Issue No. 30 - 1st September 2009

Here we are with Newsletter 30 and wondering "Where have these past two and one half years gone/" since taking over the Bureau. Similarly I wonder where the propagation gone, but more importantly "When will those halcyon days return?" However I will stick to predicting Bureau activity (very easily done) and leave the hard work to Barry G3YEU our sunspot guru.

With assistance, occasionally suggestions, from our esteemed webmaster I have managed each month to rustle through Bureau drawers to find and scan in a few interesting QSL cards not only from RSARS members, but also those of our friends in RNARS and RAFARS who take advantage of this tri-Service Bureau system.

I am sure that many of us will have worked RSARS members operating from strange and distant lands. (Grace, XYL of Sam D4/G4OHX is still in my mind as I imagine her climbing the only bush, a thorn bush in the main tip, surrounded by flies while trying to erect Sam's aerial - dedication is the word I think.) Other members, such as Peter G4PLW/P often remind us of our radio past. Therefore the first card on display this month covers his operating activity from the confines of his Bedford QLR 4x4, 3 ton truck, fitted with the Cypher/Office Body. Many of you may have worked from one of these but the best that I can offer is that I may have stored both vehicles (VD Monchengladbach and/or AVD Recklinghausen with the spare bodies in my building 21 at Ordnance Services Viersen. 608 Signals Troop and REME Workshops also got involved in maintenance of course). Full specification of the "truck" (if Peter will forgive me for calling it so?) is laid out at the front of the card with operating conditions and location on the reverse. This card was used when operating as part of the International Museums Weekend which Peter regularly covers in the course of attending many other military events.

Other interesting cards, in no special order, show "a Ford built Jeep modified by men of R Sigs" as is displayed by Tim G4SVC. Andy G8JAC and I have exchanged details when he has been enclosed within his Champ not only in England but also on the Island of Jersey (yes I had Champs in stock in the Vehicle Park Ordnance Depot Aden 1960 - 62 :). Les M3IBN shows us a Ferret Recce vehicle (yes we had those in Aden stock as well and were great fun to drive around whilst on Vehicle Park duty :). Ian G8OFZ illustrates in glorious Technicolor his Austin K9. D11/R234 Station Circa 1966. From Martin MØMDF a card which takes a higher view of Services transport. In the days when b&w photography was the norm we have a smart young looking Dave GØBXV picturing what his military responsibilities were about. From Vic G6DIF we go back even further to the Revd Theodore Hardy receiving his Victoria Cross from HM the King on 9th August 1918.

All (well maybe a couple) of you will be wondering if I have totally lost it. Why have I included a card from CT/G4OHX - what has a mule in Portugal got to do with the Army! Well ladies and gentlemen I spent three and one half years in Hong Kong (1964-67) and occasionally I used to work along the border with China and transport for the last part of the journey was provided by RASC Hong Kong Mule Company (I forget the company modern title) so even the mule in Portugal brings back "happy" military memories

So there you go - I have showed you mine, how about showing me some of yours?

In the absence of being inundated with other historical cards the military theme will continue in my October 2009 Newsletter, so don't miss it

And now back to reality and the ever-decreasing statistical records. With the first flush of cards from Dennis GW4XKE and our overseas travellers now over it has been a relatively quiet month.

Statistics

Not many cards sent out this month as I am hoping that many will be collected by members on either 12th or 13th September as they sign in at the LARS Rally, Loughborough University - RSARS stand of course. The balance of those not collected will be despatched around 15th September so a busier outgoings report next month. I will also be including a small Rally report, as seen by the Bureau Manager, but the main report will of course be included in the normal Rally Reports page on our website.

A reminder to all that Bryan MØOIC and Linda 2E1SIS plus Dick G3NVK, our webmaster, "MERCURY" editor and Chatterbox Net Controller will be attending the RSARS stand throughout "opening hours" on both days of the event. All QSL cards will be removed from the Bureau prior to the Rally and placed into clean white addressed envelopes awaiting your collection. All you need to do when signing the Rally register is to ask; that is if you have not already been approached. Similarly if you have any outgoing cards for the Bureau please hand them in and they will be actioned on our return to base. By doing this you will of course save two expensive stamps - what a Rally - a bargain in postage already!

If you do attend the Rally and for some reason we don't meet I hope that you had a great time and didn't spend too much money.

As always - good hunting, especially with our members overseas.