Tom Tuohy
Encyclopedia
Thomas Tuohy CBE
(7 November 1917 – 12 March 2008), was deputy to the general manager at the Windscale nuclear facility
when a major fire
erupted on 10 October 1957. He was the leading participant in efforts to put out the fire which was emitting radioactive contamination
into the air, and so played a key role in minimising Britain's worst nuclear disaster.
Tuohy was born in Wallsend
and educated at St Cuthbert's High School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Reading University.
During World War II
he worked for the Royal Ordnance
as a chemist, and in 1946 joined the nuclear industry, becoming deputy general manager of Windscale in 1957.
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...
(7 November 1917 – 12 March 2008), was deputy to the general manager at the Windscale nuclear facility
Sellafield
Sellafield is a nuclear reprocessing site, close to the village of Seascale on the coast of the Irish Sea in Cumbria, England. The site is served by Sellafield railway station. Sellafield is an off-shoot from the original nuclear reactor site at Windscale which is currently undergoing...
when a major fire
Windscale fire
The Windscale fire of 10 October 1957 was the worst nuclear accident in Great Britain's history, ranked in severity at level 5 on the 7-point International Nuclear Event Scale. The two piles had been hurriedly built as part of the British atomic bomb project. Windscale Pile No. 1 was operational in...
erupted on 10 October 1957. He was the leading participant in efforts to put out the fire which was emitting radioactive contamination
Radioactive contamination
Radioactive contamination, also called radiological contamination, is radioactive substances on surfaces, or within solids, liquids or gases , where their presence is unintended or undesirable, or the process giving rise to their presence in such places...
into the air, and so played a key role in minimising Britain's worst nuclear disaster.
Tuohy was born in Wallsend
Wallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
and educated at St Cuthbert's High School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Reading University.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he worked for the Royal Ordnance
Royal Ordnance
Royal Ordnance plc was formed on 2 January 1985 as a public corporation, owning the majority of what until then were the remaining United Kingdom government-owned Royal Ordnance Factories which manufactured explosives, ammunition, small arms including the Lee-Enfield rifle, guns and military...
as a chemist, and in 1946 joined the nuclear industry, becoming deputy general manager of Windscale in 1957.