Cathedral to host Churches on the Air

Bury St Edmunds Amateur Radio Society is to base themselves at St Edmundsbury Cathedral for their annual Churches on the Air, on Saturday, September 14.

The group will take part in the event, run by the World Association of Christian Radio Amateurs and Listeners that involves amateur radio clubs setting up a station at their local church and making contact with other churches across the world – known as activating in ham terms. The event has taken place annually since 2006.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral is currently the only cathedral venue.

The Bury St Edmunds Amateur Radio Society will be based on the Cathedral Garth, where the cloisters meet the main building.

Small speakers will broadcast the contacts made to visitors and those interested in learning more about the event and amateur radio.

Two operators also plan to broadcast from the top of the Cathedral Tower using portable equipment.

The team are expecting a very busy day on the airwaves as the special event, call sign GB0SEC, will be hugely popular for fellow hams around the world and other CHOTA operators to get in their logs.

The Very Rev Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, said: “The Cathedral is a space for community, and we love playing host to varied and interesting events and meetings. It’s exciting for St Edmundsbury to be connected to churches around the world via the radio waves.”