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Neutrons for Science
Committee, Dr Valentine, Mrs Wade, Mr Wood and Mr Jolliffe. At that time the construction of the ILL reactor was well under way, and the pre-studies for the British project were quite advanced.
The report written by Jolliffe for the SRC about the visit is interesting to read (the conclusion is included here as appendix 3). One senses some scepticism for the ILL maintaining the announced schedule (“We are doubtful of this being achieved”) and it is striking that an emphasis is placed on the so called difficulties in the Franco-German collaboration. As I have
stated elsewhere, in fact these difficulties have never existed. A collaboration between the ILL and the SRC was raised, which would be useful for the British during the following five years, i.e. until the completion of the reactor in the UK. There was never any mention that the SRC would join the ILL as a partner.
The second British visit was by a delegation of the “Council
for Scientific Policy”, a body composed of top level scientists
who advise the government on science policy. The delegation included Professor Dainton, Sir John Kendrew, Dr Merrison, Feilden and Embling, under secretary of state for science and education. The first day was spent at the Délégation Générale à
la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (DGRST), a part of the Prime Minister’s Office, in Paris with Pierre Aigrain who presided over the committee of “The Sages”, whose role for the French was analogous to the British visitors. The whole of the following day, 6 November 1970 was spent in Grenoble. During the morning at the CENG, Louis Néel included a visit to the ILL, where I met them all. The possible participation of the SRC in the ILL had not really been discussed, however I think that the visitors gained a good impression of Grenoble, and the ILL in particular. This visit
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