Lorna Arnold
Encyclopedia
Lorna Arnold is a historian who has written a number of books connected with the British nuclear weapons programmes.
As the second official historian of the British nuclear weapons programmes, she has had access to previously secret documents and personally knew many of the people involved. Though in her 90s, she is still an active participant in intelligence/historical community debate, as evinced by her contributions to recent meetings such the Oxford Intelligence Group in 17 June 2008.
Dawson). Lorna was the eldest of five children. Her father served in WWI, and after the war, the family turned to farming in Surrey. She attended Waumborough Primary School and Guildford High School, and in 1934, she received a scholarship to study English Literature at Bedford College, University of London. She graduated from Bedford College, London in 1937.
After graduation, she trained as a teacher at Cambridge University, and spent one year teaching in secondary school. She was called to serve in the government during World War II, and did not return to teaching.
, working as part of Army Council Secretariat. There she took on increasing responsibilities, many related to supply and logistics for the war effort. During this time, she lived in London, and like many Londoners, experienced the hazards of the Germain air raids on London.
In 1944, she transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
as their first woman diplomat and worked on the European Advisory Commission
(EAC), making arrangements for the postwar administration of Germany. In August 1945, Lorna posted to Berlin as part of the Allied Control Commission, a hazardous undertaking just after the fall of Germany.
After WWII, Germany was divided into four zones, managed by the British, American, French and Russians. (See Allied-occupied Germany for more details.) Berlin was also divided into four zones, and Lorna worked with her counterparts from France, the US and Russia to coordinate administering the districts and supplying foods to the population. Britain had very limited resources at the end of WWII, and in 1946, Britain and the US agreed to administer their districts jointly, under a scheme called Bizonia.
In 1946, Lorna transferred to British Embassy in Washington, D.C., and worked with Americans to administer Bizonia. During her time in Washington, she had a desk at the Pentagon. In 1949, she returned to England.
in 1959, and worked on the Windscale Accident Commission. Later, she would write a book about the Windscale accident, Windscale 1957: Anatomy of a Nuclear Accident (Basingstoke, Macmillan, 1992)In the AHSB her first job was as a joint secretary of a committee on training in radiological protection, set up as a result
of the Windscale accident. At the AHSB she worked for the first UKAEA Director of Health and Safety, Dr
Andrew McLean, who had been the Chief Medical Officer at Risley during the
Windscale Fire and was to become the first Director of the National Radiological
Protection Board on its formation in 1971.
In 1960 she transferred to the UKAEA Health & Safety branch.
In 1967 Lorna joined the UKAEA Historian's Office, initially working with the official historian,
Margaret Gowing
, who was then at the University of Kent at Canterbury. Lorna jointly
authored the second part of the UKAEA official history with Professor Gowing,
who became Regius Professor of the History of Science at Oxford. The monumental two
volume treatise, “Independence and Deterrence: Britain and Atomic Energy,
1945-1952”, which examined in detail the policy and execution of the UK atomic
bomb project during 1945-1952 – the official history of the development and
production of the first atomic bombs in this country was published in 1974. “Independence and
Deterrence” is still in print today.
In 1976, Lorna was honored as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE).
Eventually Lorna Arnold took over the role of official historian, and wrote various books and
articles on British nuclear programs, both civil and military. She worked at the
UKAEA sites in London, Harwell
, and Aldermaston
, but her collaborations with
American, European, and - eventually - Russian scientists and historians took her
all over the world, from Vienna to Los Alamos.
She is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics
and a Fellow of the Institute of
Contemporary British History. She is a recipient of an Honorary
Fellowship of the Society for Radiological Protection
.
Though she has been retired from UKAEA, Lorna remains an active contributor to journals, recently revised her book on the Windscale accident, and has contributed to others' work.
As the second official historian of the British nuclear weapons programmes, she has had access to previously secret documents and personally knew many of the people involved. Though in her 90s, she is still an active participant in intelligence/historical community debate, as evinced by her contributions to recent meetings such the Oxford Intelligence Group in 17 June 2008.
Early years
Lorna Arnold was born Lorna Rainbow in London on December 6, 1915. Her parents were Kenneth Rainbow and Lorna Rainbow (néeDawson). Lorna was the eldest of five children. Her father served in WWI, and after the war, the family turned to farming in Surrey. She attended Waumborough Primary School and Guildford High School, and in 1934, she received a scholarship to study English Literature at Bedford College, University of London. She graduated from Bedford College, London in 1937.
After graduation, she trained as a teacher at Cambridge University, and spent one year teaching in secondary school. She was called to serve in the government during World War II, and did not return to teaching.
World War II, Berlin and Bizonia
In 1940, Lorna was recruited to work in the government war effort. She first served in the War OfficeWar Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, working as part of Army Council Secretariat. There she took on increasing responsibilities, many related to supply and logistics for the war effort. During this time, she lived in London, and like many Londoners, experienced the hazards of the Germain air raids on London.
In 1944, she transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
as their first woman diplomat and worked on the European Advisory Commission
European Advisory Commission
The formation of the European Advisory Commission was agreed on at the Moscow Conference on October 30, 1943 between the foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Anthony Eden, the United States, Cordell Hull, and the Soviet Union, Molotov, and confirmed at the Tehran Conference in November...
(EAC), making arrangements for the postwar administration of Germany. In August 1945, Lorna posted to Berlin as part of the Allied Control Commission, a hazardous undertaking just after the fall of Germany.
