Following the successful rally yesterday, members of EMERG have unanimously agreed to continue to build on previous years events and hold our second rally this year.

EMERG are pleased to announce that the next East Midlands Ham and Electronics Rally will be held on Saturday the 12th September 2026, again at the Beckingham Village Hall (DN10 4FX).

Members of Emerg were grateful to have the opportunity to honor and remember both the members of 460 Squadron RAAF and all those that fell during the war. As well as laying a number of wreathes the group put on a special event station, making 115 contacts with the help of George (the base cat) and John our caterer and Florist.

The club was delighted to welcome so many visitors to our recent rally! A special thanks to the traders who helped to make the day such a success.

Again as seen in the gallery that group members have a life outside of Radio, Andrew M0OOO, Shannon M3ZSW and our club mascot Hopper spent the day on the Derbyshire high peaks at Bleaklow Summit at some 2,000 feet above sea level and just south of the A628 Woodhead Pass. Access is not difficult but some preparation and experience is required if like these three you want to visit the crash site of the USAF Boeing RB-29A Superfortress 44–61999, of the 16th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron at Higher Shelf Stones.

As Wikipedia puts it “Much of the main plateau of Bleaklow is a boggy peat moorland, seamed by ‘groughs’ (pronounced ‘gruffs’, water-eroded channels in the peat) and lacking strong changes in elevation – in poor conditions its traverse is probably the most navigationally challenging in the Peak District.”

The 460 Squadron RAAF Website describes events at Binbrook following VJ day as follows:

“Most of you would be aware that following the end of hostilities in Europe, the Squadron moved on the East Kirkby for “Tiger Force” training. Perhaps what we did not know was that 12 Squadron moved to Binbrook in September 1945 (from RAF Station Wickenby),

The Editor of the Wickenby Register Newsletter had the following to say about the transfer:

Binbrook - 1945

After saying appropriate good-byes to Wickenby we flew in formation to Binbrook on a beautiful September day - a shakedown trip for the new No. 12 Squadron on its first post war peacetime stint, Nine Lancs, a new C/O. (Wing. Cdr. Stafford Pollein Coulson, DSO, DFC) and a new Flight Commander (Sqdn. Ldr. ‘Paddy’ Flynn).

The Station was deserted and empty except for an enormous amount of junk left behind by No. 460 Squadron - bikes by the dozen, old cars on every corner. Dustbins full of uniforms and silent radios on every shelf and window ledge. Needless to say, quite a lot of it was successfully salvaged. But there was something else.

Not exactly a ghostly feeling but certainly a noticeable tension, as if the operational tradition of the place, established with such valour and at such cost by the Australians, was tangibly at odds with we ‘invaders’.

In due course we explored this grand and lordly place. Behind the Mess (and built onto it with considerable skill) was the ‘Village Inn’. The interior of this ‘encroachment’, as the Clerk of Works called it, was beautifully done out in brickwork and old oak timbers with oak furniture to suit. It had a magnificent oak bar opposite which was a fireplace fit to grade any Tudor mansion. Poignant to recall now, in pride of place in the corner of the bar stood a splendid oak chair into the back of which was carved the name of Group Captain Hughie Edwards, V.C.

In the Control Tower the Aussies had left another legacy. The walls of the Flying Control room had been done out in a pale blue colour. The rear and side walls bore a frieze of roman lettering about eight inches high in gold - again expertly done.”

We’re looking forward to seeing traders and visitors at our rally in a few days time at Beckingham Village Hall, Beckingham, near Gainsborough!

The following exhibitors (listed in alphabetical order) have indicated in advance that they will be present:

• Alan Clegg
• Chris and Kim Woodward
• Dave Longstaff
• Ian Whittaker
• ITregeneration
• Ludatronics
• MA Components
• Mickey’s Electronics
• Peter Johnson
• Phil Johnson
• Richard Crossley
• Len Thompson
• TK Electronics

There will also be an RSGB stand, manned by Bob Hambly, RR13, and a Lincolnshire RAYNET stand.

We know from experience that others will appear on the day, and have made appropriate arrangements to accommodate them!

Although this is first and foremost a radio and electronics event, don’t forget that it is possible to camp on site the night before the rally, should you be making a long journey to reach us, as some club members intend to camp on site overnight.