Watson's Radio Club
Watsonian Reports - 1960s
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May 1960, p. 25 – RADIO CLUB
THE Radio Club this year has a total membership of fifty boys from the second year upwards. We are very proud of the fact that this is the greatest membership since the founding of the Club, and we hope the numbers shall continue to increase.
The Club meets every Tuesday after School hours, when the younger members of the Club are taught the basic fundamentals of electronics by Mr Hughes, the master in charge, and the more senior boys are encouraged to construct apparatus of one sort or another, and also at every lunch hour during the week when we watch the operation of a " Ham " station by Mr Simpson or Mr Hughes.
This year the boys are concentrating mainly on the construction of test gear, a monitor and test meters of various types. A forty metre transmitter has recently been completed.
Earlier on in the year a party of boys paid a visit to the Portobello Power Station and also to the Electronics Department of Bruce Peebles, both very interesting and instructive. A party of boys also visited, unofficially, a certain scrap yard near - Hawick, a well-known haunt of one of the Science Staff.
We would in conclusion like to thank all those who have made donations
to the Club, in particular Mr Barclay Phillips, who made a very generous donation, and Mr Jack Millie from Carmarthen, South Wales (GW8MQ), for his gift of two transformers to the Club. J. Speirs.
November 1960, p. 94 – RADIO CLUB
ONCE again we have to record a very successful year. In addition to the annual construction competition in which there were many interesting entries and from which V. Muir, in the-senior section with an eleven valve communications receiver, and Marwick in the junior section with a transistor set, emerged the winners we also held a QSL card competition This was won by A. Masson with an excellent collection of cards from all over the world
M. Senior was successful in passing the Radio Amateur's Examination, thus qualifying for an amateur transmitting licence To the best of our knowledge he is the first Watson's boy to have achieved this while still a School.
Undoubtedly the most exciting contact of the year made with the Club’s transmitter was during the disturbances in the newly-formed Congo Republic. We made contact with an amateur radio operator at Linga in N.E. Congo and we were able to pass on news of the missionaries there to their mission headquarters in London. We have since heard that all the missionaries at Linga were safely evacuated to Uganda when the situation at Linga became untenable.
Last November the Club took part in a worldwide communications competition. Our score gave us first place in Scotland thus earning our operator a handsome certificate, and fifteenth place overall.
In conclusion we thank Mr Hughes, Mr Simpson, Mr Jardine and Dr Meek for their continued interest in the Club and for all their work behalf. J.D.M.G.
May 1961, p.32 – RADIO CLUB
THIS session has been a busy one for the Radio Club. Our" shack " underneath the stage was redecorated and linoleum was laid on the floor during the summer holidays. The transmitter, which has given us such good service in the past, has been partially rebuilt. It is now housed in a neat wooden rack built by Mr Simpson, assisted by members of the Club. We are now in complete operation at 150 watts once again, and many contacts around the world have been made. In rebuilding the transmitter its frequency range was extended, and a new aerial has been erected to allow us to work on a number of bands which we have not used before.
Two visits were arranged, the first to the control tower at Turnhouse Airport, where we saw V.H.F., U.H.F., and radar equipment. The second visit was to the B.B.C. transmitting station at Westerglen, near Falkirk. It is at Westergien that the huge 100 kW Medium-Wave transmitters are situated.
We are grateful to our many friends for gifts of components and magazines—in particular to Mr Drummond of Wilfrid Terrace and to our onetime member, Robin Brown.
We should again like to thank Mr Simpson (GM3BCD) and Mr Hughes (GM3LCP) for their untiring efforts on behalf of the Club. A. J. Masson.
November 1961, p. 105-106 – RADIO CLUB
THE Club has ended a successful session with forty-four paid-up members and a small cash surplus The re-built transmitter has given a good account of itself whenever conditions have permitted but the decline in solar activity has made it difficult to establish many long distance contacts.
We congratulate Michael Senior on being the first pupil at Watson's LO gain an Amateur Transmitting Licence—his call-sign is GM3PAK. May he be the first of many.
