Calendar

To all Members and Supporters of South Bristol ARC

During the present Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak and the restrictions on movement and gatherings that are being imposed worldwide, South Bristol ARC has taken the decision, with immediate effect, to suspend all: Club meetings, training sessions and visits until the current crisis subsides.

We will reschedule the calendar and pick up once we know when a safe restart date can be set.

Please look out for each other during these trying times, stay safe and, if you can, get on air.

---

Special Events and Contests

At the moment we’re scheduled to take part in the following events:

• 9/10 May 2020 – Mills on the Air at Saltford Brassmill
• 4/5 July 2020 – VHF National Field Day at the Clutton Horsebox (possibly) otherwise Dundry
• 22/23 August 2020 – International Lighthouses and Lightships on the Air at the ‘John Sebastian’ in Bathurst Basin
• 26/27 September 2020 – Railways on the Air at Somerset and Dorset Railway Heritage Trust in Midsomer Norton

Mills on the Air

According to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) as a direct result of the current COVID-19 pandemic they have cancelled National Mills Weekend. The organisers of Mills on the Air, Denby Dale ARS, has made a corresponding announcement cancelling this years Mills on the Air event.

South Bristol ARC will not be taking part or organising a station in this event this year. We hope to rejoin the event from Saltford Brass Mill in 2021.

VHF National Field Day

The latest information from the RSGB can be seen here. A decision on whether or not VHF Field Day will go ahead will be taken by the RSGB nearer to the event and take into account the prevailing conditions at that time. However, at the moment irrespective of whether or not the event goes ahead the RSGB have stated quite clearly that they will not accept multi-operator entries in any of their contests until further notice.

Therefore, even if it is decided that VHF Field Day can go ahead unless the restrictions on multi-operator submissions are similarly lifted we will be unable to participate in this event as a Club.

International Lighthouses and Lightships on the Air

It is hoped that by the time this event takes place the UK will have gone well past the peak of the infection and the current severe restrictions on movement and social gatherings will have been relaxed or removed. But, we can’t know for sure at this time and therefore will have to keep our participation in the event under review. The organisers of Lighthouses and Lightships on the Air stated in a press release through Southgate Amateur Radio News that they will let the event go ahead and rely on individual participants to observe the appropriate prevailing local restrictions.

The Club will apply for our regular SEC NoV and register for the event as this protects our location and ensures that the SEC remains in use by us and can’t be usurped next year.

Railways on the Air

It is hoped that by the time this event takes place he UK will have gone well past the peak of the infection and the current severe restrictions on movement and social gatherings will have been relaxed or removed. But, we can’t know for sure at this time and therefore will have to keep our participation in the event under review. At the moment, and not surprisingly given the time to the event, the organisers have not made any statement as to whether Railways on the Air will be cancelled or not.

The Club will apply for our regular SEC NoV and register for the event as this protects our location and ensures that the SEC remains in use by us and can’t be usurped next year.