The Accidental Rush for Anthrax Island

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2021-05-31に共有
Gruinard Island, in the north-west of Scotland, was where Britain tested its biological weapons. That story's been told many times: but I found something in the archives that I don't think anyone's ever noticed before.

Thanks to the boat crew and voice artists!
Location fixer: Vikki McCraw at Locations 365 www.locations365.co.uk/

SOURCES from the National Archives:
WO 188/2783
WO 188/3169
WO 32/20442
DEFE 55/118
DEFE 68/991, 992, 993

One other stories I found but couldn't fit into the video: the government spent a long time trying to work out the legal ramifications of selling the island back. In the end, they agreed to guarantee the cleanup for 150 years, which to me is the strongest evidence that there's nothing dangerous left there: they wouldn't have taken that risk otherwise!

Filmed safely: www.tomscott.com/safe/

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コメント (21)
  • This is the first of three videos from the west of Scotland! It's good to be back on the road again. Uh, and back on the water, I guess.
  • @MmntechCa
    "I'm not afraid of anthrax because I already live next to a council rubbish dump." That might be the most Scottish thing I've ever heard.
  • @joyphobic
    Government: We are not selling the island for £500 to ANYONE BESIDES THE ORIGINAL OWNER People: Best I can do right now is £501
  • "I am prepared to offer £501 immediately" sounded so much like one of James Veitch's sketches
  • @Azeria
    Tom Scott then: here’s a story Tom Scott now: but that’s not the real story
  • Headline: Tom Scott is the person to call about a surprisingly cheap Scottish island.
  • Tom Scott: makes a video 22 minutes later: the "letters from the public wanting to buy it" part is added to and used as a reference in the Gruinard Island Wikipedia page
  • @Izandaia
    Some of the people writing those letters were DEFINITELY taking the piss.
  • "Totally anthrax free island, just 500 pounds" sounds hella sketchy, like "asbestos free cereal". Toms "The hidden rules of conversation" video, anyone?
  • So Tom’s the person to talk to about buying a private Scottish island… that’s what I’m taking from this video.
  • “April Fools Day is a curse and we should abandon it.” ACCURATE AS ALWAYS!
  • "Doesn't have anthrax anymore" is a wildly suspicious statement to make while advertising any property you have for sale, let alone an island.
  • So Tom, you're telling me that I can buy a Scottish island that used to be contaminated with anthrax for 500 pounds? Deal.
  • "The press can sometimes gloss over those sorts of details" - Understatement of the year.
  • You've created such a well crafted, respected, and valuable body of work on this platform. Thanks for all your hardwork, I'm glad it hasn't gone unnoticed!
  • Tom’s getting surprised by his videos a lot lately. I like the feeling that we’re both learning
  • "And you're the person to call about a surprisingly cheap Scottish island" This feels like personal experience. Someone called you about this island, didn't they?
  • @jacob_90s
    Dear Lord Vetinari, it has come to my attention that and island on the river Ankh is up for sale for $500. I understand that the island was once used for experimentation by Unseen University, but that doesn't not concern me as I used to live next to their trash heap for several years, and the worst thing I ever saw there were talking mice. I am therefore prepared to offer you a sum of $501 for the island to take it off your hands.
  • @jackieking1522
    Nice one. I once applied for a teaching position advertised in the government gazette. I was mildly miffed a year later when I found out that the successful applicant was rather less qualified than me. Then I was told " All jobs have to be advertised, even when its a straight internal promotion. They would have been quite annoyed getting an outside application."