The Electronic edition of

OLD  HAMS  NEWS

October 2004

The Annual General Meeting of the Oldham Amateur Radio Club took place at Royton ATC, Park Lane, Royton, Oldham at 20:30 on Thursday 26th August 2004.

As usual there was a good turn out by members with over 30 attending so therefore easily achieving a quorum. The meeting followed the usual Agenda and was hosted by our Chairman, Geoff Oliver G0BJR. His report encompassed some of the events from the previous 12 months and included his thanks to his fellow officers and the outgoing committee for their hard work, the rally organisers, the Fred Lees Memorial Trophy presentation, silent keys, installation of the mast and the planning permission saga. He also mentioned training, including the success of the Foundation licence courses and congratulated the club members who were successful in passing the last RAE run by the C&G.

Our Secretary Mike Crossley M1CVL presented his report and included the 2004 Rally in more detail. He covered talks, and special events. He also covered future talks already booked in the club’s diary.

Our Treasurer Geoff Ashton M0AUG gave the financial report, which included a detailed description of the financial summary sheet that he had distributed to all members. He carefully analysed the financial aspects of the rally and stressed the importance of the rally in the future finances of our club and the consequences of not running a rally. Only small low value purchases had been made during the past twelve months.

The Chairman then stood down and Steve Crane G0KUY took control of the meeting until the new Chairman was elected. He addressed the members and expressed great praise for the Officers and committee for the work they had done for the club. He announced that there was just the one nomination for the post of Chairman – Geoff Oliver G0BJR who was elected unanimously.

Geoff resumed control of the meeting for the election of Secretary and Treasurer. There was just the one nomination for each position. Secretary - Mike Crossley M1CVL, and Treasurer - Geoff Ashton M0AUG, who were elected unanimously.

There were six nominations for the five available positions but when asked to confirm his acceptance of the post Steve Crabtree declined leaving the remaining five nominees elected by default. Therefore the Officers and Committee for Oldham Amateur Radio Club for the year 2004/5 will be:

Officers

Chairman: Geoff Oliver G0BJR
Secretary: Mike Crossley M1CVL     Treasurer: Geoff Ashton M0AUG

Ordinary Committee Members

Chris Cunliffe G7OOD     Craig Taylor G7MCT
Sue Burgess G0RKE     Stuart Wilson G7MFK
Jeff Hollowood G7LMI

There was one item for Any Other Business which was the 2005 Rally. Despite many requests by the Chairman for volunteers to organise the rally only one member had so far come forward. This was not enough so the Chairman asked for more volunteers. After some reluctance five more members volunteered. After which the Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance and closed the meeting.

The dreaded day is here again. It seems to come round faster each year. But there’s no avoiding it. It’s time for our subscriptions to be paid once again. The "Clutching Hand" (our Treasurer Geoff Ashton M0AUG) will be looking out for you on Thursday evenings if you’ve not already caressed his palm with a tenner (a fiver if you’re retired). Those members under the age of 18 still have free membership but you must register as such with ‘The Hand" to keep your membership current.

Don’t forget that this article is the only written reminder you will receive and if your subs remain unpaid your membership will cease and this edition of Old Hams News will be the last one you’ll receive.

My wife and I recently took a well earned holiday on the island of Jersey. Before our departure I logged on to the RSGB web site to see if there were any details of an Amateur Radio club on the island. I was delighted to find that there was and jotted down the information. The address was given as the "La Moye Signal Station", quite intriguing.

Jersey is a small island located in the English Channel some 14 miles from France and 100 miles south of the English coast. It is just 9 miles long (East to West) and 5 miles wide (North to South) and has in total just 45 miles of roads. These can be as packed and chaotic as any English roads especially in the capital town of St.Helier. The famous and very popular TV programme, "Bergerac" was filmed there. We flew from Manchester to Jersey on a British Airways Dash 8–200 turbo prop aircraft (a crop sprayer would be a fair description). A flight of approximately 1½ hours including a fabulous hot English breakfast. The last time we visited Jersey we flew on an Embrier 145 jet which made the trip in 45 minutes. Jersey in quintessentially very English but street names are often in French. Some have dual names. Interestingly the main shopping street is named King Street but it’s alternative French name is Rue de Derriere.

