12 September 2024, Edinburgh
Scottish Parliament, Holyrood
Lunchtime meeting hosted by Bill Kidd MSP, Convenor of the Nuclear Disarmament Cross Party Group. With speakers including Rob Edwards, Investigative Journalist, Scottish CND and Nuclear Information Service followed by Q&A session. Includes video clips from John Ainslie and highlights from his archive.(Fully booked)
Bill Kidd MSP has tabled a motion for debate on the same day:
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-nd-motions/S6M-13909
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EW
16:30-17:30 Exhibition
Explore the links between Scottish identity and nuclear disarmament at this free event to remember the contribution of John Ainslie (1954-2016), nuclear weapons expert and campaigner, to the anti-nuclear movement and celebrate the return of his archive to Scotland.
Browse the archives, meet the curators, archivists and research associates of John Ainslie. A chance to see selected items from storage, video clips from John Ainslie interviews along with highlights from the National Library of Scotland’s other archives relating to the anti-nuclear movement.
17:30–19:00 Discussion
Panel discussion with Scottish CND, Nuclear Information Service and Investigative Journalist Rob Edwards followed by Q&A. The panel will reflect on John Ainslie’s work and the ongoing relevance of his archive to anti-nuclear campaigns and research today with questions and reflections from the floor.
Further information on speakers and book your free ticket here
Refreshments available in the Library cafe.
John Ainslie’s Archives
The Reverend John Ainslie became an expert on the UK nuclear weapons programme after leaving the military where he was involved in intelligence work. He then worked with Scottish CND over many years utilising his extensive military intelligence research skills to delve into the details. He authored many internationally influential reports on UK nuclear weapons and steps needed towards disarmament.
Scottish CND, CND UK, and many nuclear disarmament campaigners around the world continue to rely on the work John Ainslie produced from the early 1990s until his premature death in 2016. The Ainslie Archive contains over 3,000 documents, reports, press cuttings, FOI requests, and de-classified UK, US, and Russian government memos. The collection was organised and digitised by Nuclear Information Service with the help of donations from members of Scottish CND and the Lansbury House Trust Fund and is freely available to view online.
The paper files and original report copies have now been returned to Scotland into permanent storage at the National Library of Scotland.
You may also like this blog by Tim Street introducing the archive along with a PDF guide to the themes and content of the archive.
With grateful thanks to the Lansbury House Trust Fund supporting the digitising of the archive and these events.
Some of John Ainslie’s 20 reports
