The long journey from the horror of Britain's nuclear bomb to a poignant moment in an Oldham pub

Later this month Terry Quinlan will return to his home town of Oldham and visit a pub. It will partially seal a quest to get what he deserves 66 years after he and thousands of others were exposed to potential mortal danger.

He will be presented with a medal by the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester (on July 20). He had hoped to be presented with it by King Charles at Buckingham Palace - but the White Hart in Royton will suffice.

The ceremony at the pub that was once his local comes after decades of campaigning for recognition for Britain's Nuclear Test Veterans, of whom Terry, aged 84, is one. The ribbon design for the medal includes white, yellow, black and red, with the lighter blue for the sky and ocean, representative of the Pacific.

It was in 1958 that Terry and thousands of young men were posted to Christmas Island, in the Indian Ocean, as part of Operation Grapple, Britain’s campaign to build and test a hydrogen bomb.

The retired water engineer had opted to extend his time with the Army after his National Service came to an end, and had hoped to be posted abroad. He found himself on the other side of the world, part of a special force tasked with helping to create the infrastructure for Britain’s nuclear bomb tests. During his two years on the Island, Terry witnessed five nuclear blasts.

In the decades since the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association has called on the government to formally recognise the contribution of the veterans, many of whom suffered from catastrophic health problems in the aftermath, setting up a petition to get the issue debated in parliament, with members like Terry heading to Whitehall to lobby government.

Finally last year the government revealed the design of the Nuclear Test