Due to the chosen TX operator pulling out and the number of teams on holiday it was yours truly to run this evening event. Four teams plus Mark Hazelton (in Peter Lisles car) started this event at Maidenhead Thicket to hear a modest signal from G4KBB/P using an old frequency of 1.876 KHz.

I had found my site some months ago (possibly for a qualifier) it was unusual that the main footpath from the main road crossed a field then came to abrupt halt by the ruins of a medieval Chapel in a lost hamlet of Ackhamstead. I found that on the far outer part of the ruins which are now a small copse a main power line passes very close by, so with a loop aerial around the copse and at least 8metres of aerial wire passing along underneath these power cables, with TX power turned down a tad, I waited until after the fifth transmission to hear verbal mutterings within the copse. After three or four minutes Mr X came upon my camouflaged net and quickly called Mr Y across to be the first team in.

Further signals went out and in the distance I heard a panting noise and to my delight Graham Phillips became No 2 team in. Where was the super Peter Lisle? He decided to take his second bearing from West Wycombe and his cross was in the woods 2 miles south of the actual site. On foot he and his young team slogged though woods and fields until they got fairly close to my site then the power lines did their work. At this time, Alan Simmons was also finding the signals going in all directions. Eventually Peter and Co., then some time later Alan (a little tired) came in. It was good to find that no teams drove down the private roads which pass the actual site (I had permission!).

At the local pub we had a folk evening (Colin Merry would have made it better). But this event did help the younger DFers in Peter's team keen to get involved (more please).

Brian Bristow