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THE WORKED ALL BRITAIN AWARDS GROUP
John Morris G3ABG (now deceased) devised the
Worked All Britain Awards Group (W.A.B.) in 1969. It aims was to
promote an interest in Amateur Radio in Britain and it sponsor a
series of awards based on the geography of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland. Ordnance Survey map references are the
foundations, and there are numerous road atlases and Internet sites
available to assist members in determining locations.
W.A.B. also aims
to create more activity on the air by British amateurs and in doing
so creates friendships within the country and overseas. It is true
to say that many lasting friendships have arisen through W.A.B.
activity.
The membership has now grown to over 8,000
individuals worldwide. A recent claim was received from a station
who had worked members in over 50 different DXCC countries.
Band conditions
permitting, regular nets are run where mobiles will go out with the
aim of activating W.A.B areas for members to collect. At a recent
A.G.M., Gordon, G3POD/M and his wife, Terry, were presented with
trophies for the tremendous achievement of activating over 4000 WAB
areas.
During the last
couple of years, all areas & parishes on Guernsey, Herm & Sark were
activated by GU4LAB/M, and an activation of one of the rarest 100 km
O.S. grid squares OV. The latter feat was achieved single handed by
John, G4YSS, operating under the Scarborough Special Events Group
callsign of GX0OOO/P.
Whenever possible
W.A.B. makes donations to organisations helping less fortunate radio
amateurs , such as St. Dunstan’s ARS and R.A.I.B.C.. In the past,
specific fund raising activities have sponsored an in-shore lifeboat
& guide dogs for the blind.
W.A.B. also
organises contests throughout the year on various bands and modes.
Numerous stations who are not W.A.B. members, have commented that
they are the friendliest contests they have come across.
Participants often stop for a chat to renew old acquaintances, so do
not expect just to receive a 5,9 contest style report if you call
in.
A recent
development is the W.A.B. record book now being available on both CD
ROM, and in paper format. One advantage of the CD ROM is that, when
issued, it is up to date, with new bookholders, change of callsigns
etc, whereas paperwork can be out of date before it reaches the
printer. That format is still retained though, as it is appreciated
that some people still like paper to spread out & thumb through,
although the CD is more environmentally friendly!
For further
information please contact the Membership Secretary, or visit our
web site:
www.worked-all-britain.co.uk
Graham Taylor, G4JZF
1 Threshers Drive
Manor Farm Estate
WILLENHALL, WV12
4AN
grahamg4jzf@blueyonder.co.uk
This article was
submitted by Judith G4IAQ
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