Galleywood Gathering Jan 2018

Thanks to those who attended Essex Ham’s first event of the year, a “Galleywood Gathering” on the afternoon of Sunday the 7th of January 2018.

Members of the group started gathering just after midday, with 4 HF stations up and running shortly after. I’m ashamed to say that I didn’t get any pictures of the stations active, and some of them weren’t active for long before it was time to QSY to the handy Horse & Groom pub for the rest of the afternoon. WX was a little chilly, but well done to John, Matt, Charlie & Peter for setting up stations and warming the sky for the first event of the year.

Most of the afternoon was taken up with socialising, and discussing various ideas for activities over the next 12 months, as well as dispensing some radio advice, programming up a DMR handset, and putting a few faces to voices.

One of the key activities for the afternoon, was some planning for the coming year’s events. This year, the planning was helped by the feedback we’ve received so far to the Essex Ham 2018 Members Survey. With 76 results in so far, we can already see some useful trends:

• Notifications by email appears to be preferred as opposed to via social media, with Facebook Groups and WhatsApp proving unpopular choices
• The level of emails sent by the group seems broadly right, although we note that more advance notice of events would be welcomed
• We looked carefully as reasons why some members don’t take part in field days, and have discussed some ideas around this
• There’s demand for more online guides and field days (offers of help from content writers & event organisers appreciated!)
• What needs to change in the hobby? More involvement with schools appears key, based on results so far, followed by greater co-operation between clubs
• The demographics and preferred modes also made interesting reading.

Not had your say yet? Take our 2018 Members Survey!

We’re hoping Nick and Maj made it safely home. Their amazing portable shack developed what Nick described as a “small fire” on the way to Galleywood, and they set off a little early, to give themselves a chance of making it back safely.

Pub grub was very pleasant, as was the liquid refreshment (chilly day, so more tea/coffee and less cold liquid than normal). William G8CYK won’t be asking for help and advice from us lot when it comes to the pub’s quiz machine. Close, but no cigar!

Thanks to all who turned up, either for the radio or for the social, and thanks to Charlie M0PZT for suggesting this as the first get-together of 2018. We’re already considering the same again in about a month’s time, perhaps for a Canvey Rally Debrief. Watch this site for updates on the next event!

Pete M0PSX