50MHz AFS

Following arm-twisting from the Bristol CG to make sure that we had a good selection of stations on the air, Dave (G4FRE) and I spent time undertaking site surveys to find a reasonable /P site. 

My normal Welsh site was rejected as it is very close to one of our other team members and there is absolutely no point in mutually wiping each other off the air.

Eventually we revisited the site above Dorstone  that we used to use about 25 to 30 years ago.  And the farmer remembered towing my Ford Fiesta out of the field in the mid 80s !

 It was exceptionally windy and keeping the antenna pointing in the required direction was hard work.  Note the rope to the reflector end of the boom!  Conditions were not good but 94 QSOs were made and we eventually managed a GM about 10 minutes before the end.

And then. 10 minutes before the end it started to rain.  But at least this caused the rainbow above.
 

RSGB Convention

A new venue and what an improvement.  There was a good selection of talks across a number of themed streams.  We had a breakaway VHF meal for 16 at the Shoulder of Mutton - continuing the event from the Horewood House days.

One reason for attending was to be presented with the SMC 6m Cup for winning the Single Operator section of the 2014 50MHz Trophy.  It came as a surprise when looking at the previous winners engraved on the trophy to be reminded that I had previously won the cup six years in succession from 1994 to 1999 !!

Dunsfold Wings and Wheels

WOW - this is a sight that none of us will ever see again.  What an amazing sight with the UK and Canadian Lancaters flying in tight formation.  What a sound as well - eight Merlin engines.  Even the commentators were overcome and lapsed into silence - now when did that last happen?!

Continuing the theme of nostalgia of UK air power - an old, very noisy, friend appeared and performed an impressive flying routine.

The quality of the flying display participants was such that the gates were locked at 11am with a nine mile queue of aspiring attendees still outside.