On the morning after our arrival immediately after breakfast, I was fiddling with my dual band handie, which I confess I had forgotten how to operate because I use it so rarely, when I heard a CQ call from a GJ station. I fumbled around a bit more and eventually made contact with the caller who was Steve GJ7DNI/M. He was heading to his boat in St. Helier harbour and had made some alterations to his mobile set up to reduce alternator whine. I confirmed there was no whine to be heard now and went on to have a good chat. I asked Steve about the Jersey ARS. He confirmed that it did exist and he was a lapsed member. Their meetings are held on Friday evenings (as shown on the RSGB web site) and he gave me directions to their premises without which I doubt that I would ever have found it. Especially as I had mislaid the piece of paper I had written the details on. It turned up immediately after my visit.

I had no other success with making contacts through the week. But I did spend a bit of time listening to the comings and goings at Jersey Airport. This is a tiny place compared with Manchester. It is located on the South Western corner of the island. The runway is just 1,706 metres in length and is oriented directly East/West bearing the designation 09/27. It is at 277ft above mean sea level and the western end is right on the edge of the 277ft cliff dropping down to the sand dunes and beach of St. Ouens Bay. I assume it is quoted as being 277ft AMSL because of the massive tidal swings around Jersey which, during our visit, was up to 11.5 metres (37 feet).

There is lots of ATC activity on 119.450 (Tower), 118.550 and 120.300 (Approach), 121.900 (Ground) and various other controls on 125.200, 120,450 mHz. ATIS (Air Traffic Information Service) could be heard on 129.725 mHz.

For such a small place there is an impressive amount of activity. Departures and arrivals were occurring every couple of minutes and a good variation of Airlines visit regularly. British Airways, Aurigny, Thomas Cook, VLM, Air Wales, Eurowings are a sample of those I saw and the list of destinations is quite comprehensive covering most towns and cities in Great Britain as well as many in mainland Europe. The aircraft are not of the large variety. If you want to see the "big rigs" don’t go to Jersey, stick to Manchester or London. There is a parking space on the ramp optimistically marked for a Boeing 767 but the largest I saw were Boeing 737s and BAe 146s. The rest were Dash 8s, ATR 42s, Fokker 50s etc. There were also lots of executive jets and private Cessnas and Pipers. The opportunities for viewing and photography are many and varied. In the terminal there is an impressive viewing lounge which overlooks the ramps and runway.

Eventually Friday evening came. We had an early evening meal after which I propped the XYL up on the hotel bar and departed to find the Jersey Radio Amateurs.

The La Moye Signal Tower is also located at the South Western corner of the island close to the island’s prison and just a few hundred metres from the coast. The access road to it looks as though you are going into someone’s garden and is gloriously appropriately named "Le Chemin des Signaux". It is just wide enough to fit a car. Amazingly there was no-one coming from the opposite direction. When I eventually found it there was no mistaking that I was at the right place. A large square grey concrete tower about 3 stories high with a hugely impressive array of antennae sprouting from every available spot confronted me. Several long wires running out into the surrounding heavily wooded area could also be seen.

The car park is extremely compact and there were no available spaces so I blocked everyone in so that I did not block the access road. As I stood admiring the building another car arrived and out of it popped Dick GJ3IT. We introduced ourselves to each other and Dick invited me inside. I was later told that Dick was a pilot before retirement and was the pilot who flew the last journey in an open cockpit civilian passenger aircraft.

On entry into the club meeting room I found I had blundered into a committee meeting which was already under way. I introduced myself and said I would wait. The Chairman/President, Mike Turner GJ3DVC would not hear of it and made me an Honorary Club Member and invited me to stay. It was very interesting to hear their various reports and see how they functioned in comparison to our club, and I have to say that they are so similar that they could have been the same. Also interesting was that the committee seemed to be made up of the whole membership.

