Adapted from QUA newsletter article by Guy G0UKN
What a way to kick off 2026! The weekend of January 3rd and 4th saw the return of the KW Weekend and the special event callsign GB8KW. This year was particularly significant as we celebrated the 70th Anniversary of KW Electronics—and we certainly celebrated in style.
Organized by Guy G0UKN, the event transformed the hall into a living museum of British amateur radio history, featuring a wider range of kit on display and on air than ever before.
By The Numbers
Putting on a display of this magnitude is no small feat. To give you an idea of the scale, the hall contained:
- 31 items of vintage KW equipment.
- 200+ valves glowing warmly inside the chassis.
- 25 meters of display tables.
- 1/4 ton of vintage radio gear transported (huge thanks to the setup team!).
- 4 bottles of champagne and 1 enormous celebratory cake.
A Special Guest
We were honored to host Richard Shears G8KW, the son of the company’s founder. Richard gave a fascinating talk on Saturday regarding Rowley Shears’ pre-KW days, which was a highlight for the 40+ visitors in the room. He also sold out of copies of his book, ‘Conversations over the Airwaves’, and joined us in cutting the anniversary cake (expertly made by Jan Roberts).
On The Air: Vintage Magic
The weekend wasn’t just about looking at radios; it was about using them. We proved that 60-year-old equipment can still hold its own against modern rigs.
Saturday kicked off with the VMARS (Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society) net on 3.615 MHz AM. Using the KW Victor/Geloso 209, we received great reports from across the UK, France, and Holland. The rest of the day saw a steady stream of contacts on 40M and 20M.
Sunday brought the “DX dreams” to life.
- New Zealand: We connected with ZL3PAH (Phil Holliday), a former KW employee, on 20M using a 1967 KW2000A and KW1000 amp.
- Australia: We worked VK2AMF (Mike Fleetwood), who also holds the call G3XEF and previously lived in Sidcup.
- The 10M Surprise: In an unexpected bonus, we fired up the earliest 1964 “duck egg blue” KW2000. Despite doubts that it would work on 10M, we tuned it up to 300W and immediately worked W8SAW (also running a KW rig!) and a station in Arizona who gave us a 59 report.
The weekend was a resounding success with around 70 visitors from across Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey, and Essex.
What was most encouraging was seeing people walk in off the street, drawn in by the activity. We are pleased to report that at least one of these visitors is now interested in taking their Foundation exam!
The reliability of the equipment was flawless—zero failures—and the on-air audio reports were consistently complimentary. It turns out that high-quality vintage microphones and a lack of heavy processing still sound fantastic today.
Looking Ahead
We are already thinking about next year. We’re looking into setting up an optimal CW station and adding headset/footswitch capabilities for the 40M station.
A massive thank you to everyone who helped transport gear, set up, operate, and welcome our guests. If you missed it this year, keep an eye on the calendar for the next one—whether you are a long-time member or someone looking to get into the hobby, you won’t want to miss it.
Interested in Amateur Radio? Events like the KW Weekend are just part of what we do at Cray Valley Radio Society. Whether you are interested in vintage electronics, modern digital modes, or just want to learn how to get your license, we’d love to meet you.