ridiculous when there were many smaller, safer aircraft on the island. He adds: “We never flew in formation. The only reason I can think of to send Eric back up, with another plane to observe him, would be to see how a RAF pilot and plane would operate after being irradiated. Seeing as he was used in an ‘initial experiment’, perhaps that was the second.” The MoD says it has no record of the flight.
The bomb that went wrong
Scientists were well aware of the risks of radiation. Gamma and beta radiation from the initial burst – and to which Eric was exposed while flying through the cloud - could be followed by fallout, when material sucked up and irradiated by the blast drops back to Earth below. These ‘alpha particles’ are so weak they cannot pass through skin or paper. But if they are ingested in water, food or air, they cannot escape again. And thousands of servicemen were living next to the testing grounds. Scientists believed that if the bombs were detonated high enough, they would not draw sand, soil or sea water into the maelstrom. But Grapple Y took place in the wet season. The AWE document on Eric’s experiment mentions “the wet weather encountered during the trial”. Veterans, observers, and contemporary accounts all say the bomb dropped lower and closer than it should have done, and that “black rain” fell on the island immediately afterwards. More than half of those who have joined the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association, which has campaigned on claims of radiation-related health issues since 1982, were present at Grapple Y. Among the survivors, it is known as “the bomb that went wrong”.
The risks were known Britain was aware of the risks before the tests began. Historical documents released from the state archives show that in 1951 Penney demanded insurance for scientific staff in case any developed radiogenic diseases. Admiral Arthur Torlesse said he would only order his men into danger “in the knowledge that the Admiralty accept liability for those killed or injured on duty”. And on May 20, 1953, the Defence Policy Research Committee discussed how troops would be affected by the blasts. It said: “The Army must discover the detailed effects of various types of explosion on equipment, stores and men with and without various types of protection.” Prime Minister Anthony Eden In 1955 Prime Minister Anthony Eden was warned that if the scientists were to build an H-bomb, it could damage troops’ DNA. A letter headed 10 Downing Street and dated November 14 says: “The Prime Minister saw the report from Sir Harold Himsworth about the report of the Committee considering the genetic effects of Nuclear Radiation. His comment was: ‘A pity, but we cannot help it’.” In a draft report ahead of Grapple Y, Air Commodore Denis Wilson, the senior medical officer on the task force, said he expected servicemen to die. He wrote: “It is emphasised that in the event of the expected yield being obtained or increased there will almost certainly be in addition to considerable material damage, casualties to individuals, and this should be taken into consideration.” He goes on to say the servicemen face “significant increases” in radiation exposure compared to previous tests, should be dug into shallow foxholes to shelter from the blast and given protective clothing. The Grapple Z Burgee blast “YOU are about to experience something no-one else in the world will ever see,” the senior Army officer told a ship full of Royal Engineers. Raymond Webber was a 21-year-old sapper when he heard it, and 60 years later remembers it ironically. When the ship finally docked at Christmas Island in the South Pacific in 1958 he not only witnessed 5 massive nuclear bombs, but one of his tasks was to drive a truck through the fallout to collect heavily-contaminated equipment while wearing nothing but shorts and sandals. Raymond Webber in the Royal Engineers. Raymond, 81, of Gillingham, Kent, said: “A couple of senior types came and grabbed me one day, told me to drive them into the ‘forward area’. That was the sharp end of the island where all the bombs were exploded. “It was a huge truck, kicked up tons of dust and we had the windows down because it was so hot. We drove to a shed that had three generators in it to run the monitoring equipment that took readings during the explosions. I waited while they loaded some stuff in the back. I asked what it was and they said I didn’t need to know. “When we left there was a mobile decontamination point that they had to go through, and they had shower after shower because their readings kept showing radiation. They washed me down too but we all put our uniforms back on, which must have been contaminated. And the truck wasn’t washed, and we all climbed back in that.” Raymond had joined the Army as a 16-year-old apprentice. On returning home he married and had children, eventually leaving the Army in 1965. Her said: “It wasn’t long after I came back that I was wearing false teeth, and I’ve got osteoarthritis in my knees and neck. But I’m not worried about me. It’s my children.” Raymond Webber. Raymond had 5 sons, all now in their 50s. The oldest was diagnosed with arthritis while undergoing Army basic training, and now has crumbling discs and cluster migraines. The second son has arthritis, a deformed lung and chronic condition lymphodoema. Another son has generalised arthritis and a thyroid condition, and the youngest child is the healthiest. Third son Philip, 55, has arthritis in all major joints, stage 3 chronic kidney disease, diverticulosis, cellulitis, depression and insomnia. His daughter, aged 26, has pain in her knees and hands already. Raymond said: “Radiation knows no time limits. None of us knew what we were letting ourselves in for, and we had absolutely no protection. Ever since we’ve tried to get people to believe that what went on should never have happened.” Roy Kirkland RAF sergeant Roy Kirkland was ordered to sleep just half a mile from Ground Zero. In a memoir, he wrote about living in a tent next to a target area that was turned to glass by the bombs, and said he was also told to clean and pack contaminated instruments used by scientists to monitor the blast. It reveals that after a few months his unit was ordered to move from the main camp, which was 30 miles from the blast zone, to ‘B site’, right next to the target area. Roy wrote: "Scientists were going to explode an A-bomb. This was to be done by putting the bomb in a large basket slung under a flying barrage balloon tethered to the floor by steel cables rooted in large concrete pads. Now we knew what those concrete pads half a mile from our tent lines were for.” He said they were not moved back to main camp during the actual explosions, but to a level area near ‘B site’. He wrote: “We huddled together in total terror, stunned and silent by this phenomenon. There are not enough words to describe everything at that moment in time. I would say it took at least half an hour for us to contemplate even talking in any semblance of normality. “What right had the British government of that day to subject me and thousands more to that torture without facts being explained to us first about the after-effects? We stayed at B site as life went on, writing letters home and yearning for the day when we could go home.” Melissa (left) Claire (right) Roy returned home to Burton-on-Trent, his wife Angela and baby Denise, who was born while he was away. The couple went on to have four more children, two with chronic health problems. Daughter Melissa Cooke has severe thyroid and joint issues, and her son was born with a faulty heart valve. Another daughter, Claire Kinson, has had skin cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, and has unexplained lesions on her legs. But it was Claire's son Wayne who paid the highest price. He was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer of the nervous system, called a neuroblastoma, aged just 3. He underwent four years of aggressive treatment before dying when he was 7. Wayne Wayne's aunt Denise Venning told the Mirror: “My dad used to say all they had on was a pair of shorts and when the bombs went off they were simply told to look the other way. Afterwards he was told to clear the beach of all the dead birds and debris from the bombs using their bare hands. “He was devastated to see the illnesses in our family and particularly when Wayne was diagnosed he would say ‘I wonder if it was anything to do with me’.” There were still 4 more tests to come – known as Grapple Z, they were aimed at refining the weapon to get as big a blast as possible out of a bomb weighing no more than a ton, and to do so before an international moratorium began in October 1958. They took place in August and September. Pendant, which used different ingredients to prime the bomb, was suspended from barrage balloons. Flagpole was dropped from a plane using blind radar techniques. Halliard had a three-stage design to trigger the blast and used pilot visual targeting, while Burgee was exploded using barrage balloons and tritium gas. They had a combined yield of just over a megaton, and were the last full-scale nuclear weapons Britain ever fired.
Nuclear weapons decommissioned all over the world


