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Luton Scouts |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The 50th Jamboree on the AirLuton Scouts take to the airwaves
Scouts from Luton sent messages around the world at the weekend during 50 hours of concentrated radio communication as part of the 50th Scout Jamboree On The Air using the callsign GB50IDS. They also linked up by computer to web cam locations for Jamboree On The Internet. The Scouts came from St Augustine’s, Blenheim, Warden Hill and Manor Scout groups in Icknield District as well as the 16th Someries Scout Group. Organised by Scout Leader Brendan Owen with the help of amateur radio enthusiast Nick Jarman, the Scouts were all trained beforehand on how to use the phonetic alphabet and helped to create a greetings message about themselves. There was an air of excitement when the microphone was passed to the first Scout who was able send his message to another Scout in the Netherlands. All of the Scouts that visited the radio station were able to exchange a greetings message with Scouts around the UK and the rest of the world Throughout the weekend a continuous stream of voices were heard from the radio with countless messages coming in from around the world. Apart from the Netherlands and other European stations, the Scouts made contact with groups from as far afield as Morocco, Australia and Boston in the USA. Other contacts of particular interest were Gilwell Park and the World Scout headquarters in Geneva.
Several leaders took part as well including newcomer Tracie Shaw who said she was recruited in a Pizza Hut by Scout Leader Teresa Loughborough. Tracie was congratulated by the Welsh contact on the clarity of her radio voice. For Brendan and Nick this event allows them to train Scouts for their Communicator Badge or their Global Challenge Award. It is something they have been doing since 1974 when they set up their first radio station at the Bromham camp site near Bedford. Brendan said that he was particularly pleased that over the weekend several of the Scouts earned their Communicator Badge having completed all of the requirements. For More Information Contact: |
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Webmaster: Brendan Owen
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strongest signals came from Scouts in the UK. One station on the Wirral in
Cheshire had set up a 40 foot aerial on a local cricket ground and had access to
four web cams. The Luton Scouts exchanged messages with the 2nd Clevedon Scout
Group near Bristol and found a rugby enthusiast on Friday evening who supported
England for the world cup. Another called from Llandovery near the Brecon
Beacons which had the Scouts scurrying for their phonetic alphabet to transcribe
the Welsh name.