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2005 - A Busy Year for North West Hampshire Raynet |
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No requests for emergency callout were received, but just after 10 a.m. on 7th July, the morning of the underground and bus bombings in London, Group Controller John M1ENA decided to put the Group on alert. Basingstoke Rail station had been cleared because of a suspicious package, later claimed by a passenger but destroyed in a controlled explosion, and TV news said the same thing was happening at Swindon Rail station. Finding out how many of the Group were available at no notice was a useful exercise.
During the year the Group provided communications for 5 local charity events and we assisted other RAYNET groups at 8 of their events. In May we helped Buckinghamshire, Mid Thames and South West Hertfordshire Groups on the “Chiltern Landmarks 100 Mile Long Distance Walk”. In June we operated for the “Buffalo Stampede” in which 26 walkers covered a 12 mile course. Later that month we assisted South East Hampshire Group in providing communications for the “Trafalgar 200” celebrations in Portsmouth. On the first Wednesday of June, July and August we assisted North East Hampshire Group with the “Yateley 10Km Runs”.
July had our big local event of the year, the 11th annual “Basingstoke Big Wheel Bike Ride” in aid of St Michael’s Hospice in which cyclists had the choice of 7, 18 or 45 mile courses. Around 1500 cyclists took part and 11 Group members plus 6 from other Groups provided cover around the course. South East Hampshire Group brought their Land Rover based station to provide a cross-band talk-through facility at the top of Farleigh Hill to the south of Basingstoke.
September was a busier month, starting with a Training Evening when we looked at two types of transceiver used by the Group and at our new Fugawi mapping software. We assisted South West Hampshire Group with the “New Forest Marathon” in which some 1200 runners took part. A week later came two local events that NW Hants regularly supports. Our resources were stretched because this year both were on the same weekend which meant that they were only hours apart.
On the Saturday night was the “Alton Moonraker Night Hike”. Groups of walkers formed teams of around 5 persons and, armed with torches, maps and compasses, walked several miles cross-country in the dark between four checkpoints, collecting clues on the way to find the next checkpoint. One team of five ladies called themselves “Moms on the Run”! Entry was low this year with just four teams so we were able to get to bed a few hours earlier than had been expected at about 0100 hours. Next morning at 0830 hours we were set up and on air for the “Farleigh Wallop Cross Country Horse Ride”. In this all-day event 131 riders (and two parents on foot!) followed a course around Lord Portsmouth’s estate near Basingstoke.
In October we assisted South West Hampshire Group at the “Solent Half Marathon”, and later in the month, South East Hampshire Group with the “Great South Run” of 10 miles around the streets of Portsmouth and Southsea. Some 12,000 people started in four waves. It was interesting to note that the wheel chairs started 5 minutes in front of the first wave of runners and the first wheelchair finished 15 minutes ahead of the first runner! At least one person completed the course on crutches. The RAYNET tail-end-Charlie was on a pushbike using a headset to a rig and battery tied to the bike’s frame, with a mag mount whip over the rear wheel.
During these events we operated stations in buildings and tents, from our cars and on foot. At five of the thirteen events we attended, because of the terrain and size of area covered, talk-through stations were needed. These operated, under permit, usually on high ground, to act as cross-band repeaters between 2 metres and 70 cms allowing outlying stations to maintain good contact with the control stations, although on the Portsmouth estate the talk-through was needed in the steep winding valley as Control was on top! In some situations it was necessary for car based stations to put their aerials on portable masts. Working in RAYNET gives us enjoyment in using our skills and knowledge and the satisfaction of using them in public service. Preparations for next year have already started as we have attended the first planning meeting for the 2006 “Basingstoke Big Wheel Bike Ride”. More amateurs should join us. It’s fun and full of surprises. |
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