International Marconi Day - 24th April, 2004

Saturday April 24th, was the hottest day of the year so far with the temperature in the 20 degrees C range. This meant that a number of people went to the seaside instead of visiting IMD!. Radio propagation conditions were generally poor with a lot of QRM & Fading.

Having said that a large number of people did visit the Sandford Mill, some for the first time. Many had worked for Marconi in one way or another. Some had worked on the HS1200 because they knew which screw to undo to draw out one of the slide-in equipment trays. Another Engineer recognised the TV Camera as his "own" because there was a modification inside he had fitted.

The Westwood Family from Danbury who had worked for Marconi for many years - their first visit to Sandford Mill.

They were looking at the domestic radios and had recognised one that they still owned. They had just looked at the Elizabethan Transmitter designed by Louis Varney G5RV and built by Dave Bolwell, G3JCM, now of of Danbury, in the 1950s .
See below.

The Elizabethan Transmitter designed by Louise Varney, G5RV and built by Dave Bolwell of Danbury.

IMD is the opportunity for a number of amateur radio stations connected with Marconi to contact each other and other amateurs. Since Marconi had operations in just about every country, this gives plenty of scope to work world wide.

Denis 2E0BIA logging, with Ron M3CAM on the microphone.
Photograph by Colin G0TRM

Malcom G4KGL logging, Steve G4ZUL on the microphone & Ken G7RFT watching.

Bob M1DTA (right) presenting Steve G4ZUL with the first QSL Card of IMD 2004.

The second HF station used the higher bands using a one element tri-band beam which was mounted on a high, flat roof. Tony G4YTG provided the aerial & his valve rig.

John M0CQK working from the "upper" station. John worked 3 stations per minute, single handed for six hours, had a 10 mins break and then worked another six hours. Well done & thanks.

Charles G0GJS operating his favourite mode - Morse - from the "upper" station.
Charles enters the contact direct into his computer using the Swiss Log Program. He worked 84 stations in 2 hours.
Notice the tea facilties nearby.
Photograph by Colin G0TRM

The stations were operated from 00:00 GMT until 20:00 GMT on Saturday 24th April, 2004 manned by a team of operators co-ordinated by Brian G3CVI. Special QSL Cards to confirm a contact will be issued by CARS via the RSGB Bureau by our QSL Manager, Carl G3PEM, QTHR.

Many radio amateurs from around Essex visited the event where they met Marconi personal both still employed and retired. Bob Boddy, G6AKL was seen after his illness looking a lot slimmer & better; Arthur Reford, G3EHZ visited, as did a number of SWLs - pleased to see you all.