After the meeting I was introduced to everyone after which Mike gave me a guided tour of their premises. The signal tower is a large square grey tower comprising 3 stories surmounted by a split level flat roof. Inside it is a rabbit warren of passageways, staircases and rooms. It was constructed during the war by foreign slave labourers brought to Jersey by the Germans who had previously invaded and occupied the island. During the occupation some 20,000 German soldiers were resident on Jersey and many of the structures they built still remain. All around the coast there are gun emplacements, bunkers and rangefinding towers. By far the largest and most impressive structure has to be the Underground Hospital. Located almost in the centre of the island it comprises approximately 800 metres of linked tunnels 35 metres below ground. It was originally conceived as a barracks and armoury and some tunnels are big enough to drive a truck through. This too was built by slave labour, mainly Polish POWs brought to Jersey especially to dig the tunnels. Many died whilst working there and their bodies were just left where they fell and later the floor was concreted over them. Around 5,000 perished in this way and it can be quite eerie walking through the tunnels especially if there are very few visitors about. Some time after it’s construction (it is still unfinished by the way) when the Germans realised that the British were in no hurry to liberate Jersey, it was converted into a 500 bed hospital which has its own operating theatre.

All these structures formed part of Operation Todt, named after the commanding Officer of the German troops on Jersey. It’s aim was to defend Jersey from invasion at all costs. The La Moye Signal Tower must have formed part of the network of defences protecting the island. Originally the building had a pitched slate roof presumably so that it resembled a house. There are some underground bunkers nearby that the club uses for storage purposes. After the war and the Germans were sent home the States of Jersey took ownership of all the buildings and basically left them to rot. The La Moye Tower remained open to the elements and freely accessible to all. Club members imaginatively thought it would make a good meeting place and negotiated with the Jersey Government to take up occupancy of the Tower. The deal was done and the club now rents the tower and after clearing out the mess and rubbish left behind by undesirables spent two years renovating the interior.

All the work was carried out by club members and their families and friends who pooled their knowledge, experience and labour to produce premises to their exact requirements at a minimum cost, and it is a credit to them all. The basement has a toilet and a utility area. On the ground floor is a lounge area with a fitted kitchen just behind. It is comfortably furnished with armchairs, sofas and occasional tables. The first floor is a meeting room and shack area. The top floor is still to be renovated but from here is access to the roof where the impressive antenna farm is erected (see photograph). Electrical power comes from a nearby Golf Ball Radar Station. This was recently struck by lightning and all but destroyed. The lightning tracked along the earth cable into the clubs premises and burnt out all their lights. The burn marks can still be seen even after all the repairs had been made. The Radar is also up and running again. The efforts, foresight and innovation of club members have made an intriguing new use of a building that could have been left to crumble to nothing.

Nearby another German wartime relic has been used for radio purposes. Jersey Radio now occupies a disused Rangefinding tower on the coast at Corbiere. This is for Air Traffic and Marine radio. Another innovative re-use of an otherwise useless structure.

Apparently there are in excess of 100 licence holders on the island but these are mostly inactive. Jersey Amateur Radio Society has approximately 20 members, 11 of whom were present when I visited them. Very often other clubs visit Jersey to operate in IOTA contests and events. They pay a small fee to use the Jersey club facilities.  Some of their discussions that night were about a request from the local Scouts to take part in the forthcoming JOTA event which for them would take place from the nearby Le Creux Country Park. The club has recently run two Foundation Licence courses both with 100% pass rate. This success was evident as two young MJ3s were present that night.

I had a very enjoyable evening with the members of the Jersey Amateur Radio Society and I thank them all for making me feel most welcome. In particular I extend thanks to Mike GJ0PDJ the President, John GJ4JVP Secretary and Dieter MJ1CYD Treasurer. It was good to see that Amateur Radio is in good hands in Jersey and I look forward to having another holiday there and dropping in on them once again.

On the following Sunday morning I tuned in to the end of their club net. Mike reads the RSGB news after which they QSY up one and they have their net. I couldn’t join in earlier as we were packing to catch the afternoon flight home. I said my goodbyes and wished them every success then it was off to Jersey airport to catch a British Airways BAe 146 to Manchester. This did the trip in under an hour. All too soon I was back at work and it was as if I had never been away.

