An unexpected blessing for our Churches on the Air station

The Rev Phil Beeson talks with David, M0RIU — The Rev Phil Beeson with David, M0RIU

You expect to see a priest in church, but you don't normally expect him to be a licensed radio amateur.

That was an unexpected blessing yesterday at Farnley Tyas Church, with a chance visit from the Rev Phil Beeson from London. He was in Huddersfield to see his friends David and Janet, who also came along.

The Rev Phil Beeson with club members Brian and Gerald. — The Rev Phil with Brian, G4BFJ and Gerald G3SDY.

Phil, G1CNN – formerly 5N8RBN – was pleased to see our Churches and Chapels on the Air station, GB2SLC, in St Lucius' and took the mic for a QSO on two metres. At home he runs a FT-DX10.

A solar flare had conspired against us on HF, but 21 contacts were completed on ssb and cw and more than 100 on digital modes. That included three other CHOTA stations.

On VHF, three of the 35 stations worked were CHOTA and we were grateful to club members for their calls. Our location at over 900ft asl, brought contacts from the length and breadth of the county.

Kevin G1FYS, operates the IC-706 on two metres. — Kevin G1FYS, operating on two metres.

We were grateful for the hospitality from church members and, besides a steady flow of tea and coffee, operators were treated to a lunch of cottage pie or vegetable casserole.

As usual, these events are great fun and thanks must also go to our tireless antenna man, Phil, G4FSQ, to David, M0RIU, our technical advisor – 'you've put the morse key in the headphone socket' – and to Ian, 2E0ISD, our dipole rigger and cw whizz, and to all who came and operated during the day.

They included Richard M0RBG, Brian, G4BFJ, Gerald G3SDY, Barry G4TML and Kevin G1FYS.

More pictures of the day can be found on our Gallery page.