Rallies and Events

This listing is correct as of 27 November 2025.

30 Nov –  Bishop Auckland Radio Amateur’s Club Rally

Spennymoor Leisure Centre, Co. Durham, DL166DB.

There will be the usual traders.

In-house catering has been assured by the leisure centre.

Ample parking and disabled facilities.

For more information and downloadable traders forms please visit the website at barac.org.uk

7 Dec – BVWS Swapmeet and Auction Royal, Wootton Bassett

Wootton Bassett Memorial Hall, Royal Wootton Bassett, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4 8EN

Doors open at 9.30am. Stallholder entry from 9am. Auction starts at approximately 12.30pm.

Admission £8. Contact Mike Barker

From M4 Junction 16, take the Royal Wootton Bassett turning (A3102). Continue to follow the signs for Royal Wootton Bassett. Once in Royal Wootton Bassett (3 miles from J16) you come into main town area where there is a raised town hall (black and white building on stilts). At that point turn left into Station Road, (sign posted for Broad Town / Broad Hinton) and then the hall is 500 yards on your left, on the corner of a crossroads where you need to turn left into Tanners Close to access the car park.

7 Dec –  Mid Devon Amateur Radio & Electronics Fair 2025

Winkleigh Sports & Recreation Centre, 9am to 1pm.

Entry £3 per person, no charge for partners and under 16s.

Easy access from the A3124, free parking, free Wi-fi, hot food and refreshments available. A chance to pick up hard-to-find electronic components, two-way radio and computer hardware.

Traders please book ASAP. Note: this year a maximum four tables per booking. We may remove the four-table per trader restriction after 1 October if the rally is not fully booked.  Tables are 6ft frontage (tables supplied). Mains electricity available on request.

Please pre-book ASAP with Phil, G6DLJ, 07990 563147 or email wrg2024@hotmail.com

Winkleigh Sports & Recreation Centre, Mid-Devon EX19 8HZ

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28 Dec – Sparkford Radio Rally

Davis Hall, Howell Hill, West Camel, Nr Yeovil BA22 7QX.

Doors open 9.30am, admission £2.

Free parking and refreshments.

Traders from 7.30am.

Contact Luke on 07870168197 or email luke@mymixradio.co.uk.co.uk for more information.

25 Jan 2026 – Lincoln Short Wave Club Winter Radio Rally

The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT.

Doors open at 10am. Admission £3. Tables £10.

Indoor event with ample free car parking.

Hot refreshments including the famous bacon butties.

Card payments accepted

To book tables or for more information contact Steve, M5ZZZ on 07777699069 or email m5zzz@outlook.com

8 Feb 2026 – Red Rose Winter Rally

Mather Hall, Mather Lane, Leigh, Lancs. WN7 2PJ

Large car park, catering, bring and buy, raffle, improved disable access and seating area.

Open from 10am (exhibitors 8.15am).

For more information and booking visit WMRC website at wmrc.co.uk

15 Feb 2026 – Mid Cheshire Amateur Radio Society

Nantwich Civic Hall. Cheshire, CW5 5DG.

10am – 3pm.

Card payments accepted.

70+ trader tables and exhibitor stands.

400+ Visitors.

Bring-and-buy sale, RSGB bookstall and raffle.

Catering, parking, public transport and disabled facilities

Traders: to book tables please contact the Rally Manager at info@radioactivefair.co.uk

For further and updated information please visit:

radioactivefair.co.uk  and facebook.com/radioactivefair

1 Mar 2026 – Exeter Radio Rally

New Venue. The Kenn Centre, EX6 7UE, one minute from the end of the M5.

Free Car Parking. Entry Fee £3.

Trader’s entry 8am. Public entry 10am.

Bring and buy, disabled facilities, catering.

Contact Bill, G7AKJ, 07511522092, billwrench213@btinternet.com

7 Mar 2026 – Lagan Valley Amateur Radio Society Annual Rally

Hillsborough Village Centre, 7 Ballynahinch Road, BT26 6AR.

Doors open 10.30am.

More details are available at www.lvars.uk

15 Mar 2026 – Ripon and District Amateur Radio Society Rally

Great Ouseburn Village Hall, Lightmire Ln, Great Ouseburn, York YO26 9RL.

The doors open for traders at 7.30am and to the public at 10am. Admission costs £5.

Free parking, refreshments and bacon butties available.

Tables are available at a cost of £10 each, please book early.

