Seven teams arrived at Cowleaze Wood car park to once again hear massive Skywave problems with teams taking bearings in all directions. Hence, an approximate bearing of 160 degrees was given, passing across the Henley on Thames area. This surprised most teams as the Tx operator was Roger Shepherd who normally is hiding around High Wycombe.

Most of the teams headed towards Nettlebed while Steve Stone and Mark Coventry decided to drive down the M40 then the A404 towards Maidenhead. This turned out to be the correct way towards finding Roger who was hiding in a rhododendron bush in Ashley Forest, near to Knowl Hill.

My own 8pm signal was affected by skywave and plotted a variation of 40 degrees. After driving through Henley and up to Cockpole Green it was only then a bearing passing towards Roger's hide was taken. I continued driving along the road with Roger still putting on a long transmission when Peter Lisle turned down a road in front of me (I followed with thoughts of glee). The road in question was Pudding Hill and from previous visits decided not to stay!

Driving around the forest, I left my vehicle just outside the Dew Drop Inn PH (where Steve Stone had already parked). A breathless climb up into the forest followed and I came upon Mr Lisle and son still searching. On going further into the area, I spied another torch down towards Knowl Hill. With signal on, Yippee, it's down the path towards the torch I'd spotted. On arrival with signal on, it was Steve Stone searching around the vast amount of Rhody bushes. Steve was fairly positive where he was DFing to, while Peter and I went further down the path (away from the actual site).

After frantic searching my torch decided it had had enough and started to fade: on asking Roger for guidance, as my torch was by then like a candle, his statement was very negative. It was only when Peter asked me if I had been in (I had not) he indicated I was almost standing on Roger. Phew! Now to try and get back to the car in darkness.

On my return journey, I came across (panting) Graham Phillips and, later, Alan Simmons who were both heading in the right direction, meanwhile Mark Coventry had arrived on site and once more destroyed his Rx. Unable to hear Rogers talk in, he gave up.

It was possibly the only time that a team arrived at a site just on closedown, (well done Graham). On Peter Lisle's walk back he met a walker who appeared interested in what Peter was up to. With a demo of the set Peter set off to Pudding Hill unaware that it was Roger's helper going back to the pub!

Mark Coventry had left his vehicle near to Peter's and that's why I did not. With local residents worried Mr Plod was there asking many questions until it became clear that Mark was mad .

Poor John Mullins stayed in Henley all evening.

A good chat was held at the pub in Knowl Hill where Roger stated that there was quite an array of aerials erected that afternoon with his helpers to keep us out!

Brian Bristow