Stock Windmill Picture by John G8DET

GB5SM – Stock Mill

This year the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) decided to operate National Mills On The Air weekend (11/12 May) from Stock Mill in Essex.

It wasn’t possible to operate from inside the windmill itself so Patrick M0XAP arranged with Essex County Council for the club to set up a station adjacent to the mill. The callsign chosen was appropriately GB5SM.

Club members starting setting the station up at 10am on the Saturday. Mark M0IEO generously provided the club with a caravan for the weekend. The HF station comprised a Yaesu FT 847 and long wire antenna and on 2 metres a Yaesu FT7800 with co-linear was used.

Mark M0IEO, Patrick M0XAP and the GB5SM caravan. Picture by John G8DET

On the Sunday Stock Mill opened to the general public and the weather couldn’t have been better. There was a steady flow of people visiting the mill and a great deal of interest was shown in the amateur radio station. The local newspaper attended the event and took pictures of the station and operators. In terms of publicising the hobby it was a great success.

Although Mark M0IEO did the Advanced course at Chelmsford he had taken his Foundation and Intermediate at the Stevenage and District ARS so he was delighted when on Sunday he managed to get a contact with that club who were activating the Cromer Mill in the village of Walkern near Stevenage.

Patrick M0XAP and Clive M0GHH operating GB5SM. Picture by Brian G3CVI

In summarising the event Mark said “High points of the weekend, good company, lovely location and working radio for fun. Low points of the weekend, there were none except having to pack up and come home but then there is only so much fun you can have”.

CARS run training courses for all the Amateur exams, for details contact Clive G1EUC on 01245-224577 or email: training2008@g0mwt.org.uk

Web: http://www.g0mwt.org.uk/