The Radio Amateurs Emergency Network - RAYNET was established in 1953 after the east coast floods when an amateur station replaced a flooded marine coast station for four days. It's function was defined as the provision of communications in support of certain emergency services in times of disaster.

Some years later the terms of the Amateur Radio Licence were modified to permit RAYNET to handle "third party" messages for Police, Fire, Ambulance, Coast Guard and certain local authority organizations, in particular County Emergency Planning during emergencies and public events.

The Pembrokeshire Group has been called out by the authorities on a number of occasions including winter snow fall (1978) and 999 system failure (1996) the 1987 floods and three oil pollution events involving beach reconnaissance plus the "Sea Empress" spill in 1996 when 52 amateurs worked for three weeks on a radio net covering the beach clean-up

Public events for which radio safety cover has been provided after authorization by the appropriate authority include horse trials, carriage driving competitions, long boat and dinghy races, triathlon and athletic events, sponsored walks and cycle rides, the Tall Ships Race, 1991 (50 stations in operation along the shores of Milford Haven for the Parade of Sail), Narberth carnival and Fire Brigade rallies.

On one occasion an international link was set up to obtain reassuring information for a local councillor whose daughter was in Mexico during a severe earthquake.

In addition to these "live" events, the Group has been involved in large scale training exercises and demonstrations for simulated oil pollution, air crash and area evacuation disasters.

The Group has 25 registered members and is fortunate to enjoy the active cooperation of the neighbouring north Dyfed (Aberwystwth) RAYNET and Carmarthen Amateur Radio Society Emergency Team

HISTORY RAYNET

Tenby Harbour during the Sea Empress oil spill

The RAYNET control at

the mock sinking of t

the Irish ferry

Sid GW0UQH at

St. Ann’s Head Lighthouse

 

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