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--Floyd Mayweather's message to Amir Khan as Brit chased fight

Amir Khan has revealed Floyd Mayweather once told him he was looking for an opponent - then ignored the Brit 's pleas to be chosen .
Khan chased a fight against the ring legend throughout his career but was never able to tempt him into the squared circle .
The closest he came was when Mayweather instead opted to fight Marcos Maidana in 2014 before he retired following his win over Conor McGregor three year later .
And in recalling the only conversation he had with his rival , Khan told Sky Sports : `` I met Mayweather at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke ; he was very respectful , he hugged me .
`` We did n't speak about the Maidana thing ever !
Mayweather is a funny character .
He 's one of those type of guys who wants to pick who he fights and be the boss and be the main headline , but when I met him face to face he was a different guy .
`` He said hi to me and my wife and to my team and took pictures .
`` We never spoke about why it did n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , 'Amir I need a dancing partner ! '
I said , 'Yo , Floyd it 's me who 's waiting on you ! '
'' Khan has not fought since he beat Billy Dib in a hastily-arranged fight in Saudi Arabia last year .
That followed his defeat by welterweight world champion Terence Crawford in New York .
And the 33-year-old also admitted he is unlikely to lure domestic rival Kell Brook into the ring .
He added : `` When me and [ promoter Eddie Hearn ] were in talks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then as the talks were going on it went quiet .
`` Then we hear that he 's gone up to 154lbs .
He knows I would never go up a weight .
I went up against Canelo .
I said , 'If I am going to fight it would happen at 147 ' .
It was him who walked away from the fight .
`` He 's a respectable fighter .
He 's a good fighter .
It would be massive in the UK .
147lbs is the weight , really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down . ''