On 13th May some sixty youths from various Edinburgh schools gathered at Watson's to hear an address by the General Secretary of the Radio Society of Great Britain. This body, whose Patron is Prince Philip, looks after the interests of all who are interested in Amateur Radio. The President, Major-General Eric Cole, Director of Signals at the War Office, was unfortunately prevented from attending at the very last minute. The Club Transmitter was "on the air" and caused a great deal of interest among our guests.
The first week-end in June witnessed some unusual activity on Tipperlinn. The Club, in conjunction with the Lothians Radio Society, was taking part in " National Field Day." This is a nation-wide competition between Radio Amateurs and entails erecting two stations in tents and operating them for 24 hours non-stop. Luckily this was the finest week-end in June and a good time was had by all! The final results of this contest have not yet been announced but we hope that the "Watsonian" station acquitted itself well. This was manned by George Miller (GM3UM), Fraser Shepherd (GM3EGW), Mr Hughes and the man in charge, Mr Simpson.
We are grateful to John Kelly, Robin Brown and Graham Catto for gifts of components and magazines; these are always welcome. We thank Mr Telfer for Wireless World; Dr Meek for his interest and help; and Mr Jardine for being the source of a seemingly endless supply of "Bits and pieces ". To the Staff of Messrs Ferranti's Apprentice School we owe grateful thanks for their generously given interest, advice and help.
The constructors competition this year was won by Alex. Ross of IIIU and David Guest of II0.
Finally we are pleased to record that Mr Simpson has been elected Secretary of the Lothians Radio Society and that Mr Hughes has been elected to the Committee of that body.
May 1962, p.26-27 – RADIO CLUB & JUNIOR RADIO CLUB
MEETINGS of the Club have been held, as in previous terms, after School on Tuesday afternoon in Mr Hughes' laboratory. Recently, more of the lectures have been given by boys than formerly, and this is encouraging.
We have had two visits during the winter, to Portobello Power station and to the BBC at Kirk o' Shotts. At the latter we succeeded in putting BBC Television off the air for 30 seconds!
Two passes have been obtained in the Radio Amateurs Examination, by James Campbell and Alan Masson, the Club secretary. The latter also passed the GPO Morse Test and now holds a transmitting licence. His call-sign is GM3PSP. This brings the total of licensed amateurs in the Club to four.
On 11th January several members of the Club attended the "Schoolboys' Night" of the Lothians Radio Society. Alan Masson gave a short talk on the history of the Watsons' Radio Club and there was a demonstration of equipment built by members. In February, under the leadership of James Campbell, the Junior Radio Club was formed. This is reported below.
Early in March, several members of the Club visited Daniel Stewart's College for a joint meeting with the Stewart's Radio Club. An auction of radio gear was held and we watched the operation of the host club's amateur station GM30LQ.
Our own transmitter has recently been working mostly on 20 metres because of the poor conditions on 10 and 15 metres. Many contacts have been made, but these have been mostly with stations in North America and Europe. Our cubical quad aerial was damaged in the winter gales and is, at present, awaiting repair. For gifts to the Club, we thank the following: Mrs Glenn, Mrs Yeaman, Bruntsfleld Radio, Victor Muir, Inglis Radio, and George Spence, GM6RZ. Finally, our thanks go to Mr Simpson and Mr Hughes for their untiring support. A. J. Masson.
JUNIOR RADIO CLUB
In February of this year, a junior branch of the Radio Club was established for pupils in the last year of the Junior School and the first year of the Senior School. Its object is to acquaint future members of the Radio Club with the most fundamental concepts of wireless, thus leaving the senior club free to deal with more advanced and varied topics.
Since our explanatory meeting on 19th January we have held ten highly successful and well-attended meetings. Of these, three have been arranged by members of the Staff: Mr Hughes, Dr Meek and Mr Simpson. We are most grateful to them for their help and enthusiasm, without which the Club could never have survived, and to Mr Millar for his regular interest and support. Special mention must be made of a meeting held in the Transmitter Room on the 19th March when Michael Senior, GM3PAK, contacted amateurs in several nations, including France, Finland and Czechoslovakia, and briefly explained the apparatus.
