A big day for us today at Phoenix FM as apart from it being the date of our first PHOENIX IN THE FOYER gig with a host local talent performing and singing a heap of totally original songs, we were also playing host to a newly formed Amateur Radio Group – THE THAMES AMATEUR RADIO GROUP. This was their launch day so they established a special event station  – call sign GX0TRG – at our studios. One rig was operating out of our second studio, with two more operating from a gazebo adjacent to our studios. This second group were using a makeshift aerial formed with the help of a fishing rod and for a time outperformed the studio based guys using a £250 mast. In fairness those in our studio suffered from a fair bit of interference from lighting and all the other myriad electrical equipment stuffed in our studio complex. Nevertheless the group managed to speak with other ham radio operators from as far away as Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Russia and the USA.

This is a great hobby and if you are interested in getting “on the air” yourself take another listen to what PETE SIPPLE, the group’s media relations officer had to say on the subject right here: – [audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Ham-Radio.mp3|titles=Ham Radio]

I was also joined by FRANCES CLAMP who gave us the lowdown on the SHOREDITCH AGRICULTURAL & INDUSTRIAL COLLEGE as part of our Brentood & Billericay BYGONES feature. Listen again to her contribution right here: – [audio:https://www.phoenixfm.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Bygones-11th-September.mp3|titles=Bygones 11th September]

Right well I’m off now to get ready for the PHOENIX IN THE FOYER bash. Have a good weekend and I’ll see you again next Saturday.

All the best,

Scott