Formed in 1965 by three passionate enthusiasts —Dennis Hoult G4OO, Sam Whitley G3XBS and Roy Harrison G3VPR—the Spalding & District Amateur Radio Society (SDARS) has stood the test of time as a shining example of community spirit within the hobby, exploring many aspects of the hobby, and the appeal of amateur radio as a way of communicating on many fronts.
What began as a small gathering of like-minded enthusiasts has grown into a fixture of the UK amateur radio scene. In those early days, club meetings were modest, sometimes hosted in local pubs like the White Hart, Ship Albion in Spalding, a few at the Spalding Grammar School and of course what is now the Pinchbeck Hub, originally the Teachers Centre, with some great junk sales, John Birkett was a regular attender, and camaraderie amongst the members. Just four years after its founding, in 1969, the Society held its very first radio rally. Quickly organised it laid the foundation for what would become a annual event. By 1970, 150 attendees made their way to Wayman’s Field in Surfleet, a clear sign that SDARS had tapped into something special.
By 1975, the rally had outgrown the picnic style site in Surfleet and with soaring costs in marquee hire we relocated to the Gleed School in Spalding the annual subs at this time were only 50p, the Rally also took place at Springfields exhibition hall for a short period. The event had now earned its place on the national rally calendar, drawing attendees and traders from far and wide. That same year, club membership had soared to approximately 200, with members representing six countries and around 70% holding amateur licences—a remarkable achievement for a society in rural Lincolnshire.
Today, the club remains a vibrant and active part of the amateur radio community. While membership has settled to approximately 50, weekly meetings continue to attract 15–20 attendees on average, with numbers often higher during special talks and events. The club maintains a full calendar of activities, including contesting, portable operations, the ever-popular junk sales, and, of course, the rally. SDARS also plays an important role in supporting local events and is proud to be part of the team assisting the National Hamfest.
Proud recipients of the RSGB club of the year award competition, coming 3rd over all in 2009 and 1st in 2011.
As a lasting legacy, we are humbled to continue to have guardianship and use of the G4OO callsign in the clubs armoury.
The last 60 years has seen many technological advances, and countless hours of operating on many bands, modes, SDARS has remained true to the vision of its founding members—a welcoming community for amateur radio enthusiasts , both seasoned and new. Here’s to the legacy of G4OO, G3XBS, G3VPR, and to many more years of friendship.