Webb Cup Winners

Before recounting the story of Horsham Amateur Radio Club, it is of interest to note how different things were in the years between the two World wars compared to the present day. In the twenties and thirties it was by no means certain that a house would have had mains electricity, particularly in the country districts. Even if a supply was available, it was probably 220V DC and suitable only for light loads and lighting. Most wireless sets (not radios in those days) used battery power, 120V HT from dry batteries and 2V LT from a rechargeable lead-acid accumulator. These were normally recharged at the local cycle shop. Short waves were regarded as useless in the very early years of broadcasting and long and medium waves were used exclusively. Amateurs had a long-wave band in those days.

Many people used crystal sets, which could only drive headphones and required huge outside aerials. The more well-to-do could afford a valve set, TRF of course, no super-heterodyne receivers in those days. During the thirties, things were beginning to become more like the present day with short-wave broadcasting, valve super-heterodyne receivers and the establishment of the main amateur short-wave bands. At this time there were large numbers of enthusiasts who were interested in home construction and it is not surprising that many towns had sufficient people to form clubs.

Horsham was just such a place and George Hook G2CIL was just such a person and was a founder member of the original Horsham Amateur Radio (Wireless??) Club. He remembered receiving a letter from a Mr. Joe Cade about forming a club perhaps as early as 1933, so the Club may be more than seventy years old but George did admit that his memory for dates was not as good as it could be. What is certain is that a meeting was held at Joe Cade's home in Hurst Avenue, attended by George and Messrs. Joe Jones, Charlie Barnard, and a Mr. Sutcliffe. With the exception of George, all these gentleman worked for the now defunct King and Barnes Brewery in the Bishopric. Funny how beer and socialising feature in Amateur Radio, even in those early years. Things don't change much do they?

As a result of this meeting, a Club was formed. The annual subscription was 3/6 (17 1/2p), which was quite a lot of money in those days, particularly for youngsters. It is not known how many people actually belonged to this club but it is know that the first meetings were held at the Nelson Arms in Trafalgar Road. A Dr. Bradford accepted the invitation to become the Club's first President but he never attended a meeting. The Landlord of the Nelson apparently complained that the club members were not drinking enough of his beer (perhaps things do change), and the fledgling HARC moved to the Bell Inn, in Park Street and then on to the Alexander Arms in Brighton Road, which regrettably now no longer exist.

This brings us to 1938, when we know for certain that there was a club in existence, but unfortunately none of the original records have survived. Consequently, what little is know of these early years was gleaned from the memories of the few founder members whose whereabouts were still known. The original club became defunct upon the outbreak of war, although it is believed that a few meetings were held during hostilities. Various attempts were made to restart the club after the war, but none were successful until the present Club was inaugurated at a meeting held on December 9th 1970. This meeting was attended by six people who elected G3VPO as Chairman, G3PYC as Secretary, G3WZT as Treasurer and G3WBO, G3TNO and SWL Tim Polley as Committee Members. G3TNO also had the title of Contests Manager, indicating an interest in contests, which is still alive today.

Soon after the reformation, the Treasurer discovered that a bank account in the name of the original club still existed, and that the money on deposit had been accruing interest for over 30 years. After the necessary formalities, and with the permission of those original members who could be located, the Bank agreed that the newly reconstituted HARC was indeed the legal successor to the original club and transferred the funds to the new club. It is for this reason that the present Club regards itself as having been founded in 1938.

The first meetings of the reformed club were held in the Star Public House in Roffey, but the venue soon changed to the now demolished Swan Public House in West Street, now the site of Swan Walk Shopping Centre. The meeting place was again changed in 1972 when meetings began to be held at the present location before its refurbishment. The building was then a little Spartan and another change of venue occurred in 1974 when the Club HQ moved to what was the County Council Emergency Control Centre in Moons Lane Horsham. This building had the advantage of a large aerial mast on the roof but the disadvantage of being incredibly cold, even in summer. Some elderly members stopped attending as they regarded the building as a "health hazard". Consequently, in 1978, the committee decided another move was necessary and the meetings started to be held in the Parish Room in the Causeway. During this time the Guide HQ had been refurbished and the Club returned there in 1981 and has remained there until the present day.

Returning to the early years, the subscription for 1970/71 was set at 10/- (50p) after much discussion as one member thought that it should only be 5/-. Unfortunately, inflation has inexorably pushed the subs up to the present level of £15.00, but the Club's activities are far more extensive now than they were in 1970. In July 1971 the Treasurer reported the Club's liquid assets were only £10.00, having been badly depleted by NFD expenses. It is interesting to note that the then Treasurer, G3WZT, apologised at the March 1971 committee meeting for not being able to produce a report due to the fact that he was involved in preparation for his forthcoming marriage, which has resulted in his charming XYL Janet still being involved with catering activities for the club at Field Days and Junk Sales, although she is now assisted by several other YLs and XYLs!