By Geoff Oliver G0BJR

KINDER ONCE MORE

Another year has passed and it is that time again. That was what some of the club members had been saying. The PW VHF QRP contest was upon us and the club had been in turmoil as to where we were going to operate from this year. Different locations had been talked about but finally everyone had agreed that Kinder Low was to be the place this year. The club always seems to do well from this location and there were enough members interested in taking part to make it possible. As the RSGB 2 metre Backpackers Contest was being held on the same day we decided to enter that as well.

The usual arrangements had been made for everyone to meet along the route. I picked Ian (M0IJM) up at his home QTH at 5.45am and then we moved on to the Roxy Cinema where Peter (G7PMZ) and Ian (G7VCG) were waiting. From here the two cars travelled up to Park Rd in Oldham to meet Chris, he was waiting at a petrol station for us. It was now 6:00am. The first group was already on its way. The rest were to meet at the quarry car park in Hayfield.

The morning was pleasant with a little haze as the sun rose above the hills, on a Sunday morning at that hour when the sky is clear it is well worth getting up for. With very little traffic on the roads we made good time and arrived at the quarry car park at 6:45am. Steve (G0KUY) arrived just before 7:00am and with him came Geoff (M0AUG). Mike (M1CVL) came around 5 minutes later. This gave us our happy band of men.

The equipment was removed from the cars and shared out between us all. The sun was rising but it wasn’t too hot, this made it very pleasant for walking. Even though it was nice we still decided to go the long way around. It is far less dangerous and it is only 15 minutes longer because you don’t have to stop as often. Steve was nursing an injured knee and had it strapped up.

Everyone set off and after a short while the group started to separate, the thing to remember is that you should always go at your own pace. Slowing down for people can be more tiring than going fast. Steve was doing well keeping up with the main pack. Ian was of like a dart, no stopping him. After the first ¾ of a mile the climb started. I didn’t know how this was going to affect me. I had been off work with a very bad chest infection during the previous week. With the sun beating down on us the climb was starting to take its toll.

My chest was getting very tight and Steve’s knee was starting to hurt, the heat seemed to be getting to everyone. There was very little wind as we were in the cover of Kinder itself. The morning mist was lifting off the fields and if you looked to the side and down into the valley the wind could be seen blowing it around. As we neared the top the group was well spread out over a distance of around ¼ of a mile. Ian being the first up had disappeared into the low clouds in front of me, I waited a minute by some rocks to catch my breath and noticed that where I was there was no wind and yet 50 feet in front of me the clouds shot over the summit at a fair speed.

I pressed on, suddenly the wind hit me. It was very refreshing. It was just the morning mist travelling up the valley and over the hill. Ian and I being the first to arrive started erecting the tent. All the other started to arrive and after a few minutes rest they started on the mast and antenna system. Everyone had suddenly felt the wind and it came as a pleasant relief from the heat.

In no time at all the lads had put the mast up and tests were being made on the equipment. We were using the Club’s new masthead preamp and unfortunately today was the day that the preamp had other ideas. The FT817 that we were using did not have enough power on QRP to switch the relays inside. This meant that the preamp did not work. It chattered and rattled as we were talking into the mike. The power was removed that fed it and all was ok. The contest would have to be done without a preamp.

With fifteen minutes to spare before the start of the contest everyone took the opportunity to have a drink and a bite to eat. Ian took the mike first. He was working a station every few seconds. This looked very promising for the day. After a short while he was relieved. After a about an hour and half the contacts started to thin out. Everyone was enjoying the nice weather. It is not very often you can go up on kinder for PW and sit in the sun. Thankfully the wind was keeping the temperature down which made it a lot more pleasant.

At lunch time Steve lit the barbeque and everyone enjoyed burgers, Chris kept an eye on Steve to ensure that he disposed of the barbeque correctly. The day passed quickly and before we knew it the quite time had come, when this happens the club goes over to FM. This year was no exception but for some reason members were having problems receiving us, all we could put it down to was the weather. Only hours before a number of contacts had been made abroad with little problem.

