The Queen Opens The First Nuclear Power Plant From Our Special Correspondent CALDER HALL, CUMBERLAND, Ocr. 17 It is all too easy merely to record that to-day the Queen, by an almost effort- less action, sent "atomic electricity" coursing through the network of power lines that sprawl. over the countryside and into the factories and homes of Britain. Indeed, simplicity was the key- note of this afternoon's ceremony, when her Majesty formally opened the world's first large-scale nuclear power station here at Calder Hall. But the full significance of the operation, which spells the real beginning of the industrial atomic era, must be left to the historians to describe, for the event needs time to place it in truer perspective. To-day, with a boisterous wind to display the flags-and nearly wreck the marquees -the colourful and almost Welisian-look- ing installation deeply stirs the imagination. Nothing like it exists elsewhere. Truly it has been described as a " courageous enter- prise"; for Calder Hall represents the in- auguration of a comprehensive programme of atomic power stations which, in time, will provide Britain with an ample supply of electricity without the use of coal or oil. Therein lies its magic. In the Queen's opening words to-day: "As power from Calder Hall begins to flow into the national grid, all of us here know that we are present at the making of history." Her Majesty went on:- " For many years now, we have been aware that atomic scientists, by a series of brilliant discoveries, have brought us to the threshold of a new age. We have also known that, on that threshold, mankind has reached a point of crisis. " To-day we are, in a sense, seeing a solution of that crisis as this new power, which has proved itself to be such a terrify- ing weapon of destruction, is harnessed for the first time for the common good of our community. THE ATOMIC AGE GRAVE RESPONSIBILITY " In this turbulent century we have seen one technical revolution succeed another with astonishing speed. Within-the span of a few generations our way of life has been transfomed beyond anything our fore- fathers could have imagined. The age of steam was succeeded by an age of such startling achievement that we who are close to it can hardly realize that so short a period encompassed the invention of the motor car, the wireless set, the aeroplane, and much else besides, which we now take for granted. "So quickly have we learned to accept the pace of modem development that we have been in danger of losing our sense of wonder. That sense has been dramatic- ally restored by the advent of the atomic age. LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITIES "We have been made vividly aware that the physical world, in which the great adventure of human life is lived, is of a complexity which must inspire in us a sense of awe. More than that: in the atom, man has discovered vast powers and ways to control them, and their tremendous possi- bilities for good or evil must fill us with a sense of humility. " As new fields open before us, we become conscious that a grave responsibility is placed upon all of -us to see that man adds as much to his stature by the applica- tion of this new power as he has by its discovery. "Future generations will judge us, above all else, by the way in which we use these limitless opportunities which providence has given us and to which we have unlocked the door. They offer us, as we have heard to-day, a vital and timely addition to the industrial resources of our nation and to our material welfare. " But above all, we have something new to offer to the peoples of the undeveloped and less fortunate areas of the world, who will continue to look to us for assistance and example as they have done in the past. WORKERS' WELCOME EQUIPMENT EXPLAINED "That, to me. is the real importance of to-day's ceremony. For centuries past, visionary ideals and practical methods which have gone from our shores have opened up new ways of thought and modes of life for people in all parts of the world. It may well prove to have been among the greatest of our contributions to human welfare that we led the way in demonstrat- ing the peaceful uses of this new source of power. " I congratulate all those who have shared in this fine project-both those who conceived and planned the industrial appli- cation of atomic energy in this way and those who have worked to see their plans fulfilled-and I hope this occasion will be an inspiration and encouragement to all who will continue this exciting enterprise here,and elsewhere. " It is with pride that I now open Calder Hall, Britain's first atomic power station." FIRST FLOW RECORDED Her Maiesty then closed a switch on the ceremonial dais outside the station and power produced by the atomic plant was transferred by remote control to the national grid system. At the same moment an indicator on the roof of the administra- tion building moved from the zero mark and recorded in kilowatts the surge of elec- tricity into the commercial supply mains. On her arrival earlier in the day at Sella- field railway station the Oueen had he-n received by Sir Robert Chance, Lord Lieu- tenant of Cumberland. She travelled the two miles by car to Calder Hall and was welcomed there by Sir Edwin Plowden, chairman of the Atomic Energy Authority and unofficially by some thousands of workers, their families, and visitors from near and far. The Queen was shown the station's com- plicated equipment-the massive nuclear reactor, cool and static, but seething internally as the carefully controlled chain reaction process produces great quantities of heat, and the four steam-raising towers. 80ft. high, that link the "atomic furnace " to the conventional generating sets in the adjacent turbine house. The Queen was escorted to the dais by Sir Edwin Plowden for the opening cere- mony. Mr. Butler, Lord Privy Seal, in the The Queen making ber speech at Calder Hall yesterday. On the left is Mr. R. A. Butler, and, on the right, Sir Edwin Plowden, chairnan of the Atomic Energy Authority. absence of Lord Salisbury, the Minister responsible for atomic energy, said that events were frequently described in the Press as " epoch-making." In years to come many atomic power stations would be built in Britain and over- sea, " but to Calder Hall will always belong the pride of having been the first station anywhere in the world to produce electricity from atomic energy on a full industrial scale." The time was coming, Mr. Butler added, when no more coal-burning stations would be built. It might well be that soon after 1965 every new power station would be atormic. " By 1975 the total output of electricity from atomic stations will certainly be greater than, and possibly double, the output of all the power stations that serve our needs for electricity to-day." Sir Edwin Plowden, thanking the Queen for consenting to open the station, said that although they would one day look back on it with the feelings which they now had for the first steam engine and for the first aircraft, "future achievements will not detract from the importance of this first great practical step forward." INCREASING OUTPUT COMPLETION IN 1958 So the Calder Hall atomic station went to work, contributing directly to Britain's sources of electrical power. At the switch- on to-day part of the initial 28,000 kilowatts being generated was diverted from the Windscale plutonium factory, which has been taking the load since the station bcgan operations some weeks ago, and some 10,000 kilowatts of electricity was fed into the national grid system for general con- sumption. So far only one reactor is running at Calder Hall and its output will be steadily increased until the two generators it sup- ports are producing 46 megawatts of elec- tricity. By next spring the capacity of Calder "A" plant will be increased to over 90,000 kilowatts. Construction of the second half of the station-Calder "B "-began towards the end of last year and will be completed in 1958: then the station will have a total installed capacity of 184,000 kilowatts, of which nearly 150,000 kilowatts will be available to the Central Electricity Authority. RUSSIAN TRIBUTE Russian scientists were quick to applaud the British achievement. Shortlv after the opening ceremony an illuminated address, dedicated to " the scientists, engineers and builders of the first nuclear power station in Britain," was presented to Sir Edwin Plowden by Professor A. V. Topchiev, of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. Sir Edwin Plowden accepted, on behalf of the Queen, a film illustrating work in the U.S.S.R. on the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Pictures on page 20 TOUR AFTER CEREMONY After the ceremony at Calder Hall yesterday, the Queen witnessed the practical application of the supply of nuclear power to industry at the Moss Bay plant of the Workington Iron and Steel Company. She drove from Calder Hall to the factory to inaugurate the flow of " atomic electricity to it. During an afternoon tour of 45 miles the Queen was given a warm welcome in the streets of Workington, in Wbitehaven, where she opened a new civic hall, and at Keswick, where she finished her tour and joined the royal train to return to London. THE QUEEN OPENS THE FIRST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT "MAKING HISTORY" AT CALDER HALL: SUPPLIES FED TO GRID