| Description | Tape 1 Side A. ALAN CHRISTIE SWINTON born 3 December 1926 Leeds, Yorkshire of Scottish parents. Moved to Glasgow aged 9, educated there, trained for Church of Scotland. Details. In Navy as radar mechanic. Details re arts course at Glasgow University. 1950-53 studied for ministry. First pastoral charge a joint one in east end of Glasgow. Details. Enjoyed job. Set out to show that church there for the local people. Explains attitude. Church supported tenants in enforcing Rent Act requirements. Recalls Bridgeton community, being accepted there. Own church background limited. Reason for joining church, socialist perspective, youthful influences. Was, and is, a rebel in own family. Work in Bridgeton was pioneering, stayed there 6 years. Went to Coach Bridge for 6 years. Not most fruitful part of ministry because too many churches in area. Explains. 1965 moved to Cumbernauld, new community. Describes raw conditions there, growth in congregation, opportunities for all ages, pioneering work. Explains approach to job integrating the community. Explains left of centre political inclination. Background to becoming first full time chaplain to 3 Aberdeen hospitals (1971), initial feelings about job, realisation that it was the right thing to do. Details re own children. Oil industry was starting at that time. Explains location of home. Describes duties, reasons for being called out to various situations, evolution of job, another pioneering one. Initiated annual service at Trinity Cemetery memorial for stillborn babies. Mentions own stillborn baby, wife's miscarriages. Initiated regular services for cremation of unborn foetuses. Piper Alpha disaster: recalls plan previously in place for major civil accident, planned use of chapel. Recalls night of disaster, helicopters. Sense that something serious had happened.
Tape 1 Side B Piper Alpha disaster (cont'd). First encounters with relatives of Piper workers at the chapel. Survivors sent out to hotel at Dyce. More and more people came to the chapel. Many phone calls to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Police careful but slow in providing names to relatives. Recalls being asked many questions, helicopters arriving. Recalls one happy ending, others not. Details re one survivor covered in oil. Most of the injured had burns. Details of other injuries. Did not have first list of survivors till 11am on 7 July. Limitations of list. Recalls pregnant lassie waiting, rushes to window when helicopters arrived. False rumours of survivors. Describes having to tell relatives that there would be no more helicopters. Mentions assistant, future wife, effect of the event on their relationship. Staff were stood down at 4pm. Reaction of relatives. Instruction to return later in the evening to meet Mrs Thatcher. Feelings about this. Meeting next day with Andrew Wylie, old friend. Explains his role as industry chaplain. Media were horrendously obtrusive. Gives examples. Media not allowed into hospital. Even so, owes debt to media. Explains opportunity to explain situation. Mentions trust between self and Andrew Wylie, difference in their roles, own bond with relatives. Reference to presentation painting from survivors and relatives. Explains own way of handling crisis, emotions. Attitude of staff at the hospital during the event. Uniqueness, special nature of this time. Organised a special hospital service the following week for staff and patients. Mentions concern for non-Piper Alpha patients in hospital.
Tape 2 Side A Piper Alpha disaster (cont'd). Recalls telephone call the day after the disaster from Minister of St Machar's cathedral, Rev Stewart Todd, re morning service to be broadcast on Sunday, invitation to talk about disaster. Details re front page story with prayer in The Sun next day. Involved in memorial service in St Nicholas Kirk following week, coordinated by Andrew Wylie. Reference to Rev James Stewart. Details re service, parts played by different clergy, atmosphere, large silent crowd outside. On TV news afterwards. Details. Reaction of people to service. Recalls decision to erect a Piper Alpha memorial. On memorial committee, nominated to dedicate memorial. Discussions leading to nomination of Queen Mother to unveil memorial. Reaction of relatives to Occidental decision to blow up Piper Alpha remains led to full search around wreckage for bodies. Asked to conduct service held in crematorium - most difficult service ever conducted. Explains. Night before Hazlehead Park memorial unveiling, service held for Piper Alpha survivors and relatives only. Casket of unidentified human remains placed inside memorial. Feeling that it was time to move forward when memorial had been unveiled. Conducted services at subsequent commemorations. Feelings about this. Own place in Piper Alpha story. Recalls demands to speak about disaster. Mentions others involved in hospital. Impact of disaster on personal life and that of wife Mary. Opinion of way clergy should minister. Recalls visits with Mary to Piper Alpha memorial. Feelings about Occidental never having been prosecuted. Reference to Bob Ballantyne. Comments on Cullen enquiry, possibility of disaster happening again. Feelings at having been available at time of disaster. |