The day had been a great day out for all the club members who took part. Hopefully the results will match the day. I give thanks to everyone who took part and went up the hill and all who came on and gave us points, the bands were very busy and if you have never been on 144mhz sideband when this contest is on then I think you could be missing out on some good contacts. Next year will be from a new location and all club members will be informed so watch this space and who knows, you may want to come and join in the fun on the day.

Happy contesting from Chris CunliffeG7OOD

Amateur Digital Voice has been with us for several years now. Former Chelmsford
Amateur Radio Society member Charles Brian G4GUO (he moved to West Sussex a few years ago) did the pioneering work on this back in the late 1990's. The recent dramatic increase in Digital Voice on the HF bands has been due to the availability of free software which means anyone with a PC and a HF SSB transceiver can run this exciting new mode.

The great advantages of Digital Voice are the better audio quality, similar to FM, and freedom from the pops and crackles that mar HF voice signals. In addition because Digital Voice is a constant amplitude mode it doesn't suffer from the audio breakthrough problems with Hi-Fi's and other electronic Devices that you can get with high power SSB.

The system that most Amateurs are now using is derived from the DRM standard which was developed for digital Medium Wave and Short Wave broadcast stations. The transmitted signal occupies a bandwidth of just 2.3 kHz so can be used with any HF SSB transceiver.

The software for this mode can be downloaded from: http://www.qsl.net/hb9tlk/hamdream/

by Trevor Hawkins M5AKA

As I said we had all the gear; Paravanes, otter boards, acoustic hammer and such. I count my blessings that we didn’t have to use them after the first try out. Occasionally we had a few mines floating on the surface. So we had to fall in for rifle practice to sink them. They were supposed to be not dangerous when they had broken away from their moorings. I once saw a ship that had hit a mine in the Aegean. We were in Alex at the time and she came sailing in with her bows blown off up to the bridge. Every ship in the harbour was tooting at her - a proud sight I’m sure. One of my mates was on a sweeper during the Dunkirk "Do", he was awarded a medal for that. I met his wife in town one day and she said "He is sweeping mines." I replied, "That’s a rough job, they have to work stripped to waist down those mines." She agreed, bless her.

I remember we had two minesweeping flats on each side of the ship and on each side of the boiler room. They were a long way from the sharp end, just in case we hit a mine. They were also used to get together to play "bingo" if we were in a safe area. Also we could check our washing which would be hanging over the boiler room on lines. We had, as you know, to do our washing in a bucket, with a bar of soap if we could get hold of one. But if you had a special job like "Captain of the heads" that is, toilet cleaner, you had a place to keep your cleaning gear like a lock up, so you could leave your washing to soak. It was a good idea to never leave it around the mess deck, or the PO would take it for the Scran Bag. Which meant it was taken away for month, and could only be redeemed with a lump of soap when the Pipe would go out "Scran bag open on the boat deck". The soap incidentally was used by the PO responsible for keeping the mess deck clean. More so on the upper deck because of the salt water you had to clean the paint work or paint it again to keep it clear of rust. However quaint or traditional it was, it made for a clean and happy ship in the long term.

Saturday mornings it was the Skippers Rounds. So duty cooks had to clean all the mess gear. Pans and knives and forks and lay them out for inspection. As time went by we got very short of eating irons, as we used to call them, because the duty cooks used to take the washing up water and empty it in the sea. Result, tinkle, tinkle little spoon, knife and fork will follow soon. That little rhyme still sticks in my memory.

Like all other ships we had to change jobs every few months. I did my stint as PO’s messman. Then Doctors and Officers flunky each in turn, they were expected to give you ten bob for the job. If it was an inside job like messman it had its drawbacks. Because when we were in the "Med" the heat was a bit too much. So consequently you were constantly up to the bathroom for a wash and change. You finished up with a rash in the crutch because of all the soap left in your clothes, and sweating with the heat. Boiling would take all the residue soap out. But who had a bucket to boil on the stove in the galley? Supply at the time was short, but we survived as always.

