Members of the Quantum Technology Club attend and manned a club stand at the NARSA Rally held at the Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, last weekend (23rd April).
NARSA (Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association) has a large number of clubs affiliated with it from all over the country. Once a year, during April, the association runs the NARSA Rally, also known as the ‘Blackpool Rally’, which is the largest one-day rally in the country.
In attendance were many of the associated clubs, two big dealers, several smaller traders and individuals selling various surplus items.
Derek (G7LFC) and Alison (M6COV) went up on the Saturday to have a tour around the Blackpool Lifeboat Station with members of the Wales Digital Radio Group (WDRG) to help promote the forthcoming SOS Radio Week. In the afternoon we helped set up the rally venue, whilst in the evening we were treated to a great sunset.
On the Sunday we then, with additional help from Rebecca(M6BUB) and Trevor (G4CLE), manned the stand for day. Alison took her hand-made shack mascots, Rebecca was making personalised callsign plaques, keyring and stickers, whilst Trevor had lots on interest in the Morse training machine he had built from an article in a magazine. I has some very interesting conversations, a few of which wanted to either work with us, or wanted our help to establish a similar club to ours.
At the end of the day, having packed everything away, we retired to the Bispham Kitchen for a well-deserved chippy tea.