How brave EK workers took on dictatorship
Story comes to big screen
I would like to think that all fair-minded people would think we did the right thing... Bob Fulton
The unlikely story of how a group of retired East Kilbride factory workers became Commanders of the Republic of Chile hits the silver screen this Friday.
Two-time BAFTA Scotland nominee Nae Pasaran! comes to UK cinemas on November 2.
And its local stars are gearing up for a home town screening at East Kilbride Odeon Luxe.
Pensioners Bob Fulton, Stuart Barrie, John Keenan and Robert Somerville’s star turn comes four decades after their defiant protest against General Pinochet’s air force in Chile and documents how they discovered the incredible outcome of their brave act of solidarity.
‘Nae Pasaran!’ is the painstakingly-documented and emotional account of the impact of their action.
And for the first time the feature film brings in the story of the many Chileans who crossed paths with the engines.
In 1974 Bob, a Rolls-Royce engine inspector and Second World War veteran, put his job on the line to boycott any work on the Chilean engines, refusing to repair and return the military jet engines of Pinochet’s air force in protest against their use during the 1973 air raid on the country’s capital Santiago.
Backed by the entire workforce, Bob and his colleagues kept the engines in the factory yard, where they fell prey to the Scottish elements, for four years.
However, one night the engines mysteriously vanished, leaving the workers to believe their actions were meaningless and unaware of the scale of their impact.
East Mains great-grandad Bob, 95, told the News this week that, despite fearing for his job, he knew he was right to carry on the campaign.
“Immediately after we refused to work on the engines I did wonder if security would be coming to escort me out the door,” he said. “And, of course, I was worried what my wife Lottie would say.
“Looking back, I think the actions we took were absolutely right.
“My beliefs as a Christian and a trade unionist justified any action which might help prevent harm to fellow workers in Chile and to send a message of support to them from across the world.
“I would like to think that not just trade unionists but all fairminded people would think we did the right thing.
“I think trade union law might make similar action more difficult today.”
Bob added: “I am proud that the actions at Rolls-Royce in East Kilbride have become a small part of the town’s history.”
In 2015, in recognition of their bravery, the courageous comrades were awarded the Order of Bernardo O’Higgins medal by Chilean ambassador Rolando Drago, who came to Glasgow to bestow the medal of merit in person.
The film, directed by Chilean national Felipe Bustos Sierra, was given its world premiere at the closing gala of this year’s Glasgow Film Festival and is nominated for two Bafta Scotland awards for feature film and director – factual.
Bob, who will be putting on his dinner suit for the BAFTAs this Sunday at Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel, said: “I don’t know about being a film star but it is a bit funny seeing and hearing yourself on the screen – and I certainly never expected at my age to be asked by anyone if I was ‘the old guy in the film about the Chile engines’.
“I think anyone going along to the EK showing will find the film an interesting and quite emotional experience.
“I don’t know what chance we have of winning a BAFTA but Felipe deserves an award for investigating and telling the story – and for putting up with me for the past five-and-a-half years.”