One of the nice jobs was you could have your turn at steering the ship. Once out at sea after asking permission from the Officer of the watch. It was a great experience following a gyro compass on each command. Mind you the real Cox’n or Pilot took over on entering a strange harbour.

Once I was detailed as whaler’s crew, and as the Dart was leader of the group we had the Doctor on board. That meant we had to take him on his rounds when requested by the convoy.

The Dart couldn’t stop to let him get off, so she had to sail in front of the ship concerned, drop the crew in the whaler and without stopping pull away from the side of our ship to go to a merchant ship. They threw us a line to catch and hook up to the front of the whaler and off we would go like a speedboat swinging ourselves in to the side of the ship, to a ladder so the doc could get on board. Sometimes the skipper dropped us a bottle of rum or a carton of cigarettes. Once they left us out in the wild blue yonder of mid ocean and went chasing a sub.

In November 1944 we arrived in Gibraltar for a short spell. A signal was received telling us to carry on to the Gold coast. What a job, I was not looking forward to that one. It was known as "the white mans grave" or so they say. It was all hands to muster for injections, when suddenly it was "Belay the last pipe" which means disregard the last order, and another signal told us to go back to the Med and Malta for a refit. I was glad, as it was another port in the storm as they say. Reminds me of what my wife’s mother said when she I started going out with her daughter. "He will have a girl in every port". I know that was a lie, as I have never been to every port.

Malta – the George Cross Island. Her brave stand goes down in history. My recollection of the place was the "Gut" as they used to call it and a café where we could get some good grub. Also a trip round the Grand harbour in a "Diso", a vessel something like a Gondola with a boatman.

Valletta was well knocked about, and we lost a lot of ships to keep them supplied. But she stood firm to win the "The George Cross". We were in dry dock having a bit of a refit for a week, and was there into December.

Off once again, this time destination Devonport and with our paying off pennant flying in the breeze, for some welcome Xmas leave. We had a rough passage going through the Bay of Biscay chasing some depth charges that had broken loose, but managed to make the port, without any more incidents.

On arrival in Devonport, the list went up for Xmas leave. I couldn’t believe I was down for New Year leave with the Scottish lads. It turned out for the best. I could let my girl know, and she could arrange the wedding plans. She did so for 29^th Jan, so things turned out great.

After that it was back again to HMS Drake, I met up with a pal of mine, Harry G, on the train going back. So it was a bit of company. I met up with him many years later as a fellow member of the RNA in a get together on the Anniversary of "D" Day. After a short spell in Barracks, I was moved to a rest camp, "Glen Holt" not far from Plymouth, I think it was called "Crown Hill. There was an army camp nearby where we could get a bed for the night, if we wanted to stay out for the weekend. They said our camp was a nudist camp in peacetime; naval thoughts tend to get a bit wild when you have been to sea. I remember we had a good few night Guards in the surrounding woods. A bit scary and glad to see our relief to take over,

Once again I was drafted to Barracks, followed by a move to HMS Defiance, the old Torpedo training Ship in Devonport across from "Drake" on the other side of the river. The school was three old ships. Defiance, Andromeda, and Vulcan joined up by a walkway. But the real school was a camp on the Torpoint side, still joined up on shore with the ship.

It was all Nissan huts with the usual two tier beds, you had to spread your hammock out on it with an extra blanket. The name of the camp was "Wilcove Extension!" and it was alongside a wood. I have cause to remember it! The Seaman’s electrical part of the course was great stuff. Ohms Law was my cup of tea. White Head Torpedo OK, Demolition Charges. I think I did quite well, but not so one chap who took his hammock lashing (rope), climbed up a tree and stepped out into eternity - poor lad.

After passing the instruction, we transferred to the old Defiance for duty. I will always remember when I was detailed for Colour Guard in the morning, and we were taken aside for a practice run by the duty officer and PO in line. With the order "Fix bayonet’s" yours truly put his rifle in-between his knees in the unfix position; well; the officer turned a shade of pink resulting with "Take that mans name". I was hoping the deck would swallow me up, the only excuse I could give was that I had been at sea for two years and was out of practice, so I got away with it. The PO took me aside for practice. He was quite young so I had the luck of the draw and came out smiling.

