Between the 28th of June and the 4th of July, a group of Essex Hams will be helping to support the River Crouch Celebrations, and local amateurs are welcome to attend this rather unique series of events.
The Essex Hams have been asked to help out be recently-licensed Laura M6LHT. Here’s Laura to explain what the event is all about:
“I’m involved in the River Crouch Celebrations as an artist working with 2 schools either side of a narrow stretch of water running between Hullbridge and South Woodham Ferrers. It’s a great spot, very beautiful and has a strange feature that you can see across the river, there is a slope where a crossing once was, but you cannot get across without going a long way round. I’ve been working with the children to generate a poem based on messages we can send across the river.
I’d like to do a bit of ham exploring at that spot as part of the celebration – I think it is perfect for it. Very loose, low key – just a day out playing radios, and seeing what we can get across the river, and where else we can reach from that point. There are some things I would love us to try out if possible. We can do this peacefully under our own steam, so we can try stuff and it not work and that be ok and part of it – but anything that goes really well, we can share with a pretty wide audience and do some awesome promotion for the hobby. The festival is a pilot for future work that could be super-interesting.
I would like to make contacts from one side of the river to the other by as many interesting means as possible. Via repeaters, line-of-sight, bouncing off the Ionosphere – any means welcome and interesting. Also visual Morse, different kinds of radio – any way of getting a message across welcomed with joy. “
Laura tells us that this is a very photogenic spot – she will be bringing her digital 3D camera, stereoscope camera, and a few other photographic bits and bobs. Anyone with a drone may be interested in getting some decent aerial photography. Whilst the festival walkers are walking from Burnham On Crouch to Wallasea Island, it’d be great to make contact with any hams in that area.
The first activity is set for Sunday the 28th of June, and this will be an informal amateur radio field day on the northbank of the River Crouch. We aim to start setting up at around 11am, and all are welcome.
Nearest postcode is CM3 5WP – Exact location on Google Maps
As will Galleywood Common, there are no local facilities (food, loos etc), so it’s a self-catering event.
If you get the chance to, please come along and get involved.
I’ll be there some time essexham