Worcester Radio Amateurs Association and VMARS

Worcester Radio Amateurs Team up with VMARS!
The Worcester Radio Amateur Association is teaming up with local members of the Vintage Military Amateur Radio Society for a special weekend camp.

WRAA + VMARS Weekend Camp
Over the weekend of 19th – 20th May 2007, members of the Worcester Radio Amateurs Association and members of the Vintage Military Amateur Radio Society are teaming up for a special weekend camp just outside the Worcester City boundary.

The weekend camp is a combination of antenna testing, operating vintage military radio equipment and portable operation practice. Many members of both groups have a wide ranging interest in anything wireless and military, so there will be much to be learnt from the camp.

Members of VMARS are planning on erecting a special “Shirley” antenna, which has been used by the military for field communications for many years, but due to it’s size, many simply do not have the room to try it out. It is hoped that VMARS and WRAA members will be participating in the weekly VMARS net at around 08.30 local time using 3.615 to 3.625MHz AM, and many are looking forward to putting this strange antenna to the test.

“WRAA is very pleased to be involved with this weekend camp along with VMARS members, it will give everyone an opportunity to learn from one another” says Pete Badham G0WXJ, WRAA Chairman – he adds: “I have never really considered the technology behind military communications, and we are all looking forward to operating equipment and having a ride around in the various vehicles that will be there”

There will be several military vehicles at the camp for the duration of the weekend, including a couple of Ferret armoured personnel vehicles kitted out with Larkspur radio equipment, a Saracen APV also kitted out with larkspur equipment, a Uni-mog and a couple of land Rovers fully equipped with radio gear. There will also be a very special Bedford MK lorry on site on Saturday only, fully fitted with some rather interesting equipment too.

WRAA are especially interested in hearing from VMARS members who wish to attend this camp, and an extra invitation is extended to ex-servicemen who remember all of this equipment when it was in use both during and post war.


Anyone who is interested in coming along just needs contact WRAA for details of the camp location. Further information is available on their website www.wraa.co.uk


For more press information or interviews please contact
Pete Badham (G0WXJ)
Tel: 01905 330113
Email: pete@wraa.co.uk

For details of the camp location etc contact:
John Griffiths
Email: j.c.griffiths@btinternet.com




Notes to editors:

• WRAA Worcester Radio Amateurs Association, a local club formed back in 2006 providing licence training, construction projects, Amateur radio related advice and a multitude of other related activities. www.wraa.co.uk for more information.
• VMARS Vintage military amateur radio society, a national society interested in the preservation and operation of vintage military and commercial radio equipment. www.vmars.org.uk for more details.
• Ferret A four wheel armoured personnel vehicle built from 1951 and in use in Northern Ireland until quite recently. This is a small scout vehicle sometimes referred to as the “field mouse” http://www.military-vehicle.net/ferret.htm
• Saracen A 6 wheeled armoured personnel vehicle which came into production in the early 1950’s and continued to be made by Alvis up until the 1970’s. This is a heavy weight that looks as good today as it did when first produced. For more information go to http://www.military-vehicle.net/vcls/saracen.htm
• Unimog Produced in the late 1940’s as an agricultural vehicle to help out during the post war years in Germany, then later used for military uses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unimog#Unimog_Features
• Shirley antenna a quick to erect wire antenna, which proved to be very useful for shorter range communications in jungle environments. First developed in 1950 and used extensively in Malaya.