Yeovil Amateur Radio Club.
History

Founder members
Founder members Nobby G3BEC and Don G3NOF both silent key with Mary Jeans Landlady of the Wellington Inn in 1946. Reproduced with thanks to Derek M0WOB.

membership document
Issued on October 11th 1947 to the Yeovil Amateur Radio Club. Printed by kind permission of the Radio Society of Great Britain.
 
In 1946 when we sat in the Windmill Cafe in Sherborne Road, mulling over plans for the Club whilst making a cup of tea (three old pence) last as long as possible, we never dreamed that the Club would still be in existence over fifty years later.  The advantages of youth were of considerable benefit -  '' Nobby'' G3BEC in those days was adept at climbing trees, which he would do whilst clutching one end of an aerial wire so overcoming fancy masts and such.  There have been many happy years in the Club with plenty of fun to liven-up things. 

by Dennis Hayward G3OMH (now silent key)     


 The Yeovil Amateur Radio Club was formed on October 17th 1946 and held its 1st meeting in the Wellington Inn, Yeovil. 

In the past, the Club has participated in many local and memorable events including  contacting  the (now late) King Hussein of Jordan,  W2ZXM/MM Captain Kurt Carson of the 'Flying Enterprise' which was lost in January 1952 off Cornwall and HRH Prince Talal Al Saud, HZ1TA in Saudi Arabia.    


On 21st February 1954, Yeovil Amateur Radio Club made what is almost without doubt, the first long distance radio contact using a transistor transmitter.  The distance was 85 miles, from Yeovil in Somerset to Haslemere in Surrey.  The transmitter input power was 30 milliwatts, the frequency and mode were 3504 kHz  CW.  With this contact, Yeovil Amateur Radio Club made radio history because 85 miles was a quantum leap in distance for a transistor transmitter at that time.  Subsequently, the Club was invited to display the transmitter at the prestigious four-day National Amateur Radio Convention which was held in Bristol in September 1954.