Why I had to go and how I prepared
In early 1976 BNFL (British Nuclear Fuels & CEGB (Central Electricity Generation Board) were worried about world supplies of Uranium and the UK needed supplies for our nuclear power stations. Since BGS (British Geological Survey, then called the Institute of Geological Sciences – IGS) had been involved in Uranium exploration during, and after, the war (part of project ‘Tube Alloys’, exploring for Uranium, and had an ‘Atomic Energy Division – AED’, post war) and was still actively doing this work in the 1970’s (the AED had become a unit – the ‘Radioactive and Rare Minerals Unit – RRMU’ within the Geochemistry Division). BNFL approached IGS for help with finding uranium resources outside the UK. They had a consultant from the USA guiding them, who had identified Bolivia/Peru as an area of interest, as a result of discoveries in Brazil & Argentina.
I was then working for BGS, as a member of the RMMU. Two staff members from RMMU were selected for the project. Myself as a technical ‘expert’ geochemist, having put together and supported mobile radiometric survey equipment for gamma-spectrometer and ‘carborne’ radiometric surveys in the UK (see this page for more info), and Uisdean (a gaelic name, pronounced ‘oosjen’, a colleague and geologist) who also had been involved in the uranium exploration programme. The work would be funded by BNFL and as yet (early 1976) unidentified commercial partner.
Initially, Bolivia was the target country, as recommended by a consultant (Laurie Sneddon), first noted in my diary in early May. This progressed as far as me preparing lists of equipment and preliminary preparations. Late in June, Bolivia was cancelled, and Peru became the destination with a target date of late July. Signal Oil Peru were identified as a co-funder and partner (Signal were shutting down their operations in Peru and were happy to spend money since they couldn’t repatriate it). At the time oil companies were keen to diversify into minerals since the view was that oil was running out, this work seemed a good fit for Signal Oil.
I started preparing in earnest, purchasing new items, testing and setting up, then packing the equipment needed. In addition, I had to negotiate with an airfreight shipper to get the boxes of equipment out to Peru. Plus, having to obtain and complete sets of customs forms for everything to be shipped (all on paper in those days!). Of course, both myself and my colleague needed a range of inoculations, which required two main sessions on 22nd and 28th July. (apart from human rabies vaccine which was delayed arriving, so a second inoculation had to be given in Peru and we carried the vials of serum with us). We may well have had one of the first vaccinations in the UK of what was then a newly released rabies vaccine from the Pasteur labs in France (so we were told). The reason for having it (and we had to insist, as it wasn’t a routine vaccine) was the prospect of rabid vampire bats in the Amazon basin, which was a likely area of work.
I spent some time shopping for things needed, like a portable battery powered cassette recorder/player, so we could record audio information on the road, spare batteries and clothing (the cassette player turned out to be a mixed blessing as you’ll see later in the posts, although I did use it for personal recordings as well). I was also keen to be able to take good photos, both for personal and professional reasons. So, with my luggage was a small suitcase packed with Kodak slide films, from my office, as the organisation insisted any photos to be on slide film. I also carried rolls of monochrome film (Ilford FP4) for my own interest (remember this was all pre-digital camera technology). My camera equipment, packed in a purchased small aluminium case in bespoke padding, were two single lens reflex film cameras a Yashica and a Chinon (both M42 screw thread for interchangeable lenses). I also spent up to the limit on my credit card to buy two of the best zoom lenses of the time (to try and cover both close-up and distant photography) and added a decent tripod. The lenses were the then very new at the time, Vivitar Series 1 lenses, and I had the 70 – 210 mm, f/3.5 and a 35 – 85 mm f/2.8 which I hoped would cover most requirements.
I completed the packing of boxes, including preparing lists of contents for customs and labelling, by 26th July. The boxes were duly inspected by a customs official and collected by the shippers on 28th July. One box of equipment to be shipped separately, was completed by 30th July. Then, I could complete packing my own gear, which included fishing equipment and a rather expensive fishing rod, as I’d been told there was good river fishing in Peru (it turned out to be more useful than anticipated). There was still some last-minute shopping on 31st July and 2nd August.
After that I was ready!
NOTE – In June & July 1976 Britain was in the throes of a major heat-wave with temperatures only exceeded in 2026! This was the year of the ‘great drought‘ which was ongoing as I left the country.