SDRS History 1960/99

HISTORY 1960 - 1999

(Updated 07/02/02)

See also:

History of the Weymouth and District Short Wave Club - here

The first 40 years of the SDRS - here

SDRS History before 1960 - here

George Short, G2DGB has kindly supplied some photographs of a few gatherings prior to the formation of the SDRS, click here to view them.

A document has recently been found (January 2001) that casts some doubt as to the exact dates and venue of the early meetings and formation of the society.

John, M0BQO has a newspaper cutting from the Southern Times, of 13/10/61 referring to a meeting and a copy of the minutes of that meeting at Buglers Cafe in Dorchester on 6th October. It mentions a preliminary meeting in which the South Dorset Radio Society gained its name.

Officers appointed were Chairman; P. Dean, Secretary; A. Barrett, and Treasurer; C Biggs.

Many thanks to Michael Box, G3RZG for supplying the above picture and Mike, G7HNY who digitally restored it.

Michael thinks the photo was published in the Western Gazette and was taken by freelance Photographer Mr Evan-Jones who was a member of the society. The caption reads; 'Members of the newly formed South Dorset Radio Society, who held their first meeting at Buglers Cafe Dorchester. Seated at the table from the right are the Treasurer Mr.C.E.Biggs:Chairman, Mr P.Dean and Secretary, Mr.A.A. Barrett. The society meet monthly but they are hoping to find a permanent club room and provide facilities for beginners and junior members of the society.'

From my own memory, in the front row from the left is Fred, G3LYB and 3rd from the left Ian McGeachy, later to become G8WXC. Behind Fred is Len Bower G3BKV, then Michael G3RZG, Bill G3EAT and Frank Marshall, G2XQ. In the very back row to the left of the painting is Don, G3CVF.

Geoff, G0EVW

Thanks to Bill Burden, G3EAT for much of the following information.

On October 2nd 1960 an Official Regional Meeting of the Radio Society of Great Britain was held at the Royal Hotel in Weymouth. A large gathering of Radio Amateurs from around the area attended and during the various presentations a discussion took place as to the possibility of forming a local Club.

As a result of those discussions Charlie Biggs, G2TZ arranged a meeting in March 1961 at the Labour Rooms in West Walks, Dorchester. This meeting was well attended and included a reporter / photographer from the Dorset Evening Echo. It was decided to hold further meetings on the first tuesday of each month at the same venue. The first such meeting took place the following month in April at which a committee was formed, together with an outline constitution. It is thought that the first Chairman was Peter Dean, G3FNT who was employed by Ferranti at the time and the Secretary was Charlie Biggs, G2TZ who was a retired garage owner.

Early meetings of the society were well attended and a varied programme of radio topics was provided, this being somewhat easier in those days as most equipment was either home constructed or modified WD 'surplus'.

The membership totaled 36 at the end of the first year and the annual subscription was 5/- (25 new pence) with a payment of 1/- (5 new pence) for each meeting attended.

The first President was Doctor Russell Stevens, G3DUQ, a consultant surgeon at the Dorset County Hospital.

The Society was affiliated to the RSGB on January 29th 1962 and entered National Field Day in June of that year with just an 'A' station using the callsign G2TZ from a site above Little Bredy. With scores of 173 on 160 metres, 180 on 80 metres and 114 on 20 metres giving a total of 417 points SDRS was placed 89th out of 105 entries.

The society continued to take part in NFD for many years and although a CW only event limited to 10 watts input power and strictly portable operation, it was always well supported. Another popular event in later years was VHF NFD and in July 1976 the society was placed 2nd in the UK when it operated from the Island of Alderney. The transport for this trip was provided by the Royal Navy and was arranged by Tom Biddleconbe, G3WAO who was the Secretary at the time. Tom was a serving officer in air traffic control at the Royal Naval Air Station, Portland and was a member of the Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society (RNARS) as well as SDRS. During that period SDRS was also affiliated to the RNARS.

The above picture shows the South Dorset Radio Society station G3SDS operating from the Weymouth Model Engineering Exhibition in the 1960's. From the left, Bill G3EAT, Edward G3VPF, Geoff G0EVW and Michael G3RZG. The transmitter is a Tiger 200 and the receiver an AR88D. The venue for the event was the old Melcombe Regis Junior School in commercial road, now demolished and replaced by the Weymouth Marina buildings.

The picture below was taken during a visit to the BBC Transmitting Station at Rampisham Down in the 1960's. Such events were always popular and many have taken place over the years. Being only a 'boy' at the time I can only identify some of those in the picture! I am only just visible, second from the right back row and to my left and slightly in front is Don G3CVF and in front of Don and slightly left is Ian, G8WXC. From the left at the back is Frank, G2XQ and on his right is Mark, G6SV a past President of the Society. Hywel Jones is on the extreme right and in the front row from the left is Fred, G3LYB and centre front George, G2DGB. Many of the other faces look familiar so please help me out if you can! It would be nice to identify them all.

In the mid 1960's when I joined the South Dorset Radio Society meetings alternated between the Labour Rooms in West Walks Dorchester and a room above the Waverly Arms in Abbotsbury Road Weymouth. Other meeting places followed including the Lecture Theater of the South Dorset Technical College in Newstead Road Weymouth, the Pennsylvania Castle Hotel on Portland, the canteen at the Bridging Camp at Wyke Regis and the function room of Weymouth Football Club. In recent years the skittle alley at the Victoria Inn on the road between Chickerell and Portesham was the venue until it was destroyed in a gale and then, until it closed, the Charlestown Social Club. The present meeting place is the Chickerell Church Hall although a more central venue is currently being investigated.

Geoff, G0EVW February 2002