The last meeting at the disabled centre.

The last meeting at the Disabled Centre.
Clicking on most pictures will open a larger view.
By Brian MW0GKX.
With thanks to Alan MW3KHC and Jeff GW3UZS for additional photos.

It is with sadness that Friday 29^th June 2007 has gone down in the Clubs history:- The last meeting at the Highfields Disabled Centre.

Background

Long standing members will know that the club has had problems with the local authority, who own the centre, since the 1990's (if you wish to know a bit more check the newsletter archive) with the shack room being reallocated for 'other use', then the offer of a replacement room for the shack, which was unsuitable, and finally, after a lot of discussion, letter writing etc., the 'permission' from the authority to install a sturdy, lockable, cupboard in the smoking room.

The Centre is now being turned into offices, in my opinion (as a Disabled Person myself) a total waste of a purpose built Disabled Centre!

The Meeting

The meeting was well attended with 33 members and 11 guests.

It was good to see our President, Syd GW0NQQ, again.
He doesn't manage to get to many meetings these days, due to his wife's illness.

Syd always made Denise, Laura, Lee and myself welcome when we first joined the club and didn't know anybody.

A good time was had by all and the committee extends its thanks to those who worked behind the scenes to keep the refreshments flowing and sell the raffle tickets.

One face that was, sadly, missing from the meeting was Tom, GW0WHT, who was our chairman through some very problematical times from 2001 to 2005. An invitation was extended to him but, due to illness, he had to decline.

Various pictures of the meeting.
Click for a larger view.

And some of our younger members.

Daisy the guide dog is unfazed by it all

Even with all that's going on there is still time to assist a member
who is having some problems with setting up his radio.

But the exitement was just too much for some, or was Daisy
just glad of a break from guiding Andrew, 2W0MGB, around?

The committee were present in force.

Click on the picture for a larger view.

Or click here to see "who's who".

Thanks to all of you who donated the wide selection of raffle prizes, from a digital camera to bottles of wine and most things in between.

The raffle was well supported and raised much needed club funds (with the extra costs involved with the new venue all fundraising is welcome).

Club President Syd, GW0NQQ, presented Steve, the centre caretaker, with some tokens of appreciation from the club for his help and patience during the years.

Steve was always smiling and had a kind word for everybody, even when we were running late for leaving.

Steve being presented with tokens of appreciation 1

John, MW3AQI, was awarded a certificate by Jimmy, the local RSGB presence, for 'The most Plastic Dragons' in the previous year.

For those that don't know the 'Plastic Dragon' is a digital timer, made from plastic, in the shape of a Dragon, that was awarded to a person that consistantly 'over ran' the timer on the local repeater, thus giving them a way to keep an eye on how long to 'rabbit on' for!