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North East Derbyshire Raynet

A Raynet group was started in Derbyshire after the east coast floods of 1953, but over the years it fell into decline as the authorities were reluctant to use volunteers at that time.

During the late 1960’s the release of the 2m band to Class B licence holders encouraged many more people into amateur radio.  In Derby, a small Raynet group was established.  This grew into Derbyshire Raynet, the only group in the county at that time.

The recently reorganised local authorities were looking for something better than the 1950’s valve civil defence radios and, in common with many parts of the UK, those in Derbyshire adopted Raynet as a principal part of back up or alternative emergency communications.

During the 1980’s, area groups were formed as the Derbyshire group numbered nearly 100.  One of these groups was North East Derbyshire Raynet, run then as now, by Roger G4OIE.

Before the regulations were changed in 1982 allowing Raynet to support charitable or public events, the main activities were formal exercises run by local authorities.  North East Derbyshire Raynet provided operators and sometimes equipment for stations in the Bolsover and Chesterfield areas.

In February each year, the annual “Route Exercise” took place.  Across the East Midlands, amateur stations were set up in or near town and county halls.  On a rota basis, each station was called into the network and signal reports were collated for the whole of the East Midlands.

In March of each year, a message passing exercise was held.  Again, stations were set up in or near many town and county halls along with odd police stations, hospitals etc.  This practiced getting messages across the East Midlands region.

For many years now, the main activities have been providing communications for public and charitable events taking place in parts of Derbyshire where mobile phone coverage is poor to this day.  As a relatively small group, the focus has been on supporting other groups, notably Derby Raynet (formerly Derbyshire Raynet) and Buxton Radio Amateurs RCVS Group (formerly Buxton Raynet).

Similarly, members have supported or been on standby to help other groups during several emergencies:

• 1976 – assistance to the local water company following a burst main.
• 1977 – assistance to the local authority during localised flooding in Long Eaton.
• 1977 – assistance to the Police during a missing person search near Cromford.
• 1986 – on standby following a gas explosion near Heanor.
• 1988 – assistance to the local authority during a fire and evacuation in Alfreton.
• 1989 – on standby following the air crash at Kegworth.
• 1990 – assistance to the local authority following a widespread heavy snowfall.
• 2004 – on standby following a cable fire cutting off telephones around Buxton.

North East Derbyshire Raynet continues to support communications for public events and emergencies in Derbyshire and further afield if required.

North East Derbyshire RAYNET contact details added very soon

North East Derbyshire RAYNET will be at The Chesterfield Rally on 11th October 2008. Pop along and see us. We are hoping to bring along our infamous 80ft Mast. NED Raynet are providing as last year Talk-In to the Rally.

http://www.raynet-uk.net/main/

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