Khan chased a fight with Mayweather throughout his career but was never able to lure the legend into the ring
Amir Khan has revealed Floyd Mayweather once told him he was looking for an opponent - then ignored the Brit's pleas to be chosen.
Khan chased a fight against the ring legend throughout his career but was never able to tempt him into the squared circle.
The closest he came was when Mayweather instead opted to fight Marcos Maidana in 2014 before he retired following his win over Conor McGregor three year later.
And in recalling the only conversation he had with his rival, Khan told Sky Sports: "I met Mayweather at a WBC convention in Miami back in 2018.We spoke; he was very respectful, he hugged me.
"We didn't speak about the Maidana thing ever! Mayweather is a funny character. He's one of those type of guys who wants to pick who he fights and be the boss and be the main headline, but when I met him face to face he was a different guy.
Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)
"He said hi to me and my wife and to my team and took pictures. "We never spoke about why it didn't happen between us.
"He did say, 'Amir I need a dancing partner!' I said, 'Yo, Floyd it's me who's waiting on you!'"
Khan has not fought since he beat Billy Dib in a hastily-arranged fight in Saudi Arabia last year.
That followed his defeat by welterweight world champion Terence Crawford in New York.
Image: Dave Pinegar) Dave Pinegar)
And the 33-year-old also admitted he is unlikely to lure domestic rival Kell Brook into the ring.
He added: "When me and [promoter Eddie Hearn] were in talks we were talking about it at 147lbs. Then as the talks were going on it went quiet.
"Then we hear that he's gone up to 154lbs. He knows I would never go up a weight. I went up against Canelo. I said, 'If I am going to fight it would happen at 147'. It was him who walked away from the fight.
"He's a respectable fighter. He's a good fighter. It would be massive in the UK. 147lbs is the weight, really. I'm not going up or down."


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--'My in-laws make awful comments to my wife following the birth of our baby'

A new dad has said he is considering banning his in-laws from visiting after they made persistent cruel comments to his wife following the birth of their daughter .
He explains that his wife 's parents have always treated her differently to her brothers , but she 'did n't mind and could always overlook it ' .
But the problem has worsened since they became parents and the dad revealed the relationship is a breaking point due to their snide remarks .
He says when his wife has been eating they have told her : `` Now that the baby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use her for an excuse as to why you 're fat . ''
The husband added that his partner is not close to fat at all , and the comments have convinced her to start dieting when there is no need to .
On another occasion , when the new mum has felt tired they have said : `` Wow you ca n't even handle one child , maybe if you pushed yourself to be a better mom , you would n't need to call your parents to bail you out . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to them to come over and they had just turned up .
His wife also recently decided to be a stay a home mum for a while to spend quality time with the little one , and he bought her a new car because it was top rated for safety .
When he did , his wife 's mother said to her : `` Is n't it nice your husband treats you like a trophy wife when you are n't even a trophy . ''
The husband says they never make the rude @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he 's heard them over the baby monitor or from the next room , and his wife tells him about other instances .
He 's now consider banning them from their home as he hates the way they make his wife feel , and she 's always down after they have left .
Asking others for advice on what to do on Reddit , one said he was doing the right thing , replying : `` Her parents are emotionally abusive .
Sounds like she 's scared of them . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` If they treat her like that , they 'll treat your kids like that .
They need to learn before you kid gets old enough to be damaged by it . ''

