INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE/LIGHTSHIP
WEEKEND
It all started just over 10 years ago during
a wet wintry evening when two members, John GM4OOU and Mike GM4SUC, after
a club meeting were talking about creating an event in the summer when
club members could get out on a sunny weekend and play radio. Various
themes were considered; ports, airports, historic Scotland sites, the
Firths of Scotland, castles etc. but it was finally decided that
lighthouses of Scotland would be ideal.
Following research it was discovered that the
lighthouses of Scotland were controlled by the Northern Lighthouse Board in Edinburgh who were not only responsible for the lighthouses of
Scotland, but also around the Isle of Man. Approval was sought and
obtained from the Northern Lighthouse Board to establish amateur radio
stations adjacent to their property. In February an invitation was sent to
all Scottish clubs and the Isle of Man club to join in the fun of a
weekend, to be called the Northern Lighthouse Activity Weekend, by
establishing an amateur radio station at a lighthouse during the third
weekend in August. This first year's event saw 11 stations established at
lighthouses, operating primarily on the HF bands, with each station making
approximately 750 QSOs over the weekend. 
Ayr Amateur Radio Group using the callsign
GB2LT operated from Turnberry Lighthouse in South West Scotland.
The following year the Scottish clubs were involved in a weekend activity
with the theme of Scottish Firths (river estuaries), so two years elapsed
before the next Northern Lighthouse Activity Weekend. During this period
Anne-Grete OZ3AE enquired through a letter to Practical Wireless if there
was any lighthouse activity on amateur radio. Following discussions with
her it was decided that Danish stations could join in the fun of the
weekend. Quickly Germany, South Africa and France asked to join, so the
name of weekend was changed to The International Lighthouse/Lightship
Weekend. It was at this time that John, GM4OOU, due to pressure of work,
had to cease his connections with the event.
The weekend became an annual event taking place over the third weekend in
August. The event has slowly grown in popularity and in 1999 there were
204 lighthouse/lightship stations in 36 countries until 2004 when 370
stations in 52 countries took part. Full statistics and rules for
participation can be found at ILLW website
The International Lighthouse
Day now coincides with the Sunday
of the weekend.
The next I.L.L.W. will take place from 0001
UTC on Saturday 20 August until 2359 UTC on Sunday 21 August 2005. So come
and join us in the fun of the weekend, the more the merrier.
International
Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend Guidelines
|