Welcome
Queens Diamond Jubilee Beacons
Around 40 beacons will be lit across Cumbria, including a 'Beacon of Hope' at the top of Sca Fell Pike, on Monday 4 June as part of a national initiative to mark the Diamond Jubilee.
Cancer Research UK are responsible for the Beacon of Hope and are lighting it on England's highest point to commemorate the Jubilee and raise awareness of cancer.
During the day on 4 June a small ceremony will be taking place at Sca Fell Pike where each climber will be presented with the national flower (a red rose) which will accompany them to the peak. Cumbria County Council is contributing the red roses.
Binsey, Catbells, Coniston Old Man, Orrest Head, Brantfell, Bigland Barrow, Whitbarrow Scar, Arnside Knott, Place Fell, and Black Combe will also host Beacons to mark the celebrations.
There is a long history in Britain of the lighting of beacons to mark Royal events such as weddings, Coronations and Jubilees so beacons will be lighting up the night sky in all six districts of Cumbria in towns and villages including Dalston, Kirkby Lonsdale, Langwathby and Wigton.
There many others too.
Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site beacon locations, east to west, are:
Arbeia Roman Fort,
South Shields
Segedunum Roman Fort,
Wallsend
Hexham (including Acomb, Anick & Sandhoe)
Housesteads Roman Fort
Herding Hill Farm,
Haltwhistle
Greenhead
Birdoswald Roman Fort
Banks/Lanercost
Burtholme Parish Council Bewcastle
Carlisle Castle
Maryport
Ravenglass/Eskdale
For a full list of beacons see:
http://www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk/pages/interactive_map_171898.cfm
Enjoy the celebrations.
News
Cumbria Raynet needs your help
Many members of WOTA are both keen amateur radio operators, chasers and fell walkers/activators. As a direct result of this, members hold a lot of valuable information about how well radio works within the fells, problems encountered with opreating in the fells and "dead spots" for both radio and mobile phone communications.
This is something that Cumbria Raynet, local Mountain Rescue and Emergecny Services would like your help with.
On the 11th/12th of May there are two charity events taking place. The Keswick to Barrow Charity Walk on 11th and Fred Whitton cycling challenge taking place on the 12th where 1700 riders take part in a gruelling 112 mile race over all the Lakeland passes – in one day!!
Cumbria Raynet need help and feedback on how to ensure that effective communications can be put into place to cover the often remote areas of Cumbria that this event entails. They need to be able to furnish contact with HQ at Coniston, from all the pass summits where checkpoints are placed. But they need to cover a very wide area and that takes knowledge and manpower. Cumbria is a big county!
Many members may travel these routes on a normal basis, and organised interaction beforehand could facilitate in the knowledge required being passed on before the event or suggestions which would ease the tasks being passed on. Some members may even be able to “work” as a relay from their home / portable on the day or suggest some other possibilities.
All knowledge gained will also be logged to a database for future reference by Raynet, Mountain Rescue Groups and local Emergency Services for when disasters happen. The Lakes topography is not suited to straight forward solutions.
You do not need to be a member or WOTA or radio club in order to help. All help is welcomed so please let friends, family and fellow radio operators know.
This is a great opportunity to help promote amateur radio and to help ensure the future safety and well being of everyone that enjoys the Lakes, something that we should all never take foregranted.
Now, over to Paul from Cumbria Raynet:-
Happy New Year from the WOTA Management Team
As WOTA approaches its fifth year, we have a lot to celebrate.
During 2012 several members managed to achieve the full 116 Outlying Fells as both chasers and activators, along with three more members achieving the 214 Wainwrights.
We now have over 300 participants registered at the website, of whom several have contacted over 100 summits.
The 1st January 2012 saw the Wainwrights on the Air scheme (WOTA) extended, with the addition of the 116 Outlying Fells, which are described in a separate Wainwright guidebook.
This added new challenges and made it easier for everyone of all ages and levels of radio operation and abilities to get involved and has been a great success for throughout 2012.
Merry Christmas From The WOTA Management Team
Merry Christmas to everyone.
We hope that you have all enjoyed taking part in Wainwrights On The Air (WOTA) this year, depsite the weather here in the Lake District during 2012 !
May peace, happiness and goodwill be with you and your families not only on Christmas, but through out the coming year and beyond.
73
WOTA Management Team
Remembrance Sunday 2012
Please also be aware that several of the Wainwright summits will have a memorial service on them on that day, most notable being Great Gable.
WOTA Activator and Chaser double unique!
This year, with the introduction of the Outlying Fells in January, WOTA has seen the first ever double of all of the 214 Wainwrights and 116 Outlying fells being chased and activated.
Congratulations go to Phil Catterall (G4OBK),
to Geoff Harper (GM4WHA)
(Geoff on Orrest Head completing the double - the first
fell climbed by A.Wainwright)
and Colin Wilkinson (G4UXH)
(Outlying Fell Platinum Award being presented to Colin
by Awards Manager Phil)
as the first Activator and Chasers respectively to achieve this unique double as part of the Wainwrights On the Air (WOTA) Programme.