What a difference a location makes! On a glorious Sunday, 22nd June, the Cray Valley Radio Society brought the magic of amateur radio to the public at the magnificent Crossness Pumping Station for International Museums Weekend. Operating as GB2CM, this year’s event was a resounding success, thanks to a great new operating spot, perfect weather, and the fantastic support of our members.

This was a “steaming day” at the 160-year-old museum, meaning the giant steam engines were in full operation, drawing in lots of visitors. Unlike previous years where our station was tucked away, this time we were given a prime position right by the main entrance. The result? A constant stream of curious visitors, who were able to see our station in action and learn about the hobby from our public information display. The open-sided club marquee, providing welcome shade from the pleasant 25°C sunshine, created an inviting and professional showcase for amateur radio and our club.

The setup itself was an impressive sight. Thanks to a cherry picker, our antennas were hoisted 15 metres into the air, clearing the surrounding trees and buildings. We strung up a doublet antenna for HF and a 6m/2m/70cm vertical collinear was mounted above the cherry picker’s basket for VHF. This gave our two stations – an HF setup running 400W from the club’s FTdx10 and Elecraft KPA500 amplifier, and a 50W VHF station – a commanding presence.

Despite a challenging S5 noise floor on HF (which was local, but the source not identified), our operators battled through to log a decent tally of 178 contacts, predominantly on 40m. We heard from many stations that our signal was strong, but that many others were calling us who we simply couldn’t hear through the noise. The very first QSO was a fantastic contact with China on 15m CW, expertly worked by Dave G4BUO, during the All Asia contest. The VHF station was also active, bringing in 37 contacts primarily on 2m FM. We dipped our toes into 6m after the main contest had finished, which serves as a great learning point for next year; jumping into the contest might yield even more “Magic Band” QSOs!

Crucially, this event was a brilliant opportunity for members to get on the air. It was wonderful to see some newer operators taking to the mic on the HF station and experiencing the thrill of operating a special event pile-up.

However, these events are about more than just the contacts; they are about the camaraderie. The atmosphere was superb, helped in no small part by the perfect weather and a pop-up bar from the local Bexley Brewery conveniently located next to us! It was the perfect environment for members to operate, chat with the public, or simply relax and enjoy a great day out with fellow enthusiasts.

This was another brilliant special event for the club, and our new location proved to be a game-changer for public engagement. We will certainly be looking to secure this spot for years to come.

A huge thank you is owed to every single member who made the day possible. From the early birds who helped set up the marquee and antennas, to the operators who worked the radios, the members who engaged with the public, and everyone who stayed behind to pack everything away. Even those who just dropped by to offer moral support played a vital part. Special thanks are due to Dave G4BUO who did all of the planning for the event, and to Colin G8XDR, our “inside man” at Crossness Engines Trust, who helped us secure the new location and who arranged and expertly operated the cherry picker.

Events like GB2CM are the lifeblood of our club, but they only happen with the help of our members. If you’re a club member and haven’t attended a special event before, please consider coming along to the next one. It’s a fantastic way to learn, operate a top-class station, and enjoy a great social day with your fellow members. You don’t need to be a seasoned operator to make a difference; everyone is welcome and every pair of hands helps. We look forward to seeing you at the next one!