Radio Club are on the airwaves for 65 years!

Last Wednesday night members of the club were invited to the Mayor’s parlour to be presented with a plague for their achievement. Chairman Aubrey Kincaid gave a short speech to Mayor Hubert Nicholl explaining the club’s history.

The club was officially first started back in 1947, by local enthusiasts and ex-servicemen. However it’s thought a club was broadcasting from as far back as 1929.

An extract from the Ballymena Observer in 1949 by ‘Ham’ read: “Things are certainly looking up at the Ballymena Radio Club since they built their two new transmitter: Last week they made their first American contact, when they got in touch with a ‘ham’ in Minnesota.”

During their 65 years members have made contacts and with other ‘hams’ around the globe, and sometimes further.

Members are often communicating with international enthusiasts, one former member, Graham Williamson, was even in regular contact with King Hussain of Jordan. On many occasions members have also used their radio equipment to contact the International Space station as it passes bye during its orbit.

While it is a popular hobby, there is a serious side and one condition of the society is that they make themselves available for civil authorities in case of an emergency situation.

The cross-community club are always on the look out for new members with meetings held in the club’s shack on Nursery Road, every Thursday night from 7.30pm.

Don’t worry if you don’t have the equipment as they club are fully equipped for you to get started.