After WWII, Germany was divided into four zones, managed by the British, American, French and Russians. (See Allied-occupied Germany for more details.) Berlin was also divided into four zones, and Lorna worked with her counterparts from France, the US and Russia to coordinate administering the districts and supplying foods to the population. Britain had very limited resources at the end of WWII, and in 1946, Britain and the US agreed to administer their districts jointly, under a scheme called Bizonia.
In 1946, Lorna transferred to British Embassy in Washington, D.C., and worked with Americans to administer Bizonia. During her time in Washington, she had a desk at the Pentagon. In 1949, she returned to England.
Marriage and Family
In 1949, Lorna married Robert Arnold, an American musician and recording engineer, whom she had met in Washington, DC. As a married woman, she was required to resign from the Diplomatic service. She had two sons, Geoffrey and Stephen Arnold. In 1955, her husband returned to the United States, and she became a single parent. She returned to work, and after a variety of jobs, including a brief stint at a Peek Frean (biscuit) factory, she joined the UKAEA in 1959.United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)
Lorna joined the United Kingdom Atomic Energy AuthorityUnited Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority is a UK government research organisation responsible for the development of nuclear fusion power. It is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and was formerly chaired by Lady Barbara Judge CBE...
in 1959, and worked on the Windscale Accident Commission. Later, she would write a book about the Windscale accident, Windscale 1957: Anatomy of a Nuclear Accident (Basingstoke, Macmillan, 1992)In the AHSB her first job was as a joint secretary of a committee on training in radiological protection, set up as a result
of the Windscale accident. At the AHSB she worked for the first UKAEA Director of Health and Safety, Dr
Andrew McLean, who had been the Chief Medical Officer at Risley during the
Windscale Fire and was to become the first Director of the National Radiological
Protection Board on its formation in 1971.
In 1960 she transferred to the UKAEA Health & Safety branch.
In 1967 Lorna joined the UKAEA Historian's Office, initially working with the official historian,
Margaret Gowing
Margaret Gowing
Professor Margaret Gowing, CBE, was an English historian.- Overview :Margaret Gowing was involved with the production of several volumes of the officially sponsored History of the Second World War, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in conjunction with Longman's, Green and Co...
, who was then at the University of Kent at Canterbury. Lorna jointly
authored the second part of the UKAEA official history with Professor Gowing,
who became Regius Professor of the History of Science at Oxford. The monumental two
volume treatise, “Independence and Deterrence: Britain and Atomic Energy,
1945-1952”, which examined in detail the policy and execution of the UK atomic
bomb project during 1945-1952 – the official history of the development and
production of the first atomic bombs in this country was published in 1974. “Independence and
Deterrence” is still in print today.
In 1976, Lorna was honored as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE).
Eventually Lorna Arnold took over the role of official historian, and wrote various books and
articles on British nuclear programs, both civil and military. She worked at the
UKAEA sites in London, Harwell
Harwell
Harwell may refer to:*Harwell, Nottinghamshire, England*Harwell, Oxfordshire, England, a village**RAF Harwell, a World War II RAF airfield, near Harwell village....
, and Aldermaston
Aldermaston
Aldermaston is a rural village, civil parish and electoral ward in Berkshire, South-East England. In the 2001 United Kingdom Census, the parish had a population of 927. The village is on the southern edge of the River Kennet flood plain, near the Hampshire county boundary...
, but her collaborations with
American, European, and - eventually - Russian scientists and historians took her
all over the world, from Vienna to Los Alamos.
She is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics
Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of around 40,000....
and a Fellow of the Institute of
Contemporary British History. She is a recipient of an Honorary
Fellowship of the Society for Radiological Protection
Society for Radiological Protection
The Society for Radiological Protection is the leading UK society and registered charity which aims to promote learning and skills in the area of radiation protection, to improve education and establish and maintain professional standards in the field. It is the largest society of its kind in...
.
Though she has been retired from UKAEA, Lorna remains an active contributor to journals, recently revised her book on the Windscale accident, and has contributed to others' work.
Published works
- (1974). Independence and Deterrence: Britain and Atomic Energy, 1945-52: Volume 1: Policy Making. (With Margaret GowingMargaret GowingProfessor Margaret Gowing, CBE, was an English historian.- Overview :Margaret Gowing was involved with the production of several volumes of the officially sponsored History of the Second World War, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in conjunction with Longman's, Green and Co...
). London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-15781-8. - (1974). Independence and Deterrence: Britain and Atomic Energy, 1945-52: Volume 2: Policy Execution. (With Margaret GowingMargaret GowingProfessor Margaret Gowing, CBE, was an English historian.- Overview :Margaret Gowing was involved with the production of several volumes of the officially sponsored History of the Second World War, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in conjunction with Longman's, Green and Co...
). London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16695-7. - (1987). A Very Special Relationship: British Atomic Weapon Trials in Australia. London: HMSO Books. ISBN 0-11-772412-2.
- (2001) Britain and the H-Bomb London: Palgrave Macmillian ISBN 0-312-23518-6 (with Katherine Pyne)
- (2006) Britain, Australia and the Bomb: The Nuclear Tests and Their Aftermath (International Papers in Political Economy) (with Mark Smith) London: Palgrave Macmillian ISBN 1-4039-2101-6
- (2007) Windscale 1957: Anatomy of a Nuclear Accident London: Palgrave Macmillian ISBN 0-230-57317-7
External links
- Article in New StatesmanNew StatesmanNew Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
on Lorna Arnold and her work http://www.newstatesman.com/200612110015 - Article by Lorna Arnold reflecting on the Windscale fire http://www.iop.org/EJ/abstract/0952-4746/20/3/001
- Short Biography of Lorna Arnold, when she received an Honorary Fellowship at the Society for Radiological Protection http://www.srp-uk.org/citarnold.pdf.