A new dad who has become fed up of the horrible comments his wife's parents make to her has asked for advice on whether he should ban them from visiting until it stops
'My in-laws make awful comments to my wife following the birth of our baby'
A new dad has said he is considering banning his in-laws from visiting after they made persistent cruel comments to his wife following the birth of their daughter.
He explains that his wife's parents have always treated her differently to her brothers, but she 'didn't mind and could always overlook it'.
But the problem has worsened since they became parents and the dad revealed the relationship is a breaking point due to their snide remarks.
He says when his wife has been eating they have told her: "Now that the baby is born, you can't still use her for an excuse as to why you're fat."
Image: Moment RF) Moment RF)
The husband added that his partner is not close to fat at all, and the comments have convinced her to start dieting when there is no need to.
On another occasion, when the new mum has felt tired they have said: "Wow you can't even handle one child, maybe if you pushed yourself to be a better mom, you wouldn't need to call your parents to bail you out."
He again adds that they never asked to them to come over and they had just turned up.
Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)
His wife also recently decided to be a stay a home mum for a while to spend quality time with the little one, and he bought her a new car because it was top rated for safety.
When he did, his wife's mother said to her: "Isn't it nice your husband treats you like a trophy wife when you aren't even a trophy."
The husband says they never make the rude comments when he is in the room, but he's heard them over the baby monitor or from the next room, and his wife tells him about other instances.
He's now consider banning them from their home as he hates the way they make his wife feel, and she's always down after they have left.
Asking others for advice on what to do on Reddit, one said he was doing the right thing, replying: "Her parents are emotionally abusive. Sounds like she's scared of them."
Another echoed the point, saying: "If they treat her like that, they'll treat your kids like that. They need to learn before you kid gets old enough to be damaged by it."


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--Holly fires back back at Janet Street Porter over Boris Johnson baby remark

Holly Willoughby fired back at Janet Street Porter on This Morning after the Loose Women presenter claimed said that the birth of Boris Johnson 's baby was n't `` good planning '' .
The 73-year-old appeared on the ITV daytime show alongside Matthew Wright via video link as they gave their opinions on the news of the day .
This included yesterday 's news that Boris Johnson 's fiancée Carrie Symonds had given birth to their baby boy .
However Janet was n't too impressed by the news and criticised how Downing Street had handled the announcement .
She said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the best . ''
`` They could n't help that though , '' Phillip Schofield pointed out with raised eyebrows .
`` I mean , nine months ago they were n't thinking 'In nine months ' time we 're going to be in a bit of trouble here ! '
'' Janet replied : `` Okay , nine months ago we were still in the midst of Brexit negotiation .
I can understand ... '' Phil interjected : `` Hang on a minute , they 're in the middle of Brexit negotiations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a baby ?
! ''
`` Well if you want to be prime minister where do you place all your- '' Janet began but was interrupted by Holly .
Holly exclaimed : `` But you do n't know !
You do n't know anything about this !
We do n't know if they 've tried for a long time .
We do n't know !
We do n't want to know , do we need to know ?
! ''
Janet responded : `` If you have children you might want to ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
Holly replied : `` But what about her ? ''
Phil said : `` Maybe he does ! ''
Holly added : `` Carrie is a human being in all of this , she is a mother that has just given birth to her first child .
You ca n't forget her in all of this , surely ?
! ''
*This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV

Janet Street Porter appeared on This Morning alongside Matthew Wright via video link as they reacted to the birth of Boris Johnson's baby
Holly Willoughby fired back at Janet Street Porter on This Morning after the Loose Women presenter claimed said that the birth of Boris Johnson's baby wasn't "good planning".
The 73-year-old appeared on the ITV daytime show alongside Matthew Wright via video link as they gave their opinions on the news of the day.
This included yesterday's news that Boris Johnson's fiancée Carrie Symonds had given birth to their baby boy.
However Janet wasn't too impressed by the news and criticised how Downing Street had handled the announcement.
Image: ITV) ITV) Image: ITV) ITV)
She said: "I thought the timing was not the best."
"They couldn't help that though," Phillip Schofield pointed out with raised eyebrows. "I mean, nine months ago they weren't thinking 'In nine months' time we're going to be in a bit of trouble here!'"
Janet replied: "Okay, nine months ago we were still in the midst of Brexit negotiation. I can understand..."
Phil interjected: "Hang on a minute, they're in the middle of Brexit negotiations but they can't think about having a baby?!"
Image: ITV) ITV) Image: ITV) ITV)
"Well if you want to be prime minister where do you place all your-" Janet began but was interrupted by Holly.
Holly exclaimed: "But you don't know! You don't know anything about this! We don't know if they've tried for a long time. We don't know! We don't want to know, do we need to know?!"
Image: ITV) ITV)
Janet responded: "If you have children you might want to ask, 'Do I want a sixth child?"
Holly replied: "But what about her?"
Phil said: "Maybe he does!"
Holly added: "Carrie is a human being in all of this, she is a mother that has just given birth to her first child. You can't forget her in all of this, surely?!"
*This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--Nurse dies in arms of daughter, 12, after 'losing fight against coronavirus'

