LEICESTER AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETY
SHOW AND CONVENTION
The early history
GEOFF DOVER, G4AFJ
Thirty years is a very long time and it would be a surprise if any of the original team were still involved with the Show. In those days the Leicester Show was organised by the traders themselves as they saw a need for a national event to replace those organised by the RSGB which fell by the wayside in the late 1960's. Thus a group of people were involved which became known as the Amateur Radio Retailers' Association. These included Tom Darn, Les Hellier, Bill Lowe, Terry Edwards, Frank Hopewell, Bill Mead, Ray Webster, Charlie Doughty and Martin Shardlow. Apologies if any of the original committee have been left out. In those pre-NEC days there were not many venues available for such a Show at the right price and thus it came to be in Leicester at the Granby Halls. The venue was even more down market in those early years than in its latter days! The cattle had been moved out the day previously and the place reeked of Jeyes' Fluid!
Eventually after a run of some ten years ARRA decided that Granby Halls was not big enough and they decided to move to Donington. In those days no exhibition centre existed and so they used the Motor Museum and put a flea market in the paddock. Unfortunately this show was not as successful as the previous ones and ARRA tried Doncaster Racecourse. By this time the local amateurs had decided it was too bad that Leicester should lose "their Show" and decided to soldier on at Granby Halls.
And so it was that that the Leicester Amateur Radio Show Committee was born and two of the original five are still involved in organising this year's show - their 19th so far.
Finally in October 2000 the Granby Halls were demolished and it is likely that the area will be used for car parking! How ironic after all those years when car parking was such a pain!
I am indebted to Fred Ward, G2CVV, for his recollections of the early history of the Show.
THE SHOW 2001
Gerry Schmitt, KK5YY, who is a very keen member of AMSAT-NA, managed to fly
in from New Mexico to attend the 30th LARS at Donington Park on Saturday
22nd Sept 2001. Besides designing the "Arrow" antenna" which is a hand steerable
beam for 2m and 70cm (7 elements on 70cm and 3 el on 2m) he also helped to
design and build the antennas on Oscar 40.
He gave a very lively demonstration at about 1030hrs making several
successful QSO's through the passing satellite with other radio amateurs
across Europe using just his Arrow antenna and a small dual band rig, both
hand held.
John Theodorson,
Chairman LARS
G4MTP@lars.org.uk
Once again MMARS fielded their helpers - Team Leader and force behind the organisation and logistics being Graham
Watch this space for the full story!
...........and make a note in your dairy for next year's show which will be on:-
Friday 20th and Saturday 21st September 2002
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