Cornish Radio Amateur Club
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I currently have the honour of holding the post of President of the Cornish Radio
Amateur Club and have personally been a serving member of the Committee since 1981,
a few months after joining.
A year later I became the Secretary and help that post for around 8 years I believe.
A couple of years as Vice chairman followed and led me to take over as Chairman for quite
a while until Ken G0FIC assumed the tiller.
The Club was initially formed back in the 1940’s as the West Cornwall Radio Club
The name was changed in the late 1950’s to become The Cornish Radio & Television Club
and again some time later to become the Cornish Radio amateur club.
The Club’s annual Radio Rally held in July is an event that has been looked forward to for
many a long year and, events have been held in many areas but, since 1964 predominantly
in Newquay and Truro in the early years.
Several years saw a fixed venue at what was then the Camborne Technical College.
This venue was lost and we used Camborne School and Richard Lander School in Truro
then, since around 1990 we have used the main sports hall at Penair School, Truro as the
venue and have been well looked after by the Caretaker Ray and his team.
Membership is open to all interested in either communication by Radio or indeed
computing as we also have a very active Computer Section that holds it’s own separate
monthly meeting on a different night to the Amateur Radio evening.
We have recently moved venues for our regular meetings and now use the services
provided by the Perranarworthal, Church Hall.
The Radio section of the Club meets on the First Wednesday of each month
from 7.30pm.
There is a business meeting that lasts from about 30 minutes to an hour depending
on the topics for discussion and this is followed by a break for tean & coffee and a
talk/presentation that is predominantly on radio related topics but not always.
Recently for example, we were given an excellent insight into the history of and the
current day use or Radar as the eyes of the Nation keeping a lookout for potential
airborne threats to the security of the nation. This talk was given by Wayne Gannon,
a serving member of the RAF at Portreath which of course is one of the Radar Stations
for the UK. WE now know all about the Station Bike WAF’s of WW2 emm.
Wayne just happens to be the Chairman of the Cornwall VW Owners Club and a good
friend of mine.
The Computer section evenings follow a similar format but the talks of course are centred
upon computing, no surprise there then! However there are many uses a computer can
be put to within Amateur Radio…log keeping, running the tnc [terminal node controller]
for digital mode communications, amateur television for sending pictures …. to name but a few.
Once again a all are welcome to attend from both sides of the Club fence.
With the exception of December when we hold a joint ‘Christmas Party’ on the radio night
the Computer section meet at the same venue on the second Monday each month
at 7.30pm. During the winter months it is well worth bringing a torch with you as
the way is not lit ‘twixt car park and hall! you have been warned.
We permit two visits to the Club before asking that interested parties put their hand in their
pockets and take out a membership subscription.
Our events calendar if dominated by one major event called ‘International Marconi Day’
I have the fault for all the work this produces as it was an idea spurned by Monty G4ZKH and
I that led to the event being started in 1987 and on 2008 we will be holding the 21st event.
Each participating station will be based at of near to an original Marconi experimental site or
representing one of the sites if nearby operation is impossible.
We will be using rooms at the barrack block of Pendennis Castle and representing Poldhu
but also the fact that Marconi used Falmouth as a base when he visited in his yacht the Elletra.
An award is offered to both transmitting amaueurs worldwide or indeed to listeners so even you
could take part for the 24 hours in April. for in depth details please go to www.gb4imd.org.uk
Along with this event we also run outside demonstration stations at various events. In recent
years we have attended The Model Flying display on the North Cliffs run by Redruth and District
Flying Club, The Chacewater Harvest Fair, The West of England Steam Engine Rally and the
Cornwall VW Owners Club Jamboree at Stithians Show ground. If you see us at one of the events
or indeed anywhere else come in for a chat you will be made most welcome.
Further details regarding the Club, and Amateur Radio generally, can be obtained from the P.R.O. Ian, on 01872 561058 or the CRAC Website
If you want to have a chat about the Club or indeed amateur radio in general please
give either Ken Tarry our Chairman G0FIC a call on 01209 821073 0r me
Norman Pascoe,Vice Chairman & President on 01209 212314 a call.