The Shefford and District Amateur Radio Society hosted a reception on Thursday 25th September 2008, at the Community Hall. As part of the celebrations marking their sixtieth year of continuous activities in the hobby of radio and electronics that had commenced with the lecture by Prof. Colin Pillinger of Beagle fame, members were joined by VIPs and past members who had travelled back for the occasion.
The Mayor of Shefford Councillor P.F.J. Mackin, the Deputy Mayor Mrs. J.M. Harrison and principal guests from the trade and national organisations were welcomed by SADARS Chairman Ken Amos, call sign G4YRF. Mr. Amos spoke of the continuing pioneering work by radio amateurs in our modern-day communications. He cited, as examples, the everyday use of digital texting and the latest work in the detection and reception of extremely low-level radio signals.
Councillor Mackin congratulated the Club on its Anniversary and told the guests that he must have been only two years of age when it was founded by a group of radio enthusiasts and ex-servicemen in the very same hall. He emphasised the importance of such societies to the community of Shefford and was delighted to see that it was flourishing in these difficult times.
Mr. Peter Kirby, call sign G0TWW, the General Manager of ‘The Radio Society of Great Britain’ which has recently relocated its national headquarters to Bedford, spoke of the importance of societies such as SADARS in the wider international development of communications technology. On behalf of the RSGB, he presented an engraved silver salver to Mr Amos with heartfelt best wishes for the next sixty years.
Dr. Rob Mannion G3XFD/EI5IW, the editor of the popular hobby magazine ‘Practical Wireless’, itself in its seventy-sixth year, spoke of his pleasure in being invited to join his many long-standing ham radio friends. He presented a special subscription to his magazine to prize winner Mr. Paul Weldon G4DNI.
Special guest Mr. Mark Francis, Sales Director of Waters & Stanton, Essex based retailers of amateur radio equipment, presented draw winner Mr Alan Smith G0WAS with a Yaesu FT7800 portable radio transceiver and added his congratulations to the Society.
Among further ‘goodies’ kindly donated for the draw were a mobile transmitting aerial given by ‘Moonraker’ of Woburn Sands and an FM/AM radio by Martin Lynch & Sons of Chertsey.
Guests were fascinated by a continuous video presentation of historic club photos, displayed on a large screen provided by H&H Electronics of Biggleswade.
All members received a 60th Anniversary lapel badge featuring the club’s original call sign G3FJE.
A special Anniversary cake displayed circuits old and new in icing
