This month Ian Brothwell G4EAN provides the topical talk. Ian very kindly represented PW at the Junction 28 QRP rally in South Normanton in North Derbyshire on 11 March. It seems as though he had a busy time!

Ian G4EAN writes: When we (that's John Fletcher G4EBT (formerly of Kanga), Ray Parkinson - a s.w.l. and budding Amateur and myself) arrived at the entrance to the Junction 28 rally car park we were politely told that the car park was already full. We would have to move the car after unloading our goods (for the South Nottingham ARC and PW stands).

When we pulled into the car park itself we could see the problem! Building work had just started around the front and right hand side of the South Normanton community hall. Some of the car park had already been dug up and the usual entrance to the hall was inaccessible.

The rally organisers had almost no notice about this work. Personally, I felt the rally organisers were right in choosing to go ahead with the rally rather than cancel or postpone it at such short notice.

The entrance to the hall (for both traders and rally-goers) was actually towards the rear left of the building. As the PW stand was towards the front right of the hall I had a long walk. It was fortunate that our magazines and posters were in just one large bag! By the time I’d taken some photos and set out the PW stand it was 1000, the rally had opened and the hall was soon crowded with rally-goers.

As neither Rob G3XFD nor Tex G1TEX could attend this rally I had the PW stand to myself. It was really nice to meet so many enthusiastic readers. My small stock of PW back issues almost sold out and we got through several pages of visitors' signatures!

This was the fifth J28 QRP rally. It's now a well-established event, which I enjoy very much indeed. It is organised by the South Normanton and District ARC. This rally was based in a single large hall for the trade and club stands with a bar area off the hall and a kitchen/dining area also off the hall.

The theme of this enjoyable rally is 'Amateur Radio' and it is a rally for the radio enthusiast. There was a good range of stands and it was not hard to find components, books and magazines (including some very old and collectable copies of PW), Amateur Radio equipment, domestic radios, test equipment, tools and other goodies.

Popular PW advertiser Will Outram (Bowood Electronics, Chesterfield) said it was a "cracking rally" and he met many readers. Will told the Editor he's going to make a "real effort to get his Amateur Radio Licence soon". So, watch this space readers! Photograph courtesy of G4EAN.

It was quite a boost for my nostalgia to see so many transceivers from the 1970s and 1980s.
There were also several club stands including the G-QRP, South Nottinghamshire and Derby and District clubs.

There was an RSGB bookstall in the bar area and a few traders in the car park. Rather remarkably, it was not until the rally started to close down that we had a short shower of cold rain or sleet!

I'm already looking forward to the 2007 rally. The building works should be finished by then, giving the rally a bigger home. Finally, my thanks go to all the people at SNADARC for making the rally happen and to John G4EBT for the lift to/from the rally.

Editor's thanks: Ian normally gives up his day to help me at this delightful rally, but due to circumstances he was left in charge this year. Thanks very much indeed Ian, you are a credit to Amateur Radio, a great friend of PW and its Editor.
I look forward to attending the 2007 event with Tex G1TEX!

Rob G3XFD

• In this month's Practical Wireless

Latest news stories..

• Get our news headlines for your website • Submit your news story