At the time in 1965, East Berks College, Maidenhead, was running a RAE course. The tutor was Bob Rickards who also operated the college station under his own callsign G3PHY.
Among those taking the course who later became members of the club were, Arthur G3UOT, Doug G3UQO and Roger G3VCT.
As a result of local 160m QSOs and a meeting with George Shipway G3RQI and Richard Shiregold G6RS, Eric Palmer G3FVC Placed in the November 1965 issue of Short Wave Magazine a notice of a meeting of all interested people in the formation of a club to be held in The Hall, East Berks College Boyne Hill Avenue Maidenhead on 9th November. This notice came to the attention of the RAE class and a number of students attended.
This meeting was in effect the inaugural meeting, held on 9th November 1965. The minutes of the meeting make interesting reading and reflect some of the changes in amateur radio.
Minutes of Meeting held on Tuesday 9th November 1965 at East Berks College, Maidenhead.
- Meeting opened in the college hall, 7.30 p.m.
- Twenty-two local amateurs were present.
- Bill Omer, G3DOJ, Senior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at the East Berks College welcomed those present on behalf of the College.
- Eric Palmer, G3FVC, reported that he had sent letters to 32 local amateurs asking them if they were interested in the formation of a club for Maidenhead and district, stating that he was so interested and had arranged a meeting for 9th. November.
- John Birley, G3PYN, proposed the formation of a Maidenhead and District Amateur Radio Club: this was seconded by Chris Cory, G3MEV. The Motion was passed unanimously.
- Discussion followed regarding the formation of a Committee.
- Chris Cory, G3MEV, proposed Eric Palmer, G3FVC, as Secretary: this was seconded by Bill Omer,G3DOJ. The motion was passed unanimously.
- Doug Milton, G3UQO, proposed Arthur Turner, G3UOT, as Treasurer: this was seconded by S.W.L. Rackley. The motion was passed unanimously.
- Raymond Evans, G3GGE, suggested Committee members should represent SWL, VHF and /T activities. General opinion was, however, in favour of electing a small Committee at this stage, as members did not really know each other yet.
- Eric Palmer, G3FVC, Proposed Chris Cory, G3MEV, to serve on Committee and to represent VHF activity: this was seconded by Fred Parsons, G3MIX. The motion was passed unanimously.
- The question of subscription was raised. It was felt that an annual subscription was the best idea, but should be left until a later meeting, to give all present time to decide about joining the club.
- Raymond Evans, G3GGE, proposed that for the moment members should pay 2/- per meeting: this was seconded by Fred Parsons, G3MIX. The motion was passed unanimously.
- Bill Omer, G3DOJ, explained that the College was willing to let the club have the use of the college hall, any Tuesday, free of charge. Some members thought that alternative accommodation might be examined and it was decided to enquire further regarding the use of a room from local public houses, the Red Cross etc. Objections regarding the use of a public house, in respect of recruiting “under age” members was mentioned.
- Publicity via the “Maidenhead Advertiser” was mentioned and the Secretary stated that he would contact the paper.
- General comments were passed on possible future activities, e.g. “Station of the Month”, TVI etc.
- The date of the next meeting, in the college hall, was fixed for Tuesday 7th. December at 7.30 p.m. It was agreed that meetings should be held on the third Tuesday of each month.
- The meeting closed at 9.30 p.m.
At the meeting held on the 7th December 21 members attended including:
Dave Chalmers BRS 27344, later to become G3WQG
Sam Howard G6KPX/T, later to become G8RSH
C.Pettifer SWL
A.Murphy G3TMF
M.Bunce SWL, later to become G3YFO
George Shipway G3RQI
Roger Hemmings SWL, later to become G3VCT
Bill Omer G3DOJ
A.Houchin G3GZ
R.Rancombe G3JKR
E.Finch SWL
Doug Milton G3UQO
A.Turner G3UOT
C.Bradshaw SWL
John Springate G3CAZ
Eric Palmer G3FVC
John Birley G3PYN
Richard Sheargold G6RS
R.Ricketts SWL
Chris Cory G3MEV
The first Annual General Meeting was held in March 1965.
Meetings continued at East Berks College up to September 1966, but the club lost the use of the college hall as a meeting place later that year, the new venue was, Victory Hall, Cox Green, Maidenhead. Meetings were now held on the first Monday and Third Tuesday of the month. The last meeting at Victory Hall was on 2 July 1973 as the site had been sold for development. From 17 July 1973 until 15 June 2010 the club venue was The Red Cross Hall. The Crescent Maidenhead. Meetings were then held on the first Thursday and third Tuesday of the month. The present meeting place (June 2020) is The Friends Meeting House, West Street, Maidenhead.
The Club obtained its own Call Sign G3WKX in 1968 which was initially used on VHF national Field day from 1967 and on HF National Field day from 1970.
During the period 1969 to 1977,the club provided lecturers and materiel in support of RAE, Morse Tuition, Operating Practice and Advanced Amateur Radio Techniques, courses ran at Slough and later at Langley Colleges. The Operating Practice lectures included on air demonstrations using the college callsign G3XPL.
The club was one of those that started the McMichael Radio Rally in 1983, the other clubs being The McMichael Amateur Radio Club, Burnham Beeches Radio Club and Chiltern Radio Club.