Villa Contest Group
evolved from a necessary fusion of the remnants of both the Windbreakers & HADRABS Contest Group
and the Colchester Radio Amateurs’ VHF Group (G4CRA/P).
The fusion was eased by a duplication of membership between the groups of a number
of current members.
We are honoured to count many ‘retired’ and 'geographically challenged' members of
each of the previous incarnations as ‘Associates’ who make themselves
available from time to time to assist physically and technically.
In addition, it has been a consious decision NOT to delete references to Kris, G6PZT who died in the summer of 2000 after a short illness. A Founder Member of the Windbreakers Contest Group, 'PZT was the 'amplifier engineer extraordinare'; the only man seen walking TOWARDS the unprotected, operating, 100W 3cm TWTA at the foot of the mast when Walton, uncharacteristically, dumped a good proportion of the North Sea upon us in about 15 seconds, one October past.
After a period of alienation following the club relinquishing the G4CRA call in favour of G3CO, Villa CG are pleased to be re-associated with Colchester Radio Amateurs thus reaffirming the club's contesting presence in the V/U/SHF arena.
For the 2001 Contest season (If we get any with the F&M epidemic!:Ed) Villa CG have decided to Operate as
"Colchester Contest Group".
This change is to recognise the support that the club has provided to the Group these recent years and to go some way to promote the Colchester Club through VHF/UHF/SHF activity in the new Millennium.
It is hoped that the promotion will have a twofold benefit - attracting new members to the Club and providing a vehicle to both new and existing members with an interest in operating on the Higher Bands.