A nurse suspected of catching coronavirus died in the arms of her 12-year-old daughter , who is now in foster care , a heartbroken friend says .
Maria Victoria Prado 's daughter Alex called 999 tried to resuscitate her mother in a desperate bid to save her life , according to a GoFundMe page set up to support the grieving girl .
It is said that Ms Prado , also known as Vicky , `` succumbed to asthma '' and it `` could have been aggravated by the virus '' , Kent Live reports .
The mum worked at Elvy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , after being employed in the NHS , and was originally from the Philippines .
Have you been affected by coronavirus ?
Email webnews @ mirror.co.uk .
Ms Prado is one of more than a dozen health or care workers of Filipino origin to die during the coronavirus crisis .
Heartbroken friends have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for repatriating her body , funeral expenses and helping her daughter to travel to the Philippines .
It has so far raised more than £7,500 .
Maria Theresa Guerzon , who set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She was a hardworking nurse always willing to go extra miles to help .
“ Vicky recently worked in a nursing home with positive cases of COVID-19 .
“ She had isolated herself due to her high vulnerability in catching the cruel virus but succumbed to asthma which could have been aggravated by the virus COVID-19 .
“ Ms Guerzon said Ms Prado had worked for the NHS and in the private sector in the UK for a decade .
It is understood she was working for more than one care home at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guerzon added : “ Vicky ’ s daughter Alex was her life , her reason to [ work ] hard .
“ As a very loving mother , she [ chose ] to self-isolate at home as she [ did ] not want to leave her 12-year-old daughter alone .
“ Alex is now under foster care .
“ She [ did not deserve ] to handle all the nightmare of having to call 999 and resuscitate her own mother .
“ Vicky died in the hands of her daughter , Alex.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs for family members who are coming to the UK for Ms Prado 's funeral .
It will also cover the repatriation of her body and support Alex 's education .
The girl will return to the Philippines , according to the GoFundMe page .
“ With the pandemic going on , it was unfortunate that she and her daughter had to suffer the consequences .
“ Please help .
Take them home.
” A spokesman for Avery Heath Care Group , which owns Elvy Court , said “ The staff and management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing one of the nurses who worked at the home , and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time .
“ She was a popular member of our team within the home and will be sadly missed.
” Click here to visit the GoFundMe page .

Maria Victoria Prado's daughter Alex, who is now in foster care, had called 999 and tried to resuscitate her mother in a desperate bid to save her life, a friend claims
Nurse dies 'in hands of daughter' after self-isolating due to coronavirus fears
A care home nurse died "in the hands of her 12-year-old daughter", who is now in foster care, after self-isolating at home due to her coronavirus fears, heartbroken friends say.
Maria Victoria Prado's daughter Alex called 999 and tried to resuscitate her mother in a desperate bid to save her life, according to a GoFundMe page set up to support the grieving girl.
The 58-year-old suffered from severe asthma and went into self-isolation following government advice and had not been tested for Covid-19 for this reason.
It is understood Ms Prado, also known as Vicky, had a serious asthma attack which led to a heart attack before she died. Her friends fear the asthma attack "could have been aggravated by the virus Covid-19".
The mum was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent on April 20, where she tragically died.
Have you been affected by coronavirus? Email webnews@mirror.co.uk.
Image: Kent Live / BPM Media) Kent Live / BPM Media)
She had been self-isolating due to her vulnerability and her fear of leaving behind her daughter.
Ms Prado had worked for Avery Healthcare at Elvy Court Care Home in Sittingbourne and also private nursing home Cooksditch House in Faversham before the lockdown.
The mum had been previously employed in the NHS and was originally from the Philippines, Kent Live reports.
She is one of many health or care workers of Filipino origin to die during the coronavirus crisis.
Heartbroken friends have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for repatriating her body, funeral expenses and helping her daughter to travel to the Philippines.
It has so far raised more than £8,000.
Maria Theresa Guerzon, who set up the page, wrote: “She was a hardworking nurse always willing to go extra miles to help.
“Vicky recently worked in a nursing home with positive cases of COVID-19.
Image: Kent Live WS) Kent Live WS)
“She had isolated herself due to her high vulnerability in catching the cruel virus but succumbed to asthma which could have been aggravated by the virus COVID-19. “
Ms Guerzon said Ms Prado had worked for the NHS and in the private sector in the UK for a decade.
It is understood she was working for more than one care home at the time of her death.
Ms Guerzon added: “Vicky’s daughter Alex was her life, her reason to [work] hard.
“As a very loving mother, she [chose] to self-isolate at home as she [did] not want to leave her 12-year-old daughter alone.
Mirror Coronavirus Heroes The coronavirus lockdown is a worrying time for millions across the UK. But it's also bringing out the best in people who are selflessly giving their time each day to help those most in need. Our Mirror Coronavirus Heroes series wants to recognise all of those helping the most vulnerable during the crisis. Whether it's a local business going the extra mile for the community or a teenager helping an elderly neighbour, we want to hear about it. You can email your stories of Mirror Coronavirus Heroes to webnews@mirror.co.uk.
“Alex is now under foster care.
“She [did not deserve] to handle all the nightmare of having to call 999 and resuscitate her own mother.
“Vicky died in the hands of her daughter, Alex.”
The donation will help to cover travel costs for family members who are coming to the UK for Ms Prado's funeral.
It will also cover the repatriation of her body and support Alex's education.
The girl will return to the Philippines, according to the GoFundMe page.
Ms Guerzon added: “Vicky was a fighter and a survivor.
“With the pandemic going on, it was unfortunate that she and her daughter had to suffer the consequences.
“Please help. Take them home.”
The Avery Healthcare Group described Vicky as a "popular member of our team" and were "deeply saddened" by her death.
A spokesman said: “The staff and management at Elvy Court Care Home in Sittingbourne were deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing one of the nurses who worked at the home, and our thoughts are with her family at this sad time.
“She was a popular member of our team within the home and will be sadly missed.”
Managing Director John Strowbridge, who donated £500 to the fundraising page, added: "Our thoughts at Avery are with the family at this sad time. We thank Maria for her dedication to the residents at Elvy Court."
Former colleague Linda Du Preez echoed the sentiment, saying: "I have worked with Vicky and she was devoted to her 12-year-old daughter and needs our help to get her family to the UK.
"We loved Vicky's enthusiasm and care towards her patient. We are very sad and shocked to lose her to Covid 19."
Sarah Chapman said: "Wonderful lady and work colleague. Will be much missed by so many," while Nicola James added: "I worked with Vicky and she was a much loved member of our team."
Click here to visit the GoFundMe page.