One thing I must mention about the cinema in Defiance. After our duty we had time to attend as did the Wrens from ashore. At the time I wondered why some of the lads left before the end of the film. Well the gangway went down the side of the ship, and passed the bathroom window so the girls could have a "Flash" of Naval Heroes if you get my drift. It was quite a Navy Lark, always on the fun side it kept us going. I’ll continue when I received a draft to Londonderry to join the "Fame".

By George Stead G0GSQ
With thanks to Bertie Whitcher for his help in editing this piece. Ed.

In June our contest team took part in the RSGB 2 metre Backpackers Contest from Kinder Scout (see article on Page 6). The results of this contest are now known. Our team won this contest. Congratulations and WELL DONE to all who took part in this event. The result is a credit to you all.

We have a series of interesting talks lined up to take us to the end of the year and another little event which might take your fancy. Sadly this edition of Old Hams News will be issued too late to advertise the first of the series of talks which was held on 23rd September and was "The RSGB Inside Out" by David Hicks G6IFA but the next ones are very interesting and it will certainly be worth coming to see and hear them.

Thursday 21^st October – Talk "Aerials, EMC & Other Things"
by Alan Hopkinson G8OJQ

Thursday 25^th November – Talk " RAYNET"
By Jon Mossman G7JKK – Gtr M/cr County Controller

Thursday 16^th December Talk "The History of Royton/Oldham"
By Frances Stott – Local Historian and Librarian
(Provisional at going to print)

All members and guests are invited to any and all the above.

The assistance of all members will be required at this event. You all know the routine and what will be needed on the day.

Also provisional – At the AGM many members said that they would still be interested in having a social get together but in a new format and at a new location.

A committee member has suggested that we hold a "Bonfire Party" at the ATC on the weekend of 6^th November.
All members and their partners are invited to this do!

Please state your intention to come or not. This is so that we know whether or not there is enough interest to make running the event worthwhile and also so that we can estimate the quantity and type of refreshments required.

If you have any preferences or suggestions for grub/drinks please inform a committee member. We will also be looking for old wood and other inflammable items to put on the bonfire. So if you want to be rid of that old wardrobe or whatever – bring it along.

Any other suggestions or ideas for our annual get together will be welcomed by the committee and given serious consideration.

Keep an eye on the club’s web site and listen out for announcements on club nights for details. Also the above items will be circulated on the g1orc net as little reminders.

The editor would like to thank all contributors to this edition of Old Hams News. The next edition is due to be issued in January 2005. Any contributions for this edition should be forwarded to the editor, Geoff Oliver G0BJR on or before Thursday 16^th December 2004 to ensure inclusion.

Articles will be accepted on many formats, by email to "oldham.arc@zen.co.uk", by word of mouth, hand or type written notes, or as a txt file on a CD ROM or 3½-inch floppy disc. Photographs, drawings, circuit diagrams and other graphics to enhance your article will also be most welcome.

In order to keep the cost of producing Old Hams News as low as possible, photographs in the hard copy version will be reproduced in black and white only. The Internet edition will show the photographs in colour. Occasionally, photographs excluded from the paper edition due to technical and/or space limitations could be added to the Internet version.

If you submit an article for inclusion in Old Hams News and you do not wish it to be included in the Internet edition you must state your wishes at the time of submission. Otherwise the editor reserves the right to include/exclude your article as he sees fit.

For reference the officers and committee members are listed below and will be happy to help with any enquiries you may have.

Chairman – Geoff Oliver G0BJR

Secretary – Mike Crossley M1CVL     Treasurer – Geoff Ashton M0AUG

Craig Taylor G7MCT         Chris Cunliffe G7OOD
Stuart Wilson G7MFK         Jeff Hollowood G7LMI
Sue Burgess G0RKE

N.B. Old Hams News is the official journal of the Oldham Amateur Radio Club. It is distributed free of charge to all fully paid up members of the club. Articles appearing herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor, the Officers and Committee, or the membership of Oldham Amateur Radio Club. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of articles included, the editor is not responsible for any inaccuracy that may occur.