For more information email radars.rally@gmail.com

22 Mar 2026 – Callington Radio and Electronics Rally

The Callington Radio and Electronics Rally will be held in the Town Hall, New Road, Callington, Cornwall, PL17 7BE on Sunday 22 2026. The venue is booked from 8am until 1.30pm with public access from 10am until 1pm. Entry is £2 each with no charge for those under the age of 16. A comprehensive selection of traders, clubs and societies from the Southwest will be present along with a bring-and-buy stall and the usual excellent catering service. The bring-and-buy stall accepts payment by all major debit and credit cards using contactless, chip and pin or by phone. The café area and serving hatch will be in an adjacent room seating about 18 people. The venue has disabled access, toilet facilities, and ample parking in a nearby car park with up to one hour’s parking free. Although all tables in the main hall have now got confirmed bookings or are reserved, there is a waiting list should there be any cancellations. Charges for tables are 6ftx2ft (£5), 5ftx2ft (£4) and 4ftx2ft (£3). There is an adjacent room available (~50sq.m) with no tables at a cost of £45 for a single occupant. Pre-booking is essential, so please contact Alastair (M0KRR) at alastair.kerr1@btinternet.com or by phone on 01503 262 755 with your requirements as soon as possible. Also check the website at callingtonradiosociety.org.uk for further information.

22 Mar 2026 – Dover Amateur Radio Club Rally

Note new venue: Eastry Village Hall, High Street, Eastry, Kent CT13 0QB

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Google maps  https://maps.app.goo.gl/EXUpMTYLoi7RdSuQ9

Trevor G6APW.  Publicity@darc.online

10am  to 2pm.

Entrance fee still £3.

Tea, coffee and bacon rolls available on site.

Tables are £15 each, maximum two tables per vendor.

To book your table please contact the Club via darc.online

12 Apr 2026 –  Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association (NARSA) Exhibition (Blackpool Rally)  

Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA.

Details from Dave, M0OBW 01270 761 608, 07720 656542, dwilson@btinternet.com

narsa.org.uk

11 Oct – 2026 Annual Hornsea ARC Rally 

Driffield Showground, YO25 9FB, East Yorkshire.

Details from Les on 01377 252 393.

25 Oct 2026 – Galashiels Radio Rally and Open Day 

The Volunteer Hall, St Johns Street, Galashiels, TD1 3JX.

Doors open at 11.15am. Disabled access from 11am. Admission £3.

Bring and buy, refreshments and traders.

More details at galaradioclub.co.uk

Contest News – 23 November 25

On Tuesday, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1930 to 2230UTC. Using all modes on the 13cm band, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator.

On Wednesday, the UK and Ireland Contest Club 80m Contest runs from 2000 to 2100UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is your six-character locator.

On Thursday 27 November , the 3.5MHz RSGB Autumn Series CW Contest runs from 2000 to 2130UTC. Using CW on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number.

The CQ World Wide DX CW Contest starts at 0000UTC on Saturday, 29 November, and ends at 2359UTC on Sunday, 30 November. Using CW on the 160 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report and CQ zone. The UK is in Zone 14.

Training for an Amateur Radio Licence

SADARS has recommenced training candidates interested in taking the Foundation and Intermediate Licence Exams.

Getting started: the Foundation licence

To begin transmitting on amateur radio you need to pass a simple multiple-choice test called the Foundation exam.

Contact us to apply for and take your Foundation Or Imtermediate exam, plus information about fees and training. The club has registered trainers and assessors.

An on-line training course for the Foundation licence exam will be available for new candidates. The course will be run by Bryan (G8DKK) via Zoom conference software. Please contact the club for joining details. These courses will be on-line via Zoom only with the Intermediate course taking 8 sessions of 2 hours per session while the Foundation course is 4 sessions of 2 hours per session.

RSGB videos here

Already an amateur?

Why not step up to a higher power licence?

Stevenage and District ARS trainers and assessors can help you with the next step: the Intermediate Licence. You will need to have passed the Foundation exam to take the Intermediate exam.

During Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 on-line training courses for the Foundation/Intermediate exam will be available. Please contact the club for details.

In due course we hope to offer Full Licence Exam training. In the mean time Bath Based Distance Learning (BBDL) offer Full Licence Training they can be found HERE.

British Science Week 2026

Preparations for British Science Week 2026 are already well underway.

RSGB British Science Week Co-ordinator Professor Ian Neal, G7IGN is working on guidance and activity suggestions that you could use to get involved. The annual event is a celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths and is run by the British Science Association. It has chosen ‘curiosity’ as its theme for 2026, which fits perfectly with amateur radio.

This campaign is a brilliant opportunity for radio amateurs to share their passion with others. This could be through organising an open day for the local community, setting up a buildathon for a club evening, operating a special event station from your local library or even supervising your friends and family in making their first QSO – the options are endless.

If this has piqued your interest, and you would like to share your thoughts, ideas and plans with Ian, get in touch via bsw@rsgb.org.uk

You can also see what other people did last year and also look at the RSGB’s resource bank for inspiration.