Meetings are held at 3.30 p.m. every Friday in Room 38, and all boys in the appropriate years of the Junior and Senior schools will be welcome. R.J.Campbell
November 1962 p. 96 - RADIO CLUB & JUNIOR RADIO CLUB
DURING last term the club brought itself up to date with the construction by two senior members of a small transistorised short wave receiver. It is hoped that this will soon be working on the "top" band (160 M). This project is in line with the increasing interest among radio amateurs in mobile and portable "up a hill" operation.
In May three members, David Hutchon, Allan Marwick and Alec Ross, sat and passed the Radio Amateur's Exam. They are now working on their morse in order to obtain transmitting licences. Later in the term the club, although a non-entrant, went portable in Tipperlinn during the National Field Day. We all enjoyed a pleasant day in the sun.
There were not very many entries for the Constructor's Competition held at the end of term. All the entries were, however, of a very high standard. Michael Senior (GM3PAK) won the senior section with his 2 metre transmitter. Alan Masson (GM3PSP) was second. David Guest won the intermediate section with a magnificently designed and constructed rnultimeter. David Steele was second with his transistor receiver.
Finally, we wish to thank all masters associated with the club for their work, encouragement and advice.
A. Ross.
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JUNIOR RADIO CLUB
THE new junior section of the Radio Club, for boys in the last year of the Junior School and the first year of the Senior School, has continued to hold highly successful meetings throughout the summer term. These were more varied than before and included talks on sound, crystal sets, tape recorders and transmitters.
Many members have become enthusiastic constructors, and on the 3rd of July the Radio Club Construction Contest included, for the first time, a Junior division. This was won by Cook, then of 9HJ. McMath, then of 7H.J., came second.
This year we hope to include more talks of practical and topical interest, and will also be running a new and interesting competition. Meetings are held at 3.30 p.m. every Friday in Room 38, and all boys in the appropriate years of the Junior and Senior schools will be welcome. Finally, may we thank all those members of Staff whose help and enthusiasm have enabled the Club to survive. R. J. Campbell.
May 1963, p.26 – RADIO CLUB & JUNIOR RADIO CLUB
THE past few months have, as usual, seen talk of exhibitions, expeditions, but very little "hardware" has been constructed and few results have been achieved. The most important of these are the construction of a" top band" valve transmitter and a transistorised mobile transmitter. We have hopes of doing better this summer term. A.Ross
JUNIOR RADIO CLUB.
As in previous terms, the Junior Radio Club has met at 3.30 p.m., every Friday in Room 38. This session, attendances have been both steadier and, on the average, higher than for the corresponding period last year – an encouraging trend.
Although the range of topics in the Junior Club is inevitably more restricted than in the Senior, and attempt has been made to provide more diversity, and more emphasis has been placed on the practical aspects of radio. There will again be a construction contest and also a Q.S.L. competition, both of which will be held towards the end of the Summer term.
Finally, may we thank all those members of Staff whose untiring support has enabled the Club to survive. R.J. Campbell.
November 1963, p.96-97 – RADIO CLUB & JUNIOR RADIO CLUB
THE Radio Club is emerging from a period in the doldrums. A transistorised transmitter—the transistors kindly donated by Mr. R G Maclagan Newmarket Transistors Ltd.—is having its final teething troubles corrected. Another valve transmitter is almost complete. A coil-winding machine has been made—and is being used! Yet another member (David Guest) has passed the Radio Amateur's Examination.
The construction competition was generally agreed to be of the highest standard in memory. There were, for a change, a great number of entries The originality and ingenuity shown in this gear was also exceptional The intermediate section was won by B. Flynn's transistorised audio amplifier. D Guest and Crawford won in the senior section with V H F converters and a tape recorder respectively. The special competition for the best use of a single 12AT7 valve 'was won by D. Hütchon's wide-range signal generator.