The Club has had many long-standing committee members, the record for this being held by John G3WZT, who was on the committee between 1970 and 1989. John served as Chairman, Treasurer and Committee Member, although he did have a few months leave of absence in the early seventies when working in Germany. Tony G3NPF was on the Committee for eighteen years and also served as Secretary for a time. The current Chairman, Adrian G4LRP and the current Secretary Alister G3ZBU have also served for many years.

Returning again to the early years, in 1973, the Club was informed that a Mr. Stroud had moved away from the Horsham area leaving a portable aerial mast in his garage. He had instructed the new owners of the property to contact the Club so they could collect their equipment. Since none of the present members knew anything about it, or Mr Stroud, it was assumed that the mast must have belonged to the pre-war club. To cut a long story short, the mast was reclaimed and is still used for contests today, although many more sections have now been acquired.

The Club has continued to grow in membership over the years and has since acquired an impressive array of equipment. It now possesses several aerials, a petrol driven generator, several masts and associated guys, three tents, a Yaesu FT990 HF transceiver, 1Kw linear amplifier, computer, two aerial rotators and a large amount of ancillary equipment such as tables, chairs, cables etc. A 60ft winch operated Versatower mounted on a trailer was owned by the club but has now been sold. The Club obtained its own callsign, G4HRS, in 1978. The present Constitution, written by Tony Wadsworth G3NPF, was adopted at an E.G.M. in 1985, replacing the original constitution drawn up by Ron Polley G3PYC in 1970. At Annual General Meetings the Chairman uses a gavel which was obtained in 1978 and inscribed to the memory of the late G4CHV, who was Chairman between 1976 and his death in 1978. Lawrence was a gentleman in every sense of the word and is warmly remembered by all who knew him.

The Club has participated in many exhibitions over the years, notably the Lions Galas held in Horsham Park in the seventies, the Charlwood Festival in 1980 and the commemoration of 50 years of RAF Coolham in 1994. Coolham was an advanced landing ground used during the Normandy campaign in 1944. The club operated a vintage radio station and used the callsign GB5XQ (XQ being the wartime callsign of the airfield).

In the early years HARC entered the HF CW NFD contests but the Club is not very strong on CW, G3LET, G3OGP, G3SWC, G3WZT etc, etc, excepted. VHF NFD was always a firm favourite from the earliest years, but the club now enters only HF SSB Field Day on a regular basis. This has now become a regular September event. In recent years, the RSGB's Club Calls Contest, Affiliated Societies Contest and the Club Championships have become very popular, probably because these contests are entered by individual members from their home addresses. As their names suggest, Field Days are usually held over a 24-hour period from portable locations, with operation from tents or caravans by several members using a rotor system.

In 1982, John Webb, G3VGI, presented the Club with a cup that is presented annually to a club member deemed to have contributed the most to the hobby over the preceding year. The first holder of the "Webb Cup" was the late G8KTB (Arthur Platt), for having held the office of Secretary for twelve consecutive years between 1973 and 1985. Another past recipient has been Bryn G3SWC for his services teaching Morse code and running the regular Morse tests conducted in Horsham on behalf of the RSGB, until the abolition of the Morse proficiency requirements in July 2003. The Cup has since been awarded to over twenty different Club Members for various services to the Club and Amateur Radio in general.

With the advent of the current Amateur Radio licensing regime, HARC now runs courses for all three licence grades, viz. Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced. The Club has had considerable success in helping newcomers to gain their Foundation Class Licences and in enabling others to upgrade their existing Foundation or Intermediate Licences.

This brings us to the present day and the end of this potted history of HARC. The Club meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Guide Headquarters in Denne Road Horsham. The meetings start at 8pm and usually finish in time for a swift half at the pub before closing time or a visit to an Indian Restaurant. Meetings usually consist of a talk or demonstration on a radio or electronics related topic, except for the March and October meetings, which are "Junk Sales" and the AGM, which is held in December. Informal "Social Gatherings" are held every month at a different hostelry each time. An informal Christmas Dinner at a local pub is usually organised each year. The Club has a regular 2m net, run by G3PYC, on 144.725MHz, starting at 21:30hrs local time on Saturdays, and many club members join the 80m Billingshurst and District Net (BADNET), run by G3NPF, on 3.722MHz, starting at 10:00hrs local time on Sundays and on Christmas Morning. Callers into either net are most welcome.

Finally HARC would like to thank the late George Hook, G2CIL who provided much of the information about the pre-war days and the many other local amateurs who have contributed information to make this story possible and to all those who continue to make HARC the success it is today.