Date for your diaries:
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A reminder that tomorrow - Sunday 13th April 2025 - SOTA will have its traditional stand at the NARSA rally at Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool.
It is one of the major SOTA events of the year for SOTA enthusiasts - activators, chasers or both - to gather together and catch up. And maybe top up on a little SOTA merchandise!
I look forward to seeing many SOTA friends tomorrow. I’ll be monitoring on the mobile rig as I head up the M6 and M55 tomorrow, listening for /M calls, and putting out a few of my own.
Tom M1EYP
SOTA Publicity Officer
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Group photo @ 1130 at the SOTA stand please everyone!
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Couldn’t make it this year…
Norbreck (NARSA) Rally, Blackpool 2025.
Liam and I set off from Macc at 7am Sunday morning, stopped at Rivington services on the M61 for breakfast, and arrived at Norbreck around 9.15am.
Liam then went off for a day by himself exploring Blackpool, while the core team of Andy MM0FMF, Dave M0JKS and myself (M1EYP) got to work setting up the SOTA stand.
It was a pleasant day catching up with many fellow SOTA enthusiasts and explaining the programme to a few new radio amateurs keen to get involved.
The highlight was undoubtedly the surprise visit of Audrey, who we have not seen for a few years. Everyone was delighted to see her and catch up with how Rob G4RQJ is doing. Audrey and Rob have supported the SOTA programme from inception, and were the driving force of the stand at this Blackpool event for many years.
The full roll call is as follows. I am certain that a few will inevitably be missing from this list, but this is what I have! Many of these contributed their time by doing a stint on the stand today - thank you:
Gerald MW0WML
Barry 2E0PXW
Ian G7ADF
Rod M0JLA
Helen M0YHB
Carolyn G6WRW
Nick G4OOE
Dave G3TQQ
Jason MI3UIW
Steve MI0KXT
Peter GI6PHO
Caroline M3ZCB
Martyn M1MAJ
Richard G3CWI
Chris M0KPW
Victor GI4ONL
Robert M7APU
Mark M0NOM
Keith G8HXE
Audrey
Colin M1BUU
Ray M1REK
Andy M1LOL
Andrew MI7PYZ
Alex M7GTU
John M0JFE
Benjamin M0XMR
Sam
Andy G8CPZ
Dave M0JKS
Tom M1EYP
Andy MM0FMF
After the exhibition closed and we packed everything away, I contacted Liam to find where he was to pick him up.
We drove home via Billinge Hill G/SP-017 for a (very) pointless activation. Just 8 contacts made on 20m - 6 CW and 2 SSB.
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Can I thank all the people who volunteered and offered their time manning the stand. Of course I didn’t note down who did what and when and if I miss anyone off, let me know, I’ll add you name and do some penance to account for my lapse.
Dave M0JKS
Rod M0JLA
Ian G7ADF
Gerald MW0WML
Martyn M1MJA
Caroline M3ZCB
When I was putting this together with Tom we looked light on staff. I knew I need not worry because after asking for volunteers I received many offers. Very please to see my inbox fill up.
Thank you to everyone who did a stint and if I have missed you off let me know and I’ll fix it. Also I’d forgotten just how good the stand looked with tablecloths and banner supports that John @g3wgv sourced last year. We wont mention it took 2 engineers with over 70 years professional experience and a mathematician (who can count past 20 without removing his socks), to figure how it went together properly 
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Had a great day at the rally (a few hours in reality), was nice to catch up with people that I hadn’t seen in a while. If it wasn’t for the chance to meet friends, I would probably come away with a very poor view of the rally.
I bought some batteries from Mickey YYY’s stall, for my regenerative receiver, which should keep me going for a couple of months, and I picked up another two RockMite PCBs - I must have the entire UK stock now, surely!
Me and Alex left the rally just after lunchtime and walked to Blackpool, we did around 8 miles in all! There was a coach operator’s rally going on near Blackpool Tower with a driving skills competition- it seems that Blackpool was hosting ALL of the the nerds!
73, Colin
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I am embarrassed to say that despite offereing, I didn’t actually do anything… every time I turned up it seemed there were lots of people helping out.
I took a few photos (which I am pleased to say Tom has used) and bought a couple of things… but that was it.
Nice to catch up with people, I like meeting up with all of you, but a highlight was seeing Audrey and catching up on Rob.
Everytime I did a circuit of the room it seemed to cost me money… ha ha ha…
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That’s how it’s been for over 20 years. I found that the only reliable way to get on the other side of the table was to join the MT and take on the publicity portfolio!
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Everytime I did a circuit I found no such temptation - except for the bar!
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