GB2RN

RNARS London (HMS "Belfast") Group
(Affiliated)

Easter Activity Week 2010

Belfast-Plakette

HMS "Belfast"

Friday, 2^nd Apr 2010 till Sunday, 11^th Apr 2010 inclusive

The RNARS London (HMS "Belfast") Group held their usual yearly activity on board HMS Belfast. For this special occasion members travelled from many countries to be heard all across the bands worldwide with the call sign GB2RN. This is the amateur station which is situated in the bridge wireless office (BWO) on board the cruiser HMS Belfast.

EAW invitation 2010

"2010 will see the 50^th Anniversary of the RNARS."

To commemorate this event we shall be using the special Call sign GB5ØRNARS from the Bridge Wireless Office

from 1^st April 2010 until 30^th April 2010 inclusive..

A special QSL card will be printed to confirm all contacts.

GB5ØRNARS qsl card

Here is a special QSL card from the MARAC/Netherlands for this anniversary.

PC5ØRNARS qsl card

HMS Belfast cap tally

Navigator of EAW2010:

Wed 31/03/10 Impression around the HMS "Belfast" at night

Thu 01/04/10 Arrival

Fri 02/04/10 St Katharine Docks

Sat 03/04/10 Relax, free choice or BWO 1

Sun 04/04/10 Relax, free choice or BWO

Mon 05/04/10 Portsmouth Docks or BWO

Tue 06/04/10 Relax, free choice or BWO 2

Wed 07/04/10 City or Chatham Docks   Tower of London

Thu 08/04/10 AGM   Inspection by VIP
Social   BWO 3   Bills birthday

Fri 09/04/10 Relax, free choice or BWO 4

Sat 10/04/10 Relax, Borough Market and BWO

Sun 11/04/10 Last day or BWO

Mon 12/04/10 Departure

Some impression around the HMS "Belfast".

Impression of HMS "Belfast"

Impression from HMS "Belfast" towards London Bridge

Impression from aboard towards Tower Bridge

Some members of the group arrived as usual till Good Friday. We had a lot to talk about since our last meeting and soon formed into little groups for some chit chat. We also met for our welcoming drinks.

Entrance and BWO (bridge wireless office), the radio room of HMS "Belfast".

Stations aboard HMS "Belfast"

On Friday we went to visit St Katharine Docks located behind the Tower Bridge. We relaxed at a well known pub "Dickens Inn", after then we updated our food in the nearby super market.

St Katharine Docks

A lot of action in our amateur radio club station GB2RN was announced, it was the Easter Activity Week. As known, the radio room is aboard in the BWO (bridge wireless office). In the following some insights, which show the small exhibition, the radio communication systems as well as the action at the stations.

Activities at Bridge Wireless Office

Monday was earmarked for a first excursion to all viewable sights of the country. Vince and myself had chosen Potsmouth. Our destination was the Royal Naval base with their naval harbour and the Dock Yards. Using underground and train to Portsmouth, we reached our destination safely.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth Historic Dock Yard

Portsmouth harbour

Portsmouth HMS "Warrior"

Portsmouth HMS "Victory"

Portsmouth Historic Dock Yard

Easter Activity Week at BWO

BWO (bridge wireless office)

Wednesday was earmarked for an excursion to all viewable sights of the country. Some of us went to the city while others went to Chatham. Our destination were the historic Dock Yards of Chatham. Using underground and train, we reached our destination safely.

City of London
A break-in at "Rolex"

Chatham Historic Dock Yard
HMS "Cavalier" and club station GB2CAV

Chatham Historic Dock Yard
HMS "Ocelot" and RN life boat

Tower of London

Wednesday evening was crowned with the now traditional visit to the Tower of London and the highlight of the evening was the Ceremony of the Keys. This special parade has been performed without fail every night for the last 600 years and marks the ceremonial locking up and handing over of the keys to the resident governor of the Tower.
The Tower has many fabulous sights to offer and the Crown Jewels of the Royal Family are just one of the many items.

Preparing for the visit

The evening concluded with a small refreshment in the Tower Wardroom which was strictly by invitation only.

London Group members visiting the Yeoman Warders� wardroom
- Tower of London -

HMS "Belfast"

Visitors of DVARS at BWO

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

This year on Thursday the AGM was held first before scattering and the arrival of the VIP. The social followed in the Officers-Mess. We had a full house.

AGM

Guests attending were Mick G3LIK MF334 RNARS Chairman and many others from Scotland, Canada, America, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and of course Germany not to forget our veterans.

AGM
Reports of the board

AGM

After the AGM we celebrated a special in scattering the ashes of our comrade Len Borley to the river Thames.

Scattering of Lens ashes

The VIP W.O. Tom Wood RM arrived at 1330 precisely, he proceeded to inspect the assembled RNARS members.

VIP on board

Inspection by VIP W.O. Tom Wood RM

Inspection of the London Group by VIP W.O. Tom Wood RM

Finally at 1400 all participants with a valid social ticket were able to participate in a well prepared lunch and of course plenty of liquid refreshments presented by Sodexo.

Impression of the social
Our new Chairman Alan 2EØVAV presented a donation to VIP for "Help for Heroes"

Impression of the social

After the "stressful" day with inspection, AGM and social there was again action at our club station GB2RN, we were still in the Easter activity week. The visitors were amazed over and over again that moves, nevertheless, a little bit here aboard. "Look there, they really move" we always heard this. On all other stations aboard were only dummies (wax dolls).

Impression of the BWO

This year our comrade Bill GØELZ celebrated his birthday after the AGM at the sea cadets wardroom.

Bills birthday

Sometimes you find that the best things are very close. Saturday we walked to London Bridge to visit the large Borough Market. It is laid out like a big open air shopping centre and you can buy every conceivable fresh food from all over the country. You need to go to experience it.