Young Radio Amateur of the Year Award

DTI Press Release - 12 October 1998

The Radiocommunications Agency announced today that the Young Amateur of the Year Award has been won by 17 year old Mark Shepherd from Brighton.

Mark was presented with the first prize of £300 by the Radiocommunications Agency's Director of Spectrum Services, Hazel Canter, at the Radio Society of Great Britain's HF Convention at Windsor on Sunday (11 October).

He also received a certificate signed by Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and will be invited to the Agency's Radio Monitoring Centre at Baldock, Hertfordshire, for a conducted tour.

Mark manages to combine successfully his A level studies with his love of Amateur Radio. He is heavily involved with the organisation of his school Amateur radio club and was pivotal in its re-emergence as a 'bona fide' Club in 1996. Mark now acts as Secretary, a position he has held for the past 3 years. Amongst the numerous events he has organised and staged this year include setting up contests such as IOTA (Island on the Air) and special event stations. He has also staged electronics and radio displays which resulted in several pupils joining the club. Mark's continued activities are his revision classes for the RAE and practice Morse lessons. Packet Radio is a particular interest for Mark and he has spent a great deal of time and effort developing as a SysOp (System Operator) and running a BBS (Bulletin Board Station).

His worthy runner-up was 16 year old Peter Evans from Orpington, Kent. Peter is a very keen and active member of two clubs one of which he is a founder member and Chairman. He is a qualified novice instructor and has recently facilitated one to one Morse tutoring which he conducted during his school lunch breaks. Peter also enjoys the practical side of amateur radio, he is an enthusiastic 'home brewer' constructing receivers and antennae.

Peter received a £50 cheque from the Agency and will also be invited to visit Baldock Monitoring station.

Notes For Editors:

1. The Amateur of the Year Award is organised in conjunction with the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) and aims to encourage young people into amateur radio. This reflects the Agency's recognition that amateur radio is an excellent training ground for future careers in radio and electronics.

2. For this reason the 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 Novice Licence.

3. 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.

4. This year's competition was announced on 20 March 1998 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 18 birthday by 31 July 1997. Applicants were expected to demonstrate an interest in some of the following: Construction of radio equipment; good operating skills; use of radio to help in the community; and, Encouragement of others and involvement in a school or scientific project involving radio.

5. The presentation was made at the RSGB's HF Convention at the IOL Beaumont Conference Centre, Old Windsor on 11 October 1998.

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.

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