12 year old Jimmy Read from Macclesfield has become the latest youngster to complete one of Macclesfield & District Radio Society's Radio Amateur training courses. Jimmy, who goes to Knutsford High School, had for some time wanted to become a radio amateur, in order that he could fully participate in a fast-growing craze known as "SOTA", standing for "Summits On The Air".

The SOTA scheme launched in 2002, and involves climbing the significant hills and mountains across the UK and setting up a temporary amateur radio station at the summit. Jimmy's dad Tom, a radio amateur with callsign M1EYP has been involved in this popular pursuit, and Jimmy has been joining him because of his own love of hiking. Jimmy was featured in his local newspaper, the Macclesfield Express back in 1997, when at the age of 5 years and 3 days he became the youngest person ever to complete the 19 mile "Beat The Bounds" route in the formerly annual sponsored walk. He has continued to enjoy his walking, and these days travels to areas such as Snowdonia, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales most weekends, as well as walking to more local summits like Shining Tor and Bosley Cloud, as he accompanies his dad on SOTA expeditions. Jimmy has so far climbed 135 of the UK hills that qualify for "Marilyn" status, and are therefore SOTA summits. Since gaining his licence, Jimmy has already activated several hills for SOTA.
Details can be found on www.tomread.co.uk

Macclesfield & District Radio Society provided a specially adapted training course for Jimmy, led by Foundation Licence tutor Phil Archer G6AKK. Other members of the club helped out with the training too, especially club chairman Alan Denny G0JNJ, and Keith Kelly G3VKF who gave up several extra evenings of their time. Delia Archer (Phil's XYL), a teacher at Henbury High School, stepped in to support Jimmy with his reading in the formal examination. Jimmy passed his exam on Thursday 15th September, and immediately applied to Ofcom for his amateur radio licence. Another radio amateur, Tim McConnell 2E0AYV from Lewes in Sussex, assited in enabling Jimmy to get his sought-after callsign - M3EYP - to match his dad Tom's M1EYP call. Tim, the former holder of M3EYP prior to gaining his Intermediate licence, kindly provided a letter of authorisation of the transfer, and Ofcom were most helpful and cooperative in considering and granting the request.

Macclesfield & District Radio Society, which meets at the Pack Horse Bowling Club, Abbey Road on Monday evenings, is keen to attract new members and can offer further training courses for those wishing to become licensed radio amateurs. Courses can be provided for students of any age; adult or child.

For more information about Macclesfield & District Radio Society, contact Ron G0WUZ on
01625 430433. For more information about SOTA - Summits On The Air, visit www.sota.org.uk