The Club have to thank J. Kelly (GM3POK) and D. Burnett (both former members) for their donations of components and "junk." We have also to thank Mr Telfer for continuing to provide the Wireless World magazine We are also grateful for the continued interest and support given by other masters—especially the indomitable, infectious enthusiasm and the practical help of Mr Simpson (GM3BCD). Mr Hughes (GM3LCP) has just retired from his term of office as President of the Lothians Radio Society, but has been re-elected as a member of committee. A. Ross.
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JUNIOR RADIO CLUB
The Junior Section of the Radio Club has 'once again had a highly successful session, although, during the summer term, activity has inevitably: slackened off somewhat. Once again, meetings have been as varied a possible and included talks on transmitters, aerials, power 'supplies, and: tape-recorders.
The Radio Club Construction Competition again included a Junior division and this was won by Malloch, with a crystal set.
This session, we intend to change the form of the-Club somewhat—rather than organise regular weekly, talks as previously, much more time will be devoted to individual constructional projects. Meetings are held at 3.30 p.m. every Friday in Room 38—all boys in the last year of the Junior School and first year of the Senior School will be welcome. Finally, may we thank all those members of staff whose untiring' support has enabled the Club to survive. R. J. Campbell.
May 1964, p.31-32 – RADIO CLUB
WHEN the Junior Radio Club, catering for eleven to thirteen year olds, had its first meeting at the beginning of last session, the programme—as it was then—took the form of short talks and demonstrations every Friday afternoon, endeavouring to generally interest the young members in radio This arrangement was satisfactory up to a point, until it was found that the numbers attending the meetings were beginning to dwindle. Thus we decided that this session it would be an excellent idea if every individual member was to embark on a constructional project of his own. Of necessity, this had to be simple n nature, otherwise all but the most ambitious members might be frightened away! The crystal set was chosen, since it has given
Pleasure to thousands of aspiring radio enthusiasts for many years and still remains a remarkably cheap method of learning basic radio principles. This proved a popular decision and subsequently crystal-sets began to be manufactured in large numbers—each being added to, bit by bit, every week. With the help and tuition of Mr Hughes and older Club members, most of these sets have now reached completion and the boys are now improving their efforts by adding a stage of amplification using a single transistor. Altogether, the results have been very encouraging, both for the young members and older helpers.
Meanwhile, members of the Senior Club have been building equipment, mostly transistorised, for use during open-air contests. By the time this is in print, two more members are likely to have obtained amateur transmitting licences and the Club will probably have taken part in one of these V.H.F. contests. Briefly, the object of these European-wide contests is to transport equipment to some open-air site, preferably on a prominent hill, operate a transmitting station independent of the mains power supply, and contact as large a number of distant stations as possible.It will be appreciated that the group with the most efficient equipment and the best location are likely to achieve the largest score. A twenty-four-foot collapsible mast has been purchased to support the antenna.
Finally, the Club would like to thank a former member, G. Czekalowski, for his gift of magazines – and commend his example to other past members! D. Guest.
November 1964, p.96-97 – RADIO CLUB
THE activities of the Radio Club this term have included taking part in three Amateur Radio Contests organised by the Radio Society of Great Britain. Basically, the object of these competitions is to operate a transmitting station in the open-air independent of the mains power supply, and to contact as large a number of distant competing stations as possible. This out-of-doors operation is known by Radio Amateurs as "going portable ".
On 6th and 7th of June the Club were out on Tipperlinn operating under the call sign GM3BCD/P during just such a twenty-four hour contest on the high frequency amateur bands. Our total of stations contacted was not great but we are convinced that next year, with a really effective aerial system, we should be able to improve our score considerably. The Club also set up stations during the two 144 Mc/s V.H.F. Contests on the 3rd of May and the 5th July. During the first one GM3LCP/P operated from 11 miles N.E. of Lanark. We discovered, however, that for V.H.F. we were not sufficiently high or clear of other high ground as we might have been. Thus for the second expedition we investigated possible good sites nearer home, finally. deciding on the Braid Hills. Since David Guest had, by then, obtained his transmitting licence we were able to use his call sign and to operate as GM3TFY/P. Our new location certainly had a significant effect on the number of contacts made and we shall probably use it again. We did consider the Pentlands but rejected the idea for reasons which anyone who has tried to carry 12 volt car batteries up a hill will appreciate!
The Club has recently acquired a large tent of its own (thanks to the generosity of Mr Guest) for use when operating portable and we are now on the lookout for a small petrol-electric generator to supply power.
The Annual Construction Competition produced winning entries from Ross Smith of 8 H.J. in the Junior Section and Brian Flynn of III O1 in the Senior Section. We were very happy to have a visiting Amateur from New Zealand (ZL2APP) as our guest on this occasion.
We are very grateful to Mr Robinson of Joseph Lucas Ltd. for the loan of heavy duty accumulators on a number of occasions. Without them much of our enjoyment would not have been possible. We wish to record our appreciation of the gift from Ian Venters of components and vintage radio sets and to Mr R. Thomson for a T.V. set. Second-hand or broken down radios and T.V. sets are always welcome as a source of components. G. D. (Crawford)?
Nov (?) 1965, p.107 – RADIO CLUB
THE most outstanding of the Club's activities this year has undoubtedly been the Radio and Electronics Exhibition held in the School on Saturday, 26th June. The planning was begun as far back as the beginning of the session when it was decided to organise an exhibition along similar lines to that held by the Club back in 1959. The large volume of correspondence entered into with the participating firms and organisations was undertaken by Alister Mitchell, whose hard work is to be commended. Finally, after much preparation, the day arrived and to our great pleasure the exhibition proved to be a resounding success. Our intention had been that the purpose of the exhibition should be two-fold. Firstly, to enlighten the visitors about the ways and mysteries of Amateur Radio and the world of Electronics, and secondly, to swell the Club's meagre funds. We trust that the first of these was fulfilled, and certainly the financial state of the Club is now very healthy indeed.
(See separate report on this website under History)
Earlier in the year we purchased a rotatable, directional aerial for the 14, 21 and 28 Mc/s Amateur Bands and this can now be seen gracing the School roof. Using it, a number of interesting contacts have been made with various parts of Africa and Europe.
During the session Alister Mitchell and Douglas Taylor each passed both the Radio Amateur's Examination and the G.P.O. Morse Test, to join the ranks of those who have gained their Amateur Transmitting Licence while at Watson's. Their call-signs are GM3UDL and GM3UDT respectively. Gregan Crawford also passed the exam and is waiting to sit the Morse Test.
It is with deep regret that we lost the services at the end of last session of Mr J. A. R. Hughes who has left the staff to take up a post at Jordarihill in Glasgow. His interest and enthusiasm have guided and inspired members of the Club for eighteen years from 1947 to 1965. We thank him on behalf of members past and present for his excellent work, and wish him the greatest of success in his new post. D. H. Guest.
Mr Jim Jardine demonstrating equipment at the Radio and Electronics Exhibition.
May 1966, p.33 – RADIO CLUB
AT the beginning of the session it was decided to change the meeting day of the Junior Club from Friday to Tuesday and to join it up with the Senior Club who had always met on that day. This was done in order to ease supervision and to allow members to attend other activities which take place on Fridays. This seems to have worked satisfactorily and we have a large attendance of junior and senior
I am glad to report that we have yet two more successful candidates for the Radio Amateur's Examination, Brian Flynn and David Steele, bringing the total number of passes to twelve with no failures. It is hoped that they will soon take their morse test and become licenced Radio Amateurs.
Once again, the construction of a crystal set has been the occupation of about twenty of the younger members, most of whom report excellent results. They are now constructing a simple two transistor amplifier to be used in conjunction with the crystal set. We must thank Mr C. Gibbs of Ferranti for the gift of some ex-computer circuit boards, components from which have been used in the amplifiers.
