Despite the ravages and closures as a result of Covid, the club had a very successful and eventful year during 2022.

For those who like their radio outdoors in the open country, the year has been quite favourable. Several successful ‘Field Days’ were had courtesy of Eric M0JCK and Brian 2E0WTR and their splendid farmland. The hot summer and threats of big thunderstorms made things a bit uncomfortable at times, but the first HADARS Portable League generated some interest and friendly competition. It has, however, become increasingly difficult to find decent QRM-free roadside sites in recent years, with landowners and councils having to block off many tracks, pull-ins, makeshift laybys, and common land, for fear of fly-tipping and other antisocial behaviour.

Martin M0GQB ran the GB0YDR Railways On The Air special event radio station at Embsay Railway Station, near Skipton, on the Yorkshire Dales Railway (Bolton Abbey Line). Members were treated to tours of the signal box and some even made it on to the footplate of the steam locomotive running that day.
 

The hot summer with temperatures peaking in the 30C to 35C range during the day often made outdoor activities difficult, but members often ran ‘garden portable’ stations from the shade of their umbrellas. We hope to include this off-grid activity in our challenges in 2023.

Some of our planned 2022 events had to be postponed or cancelled during the period of National Mourning, following the sad passing of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Most notable among these being the Churches & Chapels on the Air event at Blackshaw Head Methodist Church, and our Community Radio Volunteer event at the Cragg Challenge in Mytholmroyd. However, we will come back strongly in 2023 and are already putting planning in place for the forthcoming season.

Have a look at what we’ve done over the past few years: