Cub Scouts

On Wednesday 5th June, the cub scouts of 8th Macclesfield (St Pauls) and 1st Hurdsfield established amateur radio contact with each other.  This was facilitated by members of the Macclesfield & District Radio Society, who provided and set up the equipment at both sites.

Both these cub packs have their meetings on Wednesday evenings, so when it transpired that 8th Macclesfield were having an amateur radio demonstration, it was decided to include a live link-up with the youngsters at 1st Hurdsfield.  At St Pauls, MDRS members Keith Kelly G3VKF, Oss Aplin G0CSX, Greg Acton 2E0RXX and Liam Acton M3ZRY demonstrated short wave amateur radio by making a live contact with a ham radio operator in Sicily.  They then explained other aspects of the hobby and allowed the cubs to send greetings messages over the airwaves using the club's callsign of GX4MWS.

At 1st Hurdsfield scout hut, another MDRS member, Tom Read M1EYP, set up a portable VHF amateur radio station suitable for local transmissions.  The beam antenna was pointed towards St Pauls and contact was established.  Many youngsters from each cub pack sent greetings messages to the other location under the supervision of the licensed radio amateurs present.  Messages typically included their name, age, cub pack, school, hobbies and football team supported.
Some of the newer cubs also qualified for their "Communicator's Badge" by passing a message over amateur radio.

The event was wrapped up with the respective "Akela" of each cub pack - John from 1st Hurdsfield and Doug of 8th Macclesfield passing a greetings message to each other.