Early in the 2008 it was thought that it would be appropriate to hold a special event station at the Marconi New Street works to commemorate the 96 years of manufacturing that has taken place on that historic site.   New Street was responsible for many of the technological changes that revolutionised worldwide communications in the 20th century.   It was decided to apply to Ofcom for the special event call sign GB96MWT.

After much discussion between Ofcom’s Rod Wilkinson and Club Chairman John, G8DET it was agreed a special, special NoV would be issued to John using digits 96 in the call instead of the usual one digit after GB.   Unfortunately when the final date was announced it was found John would be on holiday, so with much appreciated co-operation from Rod Wilkinson the NoV was issued to Colin G0TRM instead.   Several Club members were approached to help, mainly ex-Marconi Veterans.

A small team of John Yates G1UZD, Ken Hardy M3XBK, Patrick M0XAP and Colin, G0TRM made a visit to the works the day before the event to survey possible operating positions.   Starting at the best spot antenna wise, we visited the roof of Marconi House - an ideal site as a vast ground plane was installed.   However we realised, as the operating position would be in one of the offices on the floor below, we would be well away from the main activity of the day.

The pre-view team checking out the possible location for the GB96MWT Aerial
Photograph by Colin, G0TRM

Our final resting place was a suitable room at ground level adjacent to where some 400 Veterans would assemble in preparation for one last look round the factory, where many would have spent most of their working lives.

Our next decision was where to site the antenna.   At this point Phil Hodge, our Marconi guide and protector led us via a tortuous route to near the top of the canteen building (the one with the wavy roof).   There in a perfect position were some short fixed scaffold poles, which had previously been used for the same purpose, supporting vertical antennas.  

This is where our recently purchased COMET CHA-250BXll vertical antenna (thanks Martyn, G1EFL) came into its own.   With Phil’s help the antenna was assembled and mounted in double quick time, and connected to one end of a 50 yard length of half inch coax John Yates had brought along.   Time to descend find the other end of the coax and feed it to the operating position.   After some furniture rearranging and a minor clean up, John then produced his super Icom rig and its power supply and everything else needed for a complete station.   Not forgetting a soldering iron to fix the final PL 259 in place.   Some quick checks on all the bands showed excellent VSWR readings, all mostly 1.5 or under, which speaks highly of the design of the CHA 250.   Checks finished, we too decided to finish for the day as well and return next morning for the actual event.

Returning next morning with all his equipment, John soon set about arranging everything in good order and was soon calling CQ with our special, special call GB96MWT.  

John Yates calling CQ using GB96MWT
Photographs by Anthony Martin, M1FDE.

Band conditions could have been better but during the few hours of operation some 50 contacts were made worldwide.   Many visitors called in to see the station in operation, with Patrick or Ken helping with logging the contacts, all of which went straight into John’s laptop, which not only recorded everything, but controlled the Icom as well.

John Yates calling CQ watched by Colin, G0TRM & Patrick, M0XAP

Most of the visitors who came in knew members of the team well, either by their paths crossing within the Company or had actually worked side by side on various projects.   Not only were many friendships renewed amongst the Veterans in general but in our smaller group as well. Club members Trevor M5AKA, Clive G1EUC, Murray G6JYB and Anthony M1FDE himself a Marconi Veteran all came to support the activities.

Veteran and Club Member Ken Dews, G3PMW came in to see us and took much interest in Colin’s Marconi made Wheatstone Transmitter; an elderly device for sending Morse Code from a punched paper tape.   Why the interest?   Because Ken recalled helping to make them as an Apprentice very many years ago.

Ken Dews, G3PMW holding the Wheatstone Transmitter with
Patrick, M0XAP to his right & Ken Hardy to his left.

The opening of the gates on Friday, 6th June 2008 to let the Veterans in.

SELEX Guides to usher the Visitors about.
Kirsty Luxford organised the Veterans visit to the site.
To her left and slightly behind her and facing the camera is
Barry Powel, Secretary of the Veterans Association.

Meeting old comrades.

Peter Turrall, Chairman Marconi Veterans' Association welcoming everyone
and behind him waiting to speak is Phil Robinson, UK Senior Vice President,
SELEX Communications Limited.

                  Listening to the welcome speeches.

                                      Where do we go first?

  Display of some of the products made in New Street

Storage boxes left empty.

              One of the original banks of light switches.

The room once occupied by Marconi.

                                      The room once occupied by Marconi.

  Behind the large blue doors in New Street for the first time.

                  Having a rest with a cup of tea & a chat

  Ken & Patrick saying Goodnight as Security looks on!

        The special QSL Card designed by Patrick, M0XAP.

The rear of New Street - all these buildings go in the redevelopment of the site.

Did everyone enjoy the day?   Well I certainly did and I think did Ken, Patrick and John did as well.   My thanks to them all, especially to John Yates who willingly brought all his own equipment without which, GB96MWT would not have been on the air.

Report by Colin, G0TRM

A grand day was had by all…..thanks to the CARS people and the helpers from SELEX who made the day so memorable.

Send your QSL cards, preferably via the RSGB Bureau - or direct - see CARS Web Site Home Page for directions. A special QSL Card has been produced for the event - available on request.