The Potters Arf.Our biggest event of the year is the Potters Half marathon in June. The event starts early on, with briefing meetings with Natalie and Neil from Stoke City Council who are responsible for the whole event. everything from road closures, water stations, traffic management, entertainment, medical cover and of course communications.Our role in the half marathon is to provide emergency communications for the medical personnel in the event of an incident. We provide as many as 20 to 25 operators to cover the size of the event, with volunteers from Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands RAYNET groups also giving assistance. It can be a long day for the Control operators and the operator in the pick up vehicle, as they may be on site from 08:00 until the last person crosses the finish line, which is some time after the winner!
With an event of this size we often use a Talk Through Unit (Repeater), this allows the use of Handheld radios for the more "local" operators, while the more distant operators use equipment in their vehicles. The Talk Through Unit and its operator also have a long duty, as it is required to be operational until the finish of the event.
Most of our checkpoints are only operated for 2=3 hours, so for most it can be a relatively short duty.
As a supplementary role to First Aid communications we also provide a checkpoint by checkpoint update on the position of the first 3 male and the first 3 female runners by reporting back to our control and the start/finish area their positions, so this may be broadcast to the waiting spectators in Fountain Square, (In readiness to cheer).We also keep an eye on the last runners, not only so their location is known, but also to help with knowing if they are in a fit condition to finish, and to ensure that the course is clear of "lost" runners, or walkers.
All of our operators are volunteers and give up their free time to provide communications cover for a variety of events, which include, Marathons, Half Marathons, Cycle Events, Equine Events, Civic Events, Motor Vehicle Events and many others.
Thanks to Dave Arnold G8YQA our group controller for this article.
Professor Martin Harrison
G3USF
19th April 1930 - 13th March 2023
Silent Key
Martin was a very keen Radio Amateur of many years. He was instrumental in the setting up of Staffordshire RAYNET and the North Staffordshire RAYNET group (09/ST/105) and had been a member of RAYNET for 47 years. His real passion was for reading the GB2RS news, where he always had time for a natter after the news had finished.
Martin was actively involved (using his amateur radio skills) in the Mexico Earthquake Disaster in 1985. Sadly, his health did not allow much operation of late.
He will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.
Our condolences go to his wife and family.
A Few Memories
Martin had a great interest in Sporadic E and lectured on the subject. He also compiled a list of world-wide 10m beacons which I think is still available via the RSGB. He was County Controller when I was Group Controller and was very supportive especially when the Group was involved in the Colwich train crash. We regularly worked together on Monday evenings in the “dungeons” of one of the official 2m stations scattered around the county. I used to see him at the classical music concerts in Hanley and at the Victoria Theatre in Basford. He graduated at Manchester university and obtained his PhD at Oxford University. I believe he also studied in Paris and California.
On a personal note, Martin offered to search for suitable posts for a relative of mine in New Zealand who was keen to return to lecturing in UK
Chris Peel, G4NFL
Another key falls silent!
This truly is sad news, I had attended many events with Martin and considered him a friend, he was a real gentleman.
One of my fondest memories of Martin was not really radio related but when I started work at Keele University, as I already knew Martin through RAYNET, he had told me that once settled in should pop round to his office for a coffee or tea and a biscuit with him!
So, one day when I was working in the same building as Martin, I decided to track him down and take him up on his offer if he was available. When I found his office, I knocked on the door and was greeted by a very stern secretary who immediately informed me that I must book and appointment if I wished to be seen by Professor Harrison!
At this point Martin appeared and immediately said “Ah David how good of you to call on me, now ****** (I can’t remember her name exactly) can you get David and I some tea, thank you, David come and sit down tell me how you are finding Keele, it’s so wonderful to see you!”
The secretary scowled but scuttled off to get our drinks and so I sat and talked radio for an hour with a real legend!
Our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, he will be missed by all who knew him, I know I have missed his informative chats, both on air and in person. I discussed this with Clare this morning she too could remember what an outstanding and humble gentleman he was!
Dave Fower M0FAZ and Clare Fower M3HRN
After the massive shock yesterday, and it has taken some getting over, I have decided that this weekend’s gb2rs news, will be dedicated to my dear friend Martin as he started it on 2 mtrs and got me to be his reserve and at a later date became the main news reader when he became ill. He was very widely known all over the country for his work on beacons on 10mtrs and if he was to go to rallies, there was always a lot of people who would come over to talk to him he was a much-loved man.
I have to add to the comments that every time I see anybody in Doc Martins’ boots including my wife Linda as she got the idea from Martin as he said they were very comfortable. We will think of Martin.
Eddie Murphy G0VVT
I remember my first meeting at Hanley Fire Station after just joining North Staffs RAYNET. It was announced that there was a new member, and I was pointed out. When the meeting closed, Martin, then County Controller, was immediately out of his seat and around the lecture theatre to me and greeted me warmly and welcomed me to the group. He was like that with all new members, they were all made to feel welcome and part of the group. A kind and caring man.
Dave Dixon G7BPG
It has been so heart-warming to read the various e-mails from members/colleagues who remember RAYNET life and activities which have involved Martin G3USF (Professor Martin Harrison), and the way he will continue to be remembered as someone very highly qualified yet always so approachable.
I think I would call him ‘a gentle giant’ – anyway he is taller than me ