A source of KOH in the UK or Ireland

[clivejo]

Would a blowtorch work?

[desperate]

Yes, it would be ideal

Desp

[clivejo]

would a stainless steel spoon work?

[desperate]

Yes, that would be fine, you only need a minute quantity of a chemical to colour a flame  like this, anything that wont melt below 500 degrees c or so would do. What you dont want to do is colour the flame with the tool you use to collect the specimen. A copper wire for example would colour a flame blue/green, but I think stainless would be ok. Maybe Eleanor is reading this, she knows far more than me about this.

Desp

[clivejo]

How would I safely dispose of KOH or NaOH ?

[Philip R]

Dilute it and then down the drain. It will neutralise the condensate from the condensing boiler.
PhilipR