Club activity among senior members has so far included helping and supervising the younger members and we hope to do still more after the S.C.E. examinations next term.
Finally, we thank Mr Simpson (GM3BCD) for the invaluable help and time he has given the Club.
G F Crawford.
May 1967, p. 35 – RADIO CLUB
This session has been a very busy one for the Radio Club. As usual a number of new ‘recruits’ have joined us from the first Year and many have now completed their first crystal set and amplifier and are clamouring for more new ideas for construction projects. The membership has passed the forty mark, a record for many years, and the meetings of the Junior Radio Club have been incorporated into the meetings of the Radio Club in the woodwork room as it was felt that this would give the members of the Junior section more scope. Another two members intend taking the Radio Amateurs Examination next December.
Several items of new equipment have been purchased with the proceeds of our exhibition held in 1965, namely an Eddystone EC10 transistor communications receiver and a Mosely TA33Jr. 10- , 15- and 20-metre beam antenna which now graces the roof of the School. A need was felt for a new receiver suitable for portable use during National Field day and the like, hence the purchase of the EC10.
The Club must thank Pye Tele-communications for their generous donations of surplus mobile radio telephones which are a very welcome source of useful components , and also Mrs H.S. McTaggart of Braid Road for her gift of equipment which is now finding many useful and unusual applications.
Finally we should like to make use of this occasion to thank Mr Simpson (GM3BCD) for his endless practical ideas and enthusiasm for our Club. Brian W. Flynn.
May 1969, p.26 – RADIO CLUB
The Radio Club has been absent from these pages for some time now. The fact is that the Radio Club has been going through a quiet spell consolidating its position before moving on to greater things. The movement has now begun.
Last May Edward Bain sat and passed his Radio Amateurs' Examination; at fourteen he must be one of the youngest members of the Club to have passed this exam. During the summer came the news that Mr J. Miller of the staff had passed his morse test and was the proud holder of the licence GM3XUY. In December Leon De Marco and Peter Brown sat and passed the Radio Amateurs' Examination. Three more members are going to sit the Radio Amateurs' Examination in May, while those already passed are working towards their morse test.
The spring term saw the introduction of a weekly "sked" with Mr. Marshall GM8BPL at the Mary Erskine School for Girls. Other amateur stations in the Edinburgh area heard about this—and this is now one of the most intense periods of activity in the two metre band. We hope to extend this in the future. We are also hoping to participate in one or two Field Days during the summer term. Several members hope to help man GB3EIF during the period of the Festival.
Finally, we must express our thanks to everybody who has helped us over the past couple of years. A special word of thanks is due to Mr T. Simpson, GM3BCD, who has shown unfailing patience in developing the interests of innumerable small boys. P. C. Brown.
November 1969, p.85 – RADIO CLUB
The Radio Club has had a very successful year, with many members passing the Radio Amateur Examination, and much equipment being given or loaned.
Our congratulations to Peter C. Brown, last year’s Secretary / Treasurer, on becoming GM3YOK, and Murray J.S. Cooke, this year’s Secretary / Treasurer, on becoming GM8CWH. Also we congratulate all the boys who have passed their Radio Amateur Examination and we look forward to hearing them on the air soon.
We wish to thank Hewlett Packard Ltd. For allowing us to visit their Queensferry factory, and Edinburgh City Police for allowing us to visit Blackford Hill Radio Station.
Our kind thanks to the Royal Observatory and the Daily Mail for donating several teleprinters to the Club. We hope to have a regular teleprinter "sked" with Mr Marshall, GM8BPL, of Mary Erskine School for Girls, during the summer term.
We gratefully thank Mr Simpson, GM3BCD, and Mr J. Millar, GM3XUY, for their support of the Club in school, and Watsonians Brian Flynn, GM8BJF, Alan Masson, GM3PSP, and Peter Brown, GM3YOK, for their continued support of the Club in most of our activities.
N. C., M.J.S.Cooke.
