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The Last Young Amateur of the Millennium |
RA Press release - 20 September 1999
The Radiocommunications Agency announced today that the winner of the Young Amateur of the Year Award 1999 is 16 year old Mark Haynes from Harlow, Essex.
Mark is to be presented with the first prize of £500 by the Radiocommunications Agency's Chief Executive, David Hendon, at the Radio Society of Great Britain's HF Convention at Windsor on Sunday 10 October.
Additionally, Mark will receive a certificate signed by Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and will be invited to the Agency's Radio Monitoring Station at Baldock, Hertfordshire, for a conducted tour.
The Young Amateur of the Year Award is organised in conjunction with the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) with the express aim to encourage young people to take up amateur radio as a hobby. The Agency recognises that amateur radio affords an excellent training ground for an interesting career in the field of radio and electronics.
Applicants for the award are expected to demonstrate an interest in most of the following attributes:
When he gained his Novice Licence at the age of 12 Mark became the youngest member of his home town. In July of this year, he organised, planned and ran a special event station commemorating the 175th anniversary of the RNLI. In the same month, Mark took part in a 24hr IOTA (Island on the Air) contest from his club station. Additionally, he has gained an interest in and enjoys an affinity with, the media. For example, in February, he was interviewed by his local community radio/TV channel, which resulted in two individuals (father and son) enrolling for a Novice Course at his club. Mark also gave an address to the delegates of the 1998 AMSAT (Amateur Satellite) Colloquium at the University of Surrey. During the same period, he was interviewed by a South African Radio Amateur connected with various Youth Organisations in that country.
The close runner-up for this award was 15 year old Daniel Keene from Alton in Hampshire. Daniel is a member of two clubs, Basingstoke where he is a committee member and Bentley, both of which he supports enthusiastically. In common with most of his peers, Daniel takes a particular interest in computers. To foster this interest, he runs a node station from his home address and has spent a week's work experience at his local Radio Station fixing computers amongst other tasks. Daniel has taken in part various special event contests for e.g. TDOTA (Thinking Day on the Air) where he supervises Novices.
Daniel is to receive a cheque for £200 from the Agency and will also be invited to visit the Agency's Baldock Monitoring Station.
Notes for Editors:
1. The first Young Amateur of the year award was presented by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in 1988, when the RSGB's project year (Youth into Electronics via Amateur Radio) was launched.
2. This year's competition was announced on 20 March 1998 (Press Notice) and was open to any resident of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man who had not reached his or her 18th birthday by 31 July 1999. The presentation will be made by David Hendon, Chief Executive of the Radiocommunications Agency, at the RSGB's HF Convention at the ICL Beaumont Conference Centre, Old Windsor on 10 October 1999.
3. The Radiocommunications Agency launched the Novice Licence Scheme in 1991. Primarily aimed at young people, the Novice Licence includes a high element of practical hands - on training. Unlike the full licence where applicants must be over 14 years of age, there is no minimum age for a Novice Licence.
4. Press and public enquiries about the competition should be directed to: The Radio Society of Great Britain, Lambda House, Cranbourne Road, Potters Bar, Herts. EN6 3JE. Telephone: 01707 659015
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