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--EFL players told it's "likely" season will not be completed below Premier League

Players in the Championship and Leagues One and Two have been told it 's likely that the season will not be completed below the Premier League .
Top-flight chiefs are set to meet on Friday to discuss 'Project Restart ' with clubs and the government hopeful of a return to action in June , behind closed doors .
But after an EFL board meeting on Wednesday , PFA representatives along with club captains have been told to pass on to their teammates that there is a very real possibility of no more football taking place this season .
Supporters could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late as next January and - despite plans to resume training in May - clubs do n't believe there is a realistic chance of games happening anytime in June .
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for any potential restart outside of the top flight is the number of tests needed for players in order for the season to finish safely - understood to be around 66,000 .
As with the Premier League , there are fears about a public backlash should thousands of tests become readily available for professional footballers while a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working without them .
If the season is curtailed , standings would likely be decided on a 'sporting merit ' basis - probably points-per-game .
It remains to be seen whether clubs would be promoted and relegated - although there are suggestions teams could go up but not down - potentially extending the number of clubs in the Premier League for next season .
A clutch of players are out of contract at the end of June , posing another difficulty for clubs and administrators .
Clubs are reluctant to pay out-of-contract players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or extend terms given the uncertainty surrounding the coming months .
Players whose deals are set to run out have been asked to vote by their PFA representatives whether they would be willing to play on throughout July and August if this was the case - should the season get back underway .

Players below the Premier League have been told it is unlikely the season will be completed after a meeting of the EFL board on Wednesday
EFL players told it's likely season will not be completed below Premier League
Players in the Championship and Leagues One and Two have been told it's likely that the season will not be completed below the Premier League.
Top-flight chiefs are set to meet on Friday to discuss 'Project Restart' with clubs and the government hopeful of a return to action in June, behind closed doors.
But at an EFL board meeting on Wednesday, PFA representatives from each club were told to pass on to their teammates that there is a very real possibility of no more football taking place this season.
Supporters are expected to be banned from stadiums until next year and - despite plans to resume training in May - clubs don't believe there is a realistic chance of games happening anytime in June.
Image: Malcolm Bryce/ProSports/Shutterstock) Malcolm Bryce/ProSports/Shutterstock)
One of the biggest stumbling blocks for any potential restart outside of the top flight is the number of tests needed for players in order for the season to finish safely - understood to be around 66,000.
As with the Premier League, there are fears about a public backlash should thousands of tests become readily available for professional footballers while a number of frontline NHS staff are still working without them.
If the season is curtailed, standings would likely be decided on a 'sporting merit' basis - probably points-per-game.
It remains to be seen whether clubs would be promoted and relegated - although there are suggestions teams could go up but not down - potentially extending the number of clubs in the Premier League for next season.
A clutch of players are out of contract at the end of June, posing another difficulty for clubs and administrators.
Clubs are reluctant to pay out-of-contract players beyond the end of their existing deals, or extend terms given the uncertainty surrounding the coming months.
Players whose deals are set to run out have been asked to vote by their PFA representatives whether they would be willing to play on throughout July and August if this was the case - should the season get back underway.


