Although only recently introduced, our new Transmission category for young people has got off to a very encouraging start and we hope more and more youngsters will be joining – and challenging – the older hands in the years to come.

One of the first young contestants to sign up for Transmission 2008 were Silcoates School in Wakefield. Silcoates music teacher Nigel Wears, who runs the school’s amateur radio club, supported the 14 youngsters, aged between 11 and 16, throughout the event.

“I was really keen to make them aware how important it is for blind and partially sighted people to have access to the radio,” said Mr Wears, “As modern electrical equipment is often menu driven, it is very difficult to operate without sight. Have a go at tuning your DAB radio to hear the news without looking at the screen and you’ll see why this equipment is so essential!

Mr Wears set up the school’s amateur radio club in 2005. It now has 14 members and meets in break times and lunchtimes throughout the school week. Club members all take an amateur radio licence course which includes some knowledge of how radio works as well as protocol “on air”.

“There aren’t many teenagers who can come back to class after the morning break and say they have made a friend in the Falkland islands or America!” added Mr Wears. “It’s also helped pupils to become aware of other cultures and to try out their language skills.”