MELTON MOWBRAY
AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY

ARCHIVE 2

(Items hitherto shown on our Latest News page but preserved here for record and reference purposes)

The Society's ANNUAL DF FOX HUNT (held on Wednesday 17th June 2008) saw 7 members present, comprising but a few for the field of hunters. The event terminated in the watering hole at Hose in the Vale of Belvoir - Jim G4DZL being the winner of the G3RPS/SK Trophy once more. Jim, according to Rule will take on the mantle of fox next year. Thanks to Shaun G6PGP for acting as fox this year.

There were NO ENTRIES for the ANNUAL CONSTRUCTION CONTEST scheduled for Wednesday 21st May 2008.

One of the Society's only two remaining Founders, Harold Hunt G2FUM became Silent Key on Easter Sunday 23rd March 2008.
Following a private cremation a Thanksgiving Service was held at Central Methodist Church, Melton Mowbray - co-Found Dick G3NVK with his wife Jo., and member Howard G6KQP attended on behalf of the Society.

There's always a first time for everything and this evening was no exception: the Society's March 2008 meeting was the lecture by Dave G8SZX on the subject of WINRADIO - we also welcomed to the fold Terry G3MXH as our newest member now that he is settled in the area. The sum total of the entertaining and enlightening session is the number of members now going to various websites covering Software-Defined Radio (the uses of which include every common amateur mode: CW, SSB, FM, RTTY, SSTV, and PSK) including:-

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/sdr.html
http://f4dan.free.fr/sdr_eng.html
http://web.flex-radio.com
http://www.dxatlas.com/Rocky
http://www.m0kgk.co.uk/sdr/index.php
http://web.telia.com/~u33233109/saqrx/saqrx.html
and for the dedicated techies THE SDR FORUM

It is with considerable sadness that we report the sudden death of HEATHER GODDARD-WATSON G7JNN,
(wife of Stephen Watson, G1KWF to whom we send our condolence) on 19th July 2007 following a short illness.
Steve and Heather had been married since 28th May 1994. The funeral service took place at All Saints' Church, Huntingdon on Wednesday 1st August. Many of the Cambridge area radio amateurs were present and Melton Mowbray ARS were represented by G3NVK, G7ARB and G4LWB and his wife Hilary. The Tribute was given by G3NVK.

OBITUARY - Heather Goddard-Watson, G7JNN added to website.-

SSB FIELD DAY (September 2007) produced a pleasant surprise for one member - visit the ILLUSTRATED PAGE.

The Society entered Low Power CW HF Field Day (in the 10W category) on Sunday 22nd July 2007. Having said that, it was Pete G3XYC who was the sole operator, achieving 136 QSOs and gaining 1475 points. There were 61 QSOs on 80m, and 75 QSOs on 40m over the six hours of operating.
Unquestionably a fine effort by our stalwart of the art of using a Morse key.

Pete - our fabulous CW man

And we later learned from the RSGB results which thorough endorse the fine effort accolade: "The 10W Portable section (Section B) winner is G4FOX/P (Melton Mowbray A.R.S op-G3XYC) and he wins the Houston-Fergus Trophy. G4FOX/P also had an error free log and obtained more points than any one else in the contest."
And as one member of his support team said "He's done it again!"

We welcome to the Society as a new member Councillor Norman Slater, who will be taking his Foundation Licence Course and Examination in late September.

The Task Group appointed at the EGM held on 18th May have completed their duties.
Future meetings of the Society (as from the AGM 2007) will be held at the South Melton Community Centre which is located on Dalby Road, Melton Mowbray. The Centre, which underwent refurbishment 12 months ago, is provided by the Borough Council for use by all local residents.
Meetings will be on the evening of the third Wednesday in the month. We have booked these dates from September 2007 to May 2008 and Roy G7ARB in process of settling the fees therefor out of existing general funds.

The Centre is an admirable location for our customary meetings and has the advantage of also being available to us for radio amateurs' course tutoring and examinations, and we will be allowed to erect aerials. There is adequate catering and refreshment facilities available to us as part of our hiring and parking space is far more than sufficient. Heating is maintained by the Council and we are informed that it will always be on during Winter months. We are also assured of plenty of space externally on the site and internally for any activity we may envisage in relation to our 50th Anniversary of official formation (2008) (although several of we founders were active as a small group from 1946). Its elevation makes it admirable for VHF operations.

Secretary will be sending a map (the Grid Reference is SK750176) with the Notice of AGM to all members in August this year.

Phil G4LWB as RSGB correspondent o.b.o. MMARS will doubtless inform RSGB for RadCom Club News and diary.

Webmaster will in due course (at the appropriate time) make full reference to these changes on the Society's website.

Sad to relate but Brian Franklin GØOAE joined the ranks of Silent Keys on 29th May. Due to ill-health he had not been able to attend our meetings for several years: he was a protégé of Ken GM3WKM during the time he was RAE lecturer.
Funeral service will be held at Loughborough Crematorium on Friday 8th June 2007 at 11:00am. No flowers please: donations if desired to Leiceter Hospital Charity may be sent to Richard Barnes - Funeral Directors of Wilton Road, Melton Mowbray.

At the EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING - part of the monthly meeting in May (18th May 2007 - the Annual Construction Contest) - which set out to resolve problems with continuing as at present, or deciding upon alternative venues it was decided after discussion and a vote that the Society should seek other accommodation. A letter had been sent to 43 members on 23rd April calling this EGM, 13 apologies were received but only 18 members attended, the remaining 12 remaining silent. The votes registered were:

A 4-man group was set up to inspect the suggested alternatives, viz:

The Group is to report back with a recommendation based on their inspection and the whole membership would be informed by letter and given a chance raise objections within 7 days, after which tenure would be secured for the upcoming season commencing with the September AGM.

At the RSGB AGM, held at the Hawthornden Lecture Theatre in the National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh on 28th April 2007, the RSGB Raynet Cup was presented to MMARS member Geoff Griffiths G3STG.
Geoff joined RAYNET in 1957 and was nominated in this, his 50th year of membership, in recognition of his long-standing service to RAYNET.
More details on the RAYNET WEBSITE at: http://www.raynet-uk.net/news/show.asp?n=308&t=648#open

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