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--Coronation Street fans call for Dev's shop to be reported over 'naughty' display

Coronation Street viewers were stunned when they made an observation during the recent episodes of the ITV soap .
There was a hilarious discovery about Dev Alahan 's corner shop , only spotted by eagle-eyed fans .
It was in the back of one scene , but caused quite the reaction from those who saw it .
So much so , one viewer suggested the shop needed reporting - sure what they had noticed was n't legal .
The observation in question was that Dev was selling already opened bottles of Jack Daniels whiskey .
Of course with Coronation Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the shop are fictional .
With them not being real and not actually being used , fictional shops do n't tend to store real products .
From fake fruit and vegetables , to empty packaging , soaps take different approaches to make it look realistic .
While it is n't known if the whiskey in the bottles sold in Dev 's shop is real or not , this was n't the thing that attracted the attention of viewers .
With the bottles being opened it suggests the alcohol is fake , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else .
The lids being loose led to some hilarious reactions from fans .
Keep up with all the soap news Life moves fast in soapland , so make sure you stay up to date with all the latest from your favourite soaps with our regular email newsletter .
Sign up using this form to receive regular updates on Corrie , Emmerdale , EastEnders direct to your inbox .
We 'll also keep you up to date on what your favourite stars are up to in the real world too , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fan said : `` Dev ’ s shop need reporting to trading standards .
He ’ s selling open bottles of Jack Daniel ’ s . ''
Another agreed : `` Spotted Dev selling opened miniature bottles of Jack Daniels , that 's a bit naughty . ''
This is n't the first time a soap has been caught out selling dodgy items .
Emmerdale 's David Metcalfe was discovered to be selling empty milk cartons in his shop earlier this year .
Coronation Street airs Mondays , Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30pm @ @ @

CORRIE ASHA'S VIDEO GOES ON PORN SITE - AND DEV HORRIFIED TO DISCOVER SHE IS BEING TREATED AS CRIMINAL
CORRIE ASHA'S VIDEO GOES ON PORN SITE - AND DEV HORRIFIED TO DISCOVER SHE IS BEING TREATED AS CRIMINAL
The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel
Coronation Street fans hilariously took to Twitter after spotting something not quite right about Dev Alahan's famous shop
Coronation Street fans call for Dev's shop to be reported over 'naughty' display
Coronation Street viewers were stunned when they made an observation during the recent episodes of the ITV soap.
There was a hilarious discovery about Dev Alahan's corner shop, only spotted by eagle-eyed fans.
It was in the back of one scene, but caused quite the reaction from those who saw it.
So much so, one viewer suggested the shop needed reporting - sure what they had noticed wasn't legal.
The observation in question was that Dev was selling already opened bottles of Jack Daniels whiskey.
Image: ITV) ITV)
Of course with Coronation Street being a soap, the locations such as the shop are fictional.
With them not being real and not actually being used, fictional shops don't tend to store real products.
From fake fruit and vegetables, to empty packaging, soaps take different approaches to make it look realistic.
Image: Twitter) Twitter)
While it isn't known if the whiskey in the bottles sold in Dev's shop is real or not, this wasn't the thing that attracted the attention of viewers.
With the bottles being opened it suggests the alcohol is fake, and that the bottles are filled with something else.
The lids being loose led to some hilarious reactions from fans.
Image: Twitter) Twitter)
Keep up with all the soap news Life moves fast in soapland, so make sure you stay up to date with all the latest from your favourite soaps with our regular email newsletter. Sign up using this form to receive regular updates on Corrie, Emmerdale, EastEnders direct to your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date on what your favourite stars are up to in the real world too, and the breaking news as it happens.
One fan said: "Dev’s shop need reporting to trading standards. He’s selling open bottles of Jack Daniel’s."
Another agreed: "Spotted Dev selling opened miniature bottles of Jack Daniels, that's a bit naughty."
This isn't the first time a soap has been caught out selling dodgy items.
Emmerdale's David Metcalfe was discovered to be selling empty milk cartons in his shop earlier this year.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30pm on ITV.


