West Manchester Radio Club is my radio club.
My own radio club, West Manchester Radio Club, has for the last 6 years operated their own 70cm Fusion digital repeater GB7WM.
Although not digitally equipped myself, I understand it is a popular repeater located in the north west of England. It is possible to connect to the repeater from (and to) further afield using Wires-X over the Internet.
Please visit the clubs website page for how to configure your radio to connect to the repeater and have fun.
This years Scouting jamboree on the air will be held from Friday 17th to Sunday 19th October 2025. I do hope the bands are favourable and that everyone can link up, make contacts and have a good time.
I doubt I can assist this year, but, I know my own club, West Manchester Radio Club, is helping the 1st Atherton Scout Group to get on the air.
Reserve the date for your amateur radio diary, 17th August 2025.
West Manchester Radio Club‘s summer radio rally called the “Red Rose Summer Rally” will be on Sunday 17th August 2025 at Mather Hall, Leigh, WN7 2PJ.
The doors open to the public at 10am, (until 2pm).
More information on the West Manchester Radio Club website’s rally page.
I have been a member of the West Manchester Radio Club for more than 15 years, having studied for my foundation license with them. However, since 2021, I have been the Secretary of the club, but, now my circumstances have changed, so I have decided to step down as Secretary of the club. Here is what I said to members…
I announced at the committee meeting on Thursday that I plan not to stand for re-election at the AGM.
As some of you know, I live 55 miles away (as the signal propagates), but a more realistic 69 miles away by road.
When I first became Secretary some years ago, I could always do business up here, but in the last 18 months this has changed such that I now have to come up especially for committee meetings or other events.
This means a 140 mile round trip, typically 2.5 hours coming north due to traffic and 1.5 hours home, leaving me tired the following day.
I still plan to remain a member of the club, and help out where I can, however I will be the DX member.
I have already received interest in the Secretary role, and this has a nomination. However, in the interests of fairness and openness I am making this all known to all members.
If anyone is interested in *ANY* role on the committee, please let me know. Without committee help and planning, we would not have the excellent club that we all love.
Mark Smith M0INI
Club Secretary
An end of an era, but, the new incoming secretary who will be elected next month will do a fine job, and I will support who ever is voted into post.
Today was the West Manchester Radio Clubs Red Rose Rally. Over 250 people attended the event, which was judged a success despite it being in an unfortunate smaller venue that cannot be helped. The club is working on this for a larger and affordable venue.
As secretary of the club, I arrived just before 10am, and offered my services to cover any job position to relieve people allowing them to take a break. I managed to get involved in taking the money on the door, selling raffle tickets, folding the raffle tickets, clearing up used cups and plates, sorting out the car parking issues, asking vendors to keep the isles clear, helping on the bring and buy. At 1pm, I did the announcement of the draw, thanking everyone for coming, and inviting Dave Wilson from the RSGB to draw the raffle tickets. Like everyone else running the rally, a busy day for all.
The main raffle prize, a Yaesu FT70D, was won and collected on the day, and the 2nd prize of a £20 cheque and cap from our sponsor, was won by a newly licensed amateur who only passed his foundation level exam this week on Wednesday..!
I did manage to take a break myself in order to enjoy one of the delicious bacon baps. And, there may be every truth in the rumour that an hour later I participated in trying one of the sausage baps too. A big thank you to the kitchen staff for the presentation of the food.
And lastly, a big thank you to all the volunteer members of the West Manchester Radio Club for helping out and making the rally possible.
Next month sees that winter radio rally for my radio club, the West Manchester Radio Club and will be held on Sunday 23rd February 2025 from 10am onward.
Due to work being carried out in the usual hall, there will be a change of venue, and the Red Rose Rally will now be held at Mather Hall (Postcode: WN7 2PJ) instead of the usual St Josephs Hall. However, please use the same car park.
Personally, I am very interested in the 27MHz / PMR users meeting, however, full details of the radio rally are on the West Manchester Radio Clubs website at: Red Rose Rally.
I understand that the trader tables at this years Red Rose Rally are 5ft not 6ft, due to the venue only being able to supply 5ft tables, however, the good news is that the price for a table is the same price.
Last night, I enjoyed a brilliant night at the West Manchester Radio Club‘s Christmas Party. Every year, my club puts on a tickets only Christmas Party where we all have a get together, have a lovely buffet and enjoy a quiz. At the end, the ticket price includes a random draw for a bottle of something for you to take away. Although, I never seem to win the whisky..!
For the last three years, being the Secretary, I have stepped up and done a quiz with a range of categories to make everyone have a jolly good think. As it is only for fun, the club provides a box of chocolates for the winning team. This year, the winning team scored 42 out of 50, the worst team, ah hem, 11..!
The buffet we enjoyed was organised by Janet LePuy (thank you) with caterers T&T Sargeants from Leigh who supplied a lovely spread of food, and plenty too..!
Here are some Christmas party pictures taken courtesy of Peter Nutt G4WLI. Thanks Peter.
If you are into amateur radio, and live in the north west of the UK, then you really need to think about joining this very socially active radio club, it is well worth the membership fee and effort of coming down to the club shack. Oh, and you don’t always have to wear a Christmas jumper..!
Yesterday, as club secretary, I visited the summer Red Rose radio rally organised by my club, the West Manchester Radio Club.
The clubs usual hall was out of action, so we were asked to hold it in a much smaller room. It was quite tight getting all the vendors into such a small space, however, it it was managed. Our chair, Les, was busy with his own stand, so I was asked to thank everyone for coming and do the raffle draw with the RSGB. Lamco and the RSGB were sponsors of the raffle, and a small digital hand hand was raffled at the event.
All in all, a lovely little radio rally and I am proud to be the club secretary.
In order to visit the next rally, please see this link… https://wmrc.co.uk/rally.htm
Members have kindly re-elected me to be their secretary of the West Manchester Radio Club for 2024/25.
Picture from left to right: Les Jackson G4HZJ, Tony Adams G7OHA, and me Mark Smith M0INI.
Yippee, at the recent AGM, the members have now elected me as their Secretary of the West Manchester Radio Club.
I am proud to be in post, and it is a great honour. No longer acting secretary.
The West Manchester Radio Club’s website is at… http://www.wmrc.co.uk/
