>>>> Is Now >>>> 
on 24/08/2017
How a Bristol amateur radio enthusiast saved a girl's life in remote Exmoor - Bristol Post
http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/how-bristol-amateur-radio-enthusiast-364577
The Bristol Post article and video by Tristan Cork describes the moment when Radio Amateur Mike Everett who lives in Bristol heard a distress call from another Radio Ham on Exmoor.
Mike Everett became an emergency call handler after hearing a request for help from a man camping on Exmoor. A 12-year-old girl in the camping party was suffering from a severe epileptic fit and needed immediate medical help. Where they were camping was so remote it had no mobile phone signal. But one of their party did have amateur radio equipment so sent out a distress call that was picked up by a relay transmitter on the Mendips, and then reached Mike’s house in Bristol.
He was the first to answer and, as other radio hams across the country listened in, called 999 and summoned an ambulance to Wimbleball Lake, Exmoor, just before 11pm on Friday night.
Initially, the emergency call handler was unaware Mike was actually calling on behalf of someone else 70 miles away, and it took a couple of minutes of toing and froing to twig that Mike was the go-between in a matter of life and death as he relayed the medical instructions to the operator at the campsite.
The call lasted more than ten minutes, with Mike passing on information about the 12-year-old girl, called May, from the other operator, Jon, to the ambulance control room. She suffers from a form of epilepsy known as ‘cluster seizures’, and needed medical help as soon as possible. Within three minutes, the emergency services were on their way to May - first a fire brigade's emergency responder arrived, and then an ambulance which had been some distance away on the M5.
“The ambulance got to the young girl, and she was taken to hospital. For a while I didn’t know how it all worked out, but I was able to track Jon down and find out that May was treated in hospital and recovered and is back enjoying her holiday again, which is great,” he added.
Jon and May's family said they wanted to thank the fire first responder Gary and the ambulance crew. "They were wonderful with May and the family, a credit to the profession," they said.
"I'm not sure how long Mike has been licensed as a radio ham, but I have to say how incredibly impressed I was with his professionalism," said Jon.
Well done Mike and Jon!
"When all else fails, amateur radio will still be there to help."
Important changes to Blue Badge parking in Plymouth.
Charges Apply from 1 April 2017
From Saturday 1 April 2017 parking charges will apply to Blue Badge holders within all Plymouth City Council car parks.
In pay and display car parks, Blue Badge holders will receive an additional hour of parking on top of any time purchased, so if you purchase two hours you will be allowed to park for three hours. If a Blue Badge holder pays for the maximum permitted time within a maximum stay car park (e.g. pay for three hours in Courtenay Street car park), the Blue Badge holder will still receive an additional hour free (so in the above example you could stay for four hours). Please be aware that you are still required to display a valid Blue Badge at all times.
No Changes to On-Street Parking
The above changes only affect pay and display car parks. There are no changes to on-street parking. A Blue Badge holder may still park within any on-street pay and display bay without payment and on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours (except where there is a ban on loading or unloading) with a badge and clock correctly displayed.
Any Questions?
Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ring 01752 304021 for further information.
New Unified Raynet Service up and running
Raynet Training Manuals 
As part of his role with the S.W. Raynet Associations Data Working Group, Ian G6BJJ has written a series of Training and explanation manuals for the use of Data modes by Raynet in the South West. Particular thanks go to the late Mike Sloan, GU3WHN (former RAYNET Controller Bailiwick of Guernsey), and Nick Johnson 2E0NRJ of Exeter Amateur Radio Society, for their assistance. (These are available to members through the SWRA website.)
In addition, following discussions at the recent SWRA Zone Controllers meeting over a lack of progress in the national scheme, Ian has prepared a set of new and updated Training manuals for use by all SWRA members. He was assisted in this by Chris Sheridan, M0AZQ from Wilts Raynet. The modules are ready and available now via the SW Raynet Association site.