thedailymirror--2020-04-30--Kristin Cavallari claims Jay Cutler is 'punishing her' as divorce turns nasty

Kristin Cavallari 's split from Jay Cutler is becoming increasingly acrimonious after the Hills star accused her estranged husband of 'punishing ' her financially .
The mum of three , 33 , filed fresh court papers on Wednesday which reportedly claim Jay is withholding money from her and blocking her from buying a new home for her and their kids .
TMZ reports that the reality star and her retired NFL player husband are still living under the same roof in Tennessee , but Kristin believes the increasingly strained atmosphere is taking its toll on their boys , Camden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ papers she 's filed , Kristin has accused Jay of refusing to release funds she needs to buy a new house , after she started hunting for another home last year when their marriage began failing .
While she put the property search on hold when the couple tried to patch things up , now divorce is inevitable Kristin wants the money Jay had `` never objected '' to her using to set up a new home .
The US outlet reports that Kristin believes Jay is `` punishing '' her and has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash she needs , and that the nastiness started when they returned home from their plush family holiday in the Bahamas , where they spent the first part of the coronavirus lockdown .
It comes after the pair already started clashing over child custody , with Jay filing for divorce first and asking for joint legal and physical custody of their brood .
In her counter-petition , filed three days after Jay 's , Kristin has asserted herself as the boys ' primary caregiver and as such believes she should have them with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights .
She has claimed living under the same roof with their dad is creating a toxic atmosphere for their three kids , as he allegedly tries to pick fights with her in front of them , TMZ reports .
It 's a gigantic U-turn from the joint statement Kristin and Jay put out over the weekend where they insisted their split was a mutual decision .
`` We have nothing but love and respect for one another and are deeply grateful for the years shared , memories made , and the children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wrote in their heavily filtered Instagram post announcing the separation .
`` This is just the situation of two people growing apart .
We ask everyone to respect our privacy as we navigate this difficult time within our family . ''

KRISTIN CAVALLARI SHARES THE STORY OF HOW SHE AND JAY CUTLER FIRST MET
KRISTIN CAVALLARI SHARES THE STORY OF HOW SHE AND JAY CUTLER FIRST MET
The Hills star Kristin Cavallari says her estranged husband Jay Cutler is trying to block her from buying a new home by withholding money, as their previously amicable split swerves into bitterness
Kristin Cavallari's split from Jay Cutler is becoming increasingly acrimonious after the Hills star accused her estranged husband of 'punishing' her financially.
The mum of three, 33, filed fresh court papers on Wednesday which reportedly claim Jay is withholding money from her and blocking her from buying a new home for her and their kids.
TMZ reports that the reality star and her retired NFL player husband are still living under the same roof in Tennessee, but Kristin believes the increasingly strained atmosphere is taking its toll on their boys, Camden, Jaxon and Saylor.
In the new papers she's filed, Kristin has accused Jay of refusing to release funds she needs to buy a new house, after she started hunting for another home last year when their marriage began failing.
Image: Getty Images North America) Getty Images North America)
While she put the property search on hold when the couple tried to patch things up, now divorce is inevitable Kristin wants the money Jay had "never objected" to her using to set up a new home.
The US outlet reports that Kristin believes Jay is "punishing" her and has told her he won't release the cash she needs, and that the nastiness started when they returned home from their plush family holiday in the Bahamas, where they spent the first part of the coronavirus lockdown.
It comes after the pair already started clashing over child custody, with Jay filing for divorce first and asking for joint legal and physical custody of their brood.
Image: Instagram) Instagram)
In her counter-petition, filed three days after Jay's, Kristin has asserted herself as the boys' primary caregiver and as such believes she should have them with her full-time, with Jay given visitation rights.
She has claimed living under the same roof with their dad is creating a toxic atmosphere for their three kids, as he allegedly tries to pick fights with her in front of them, TMZ reports.
It's a gigantic U-turn from the joint statement Kristin and Jay put out over the weekend where they insisted their split was a mutual decision.
Image: Instagram) Instagram)
Image: WireImage) WireImage)
"We have nothing but love and respect for one another and are deeply grateful for the years shared, memories made, and the children we are so proud of," she wrote in their heavily filtered Instagram post announcing the separation.
"This is just the situation of two people growing apart. We ask everyone to respect our privacy as we navigate this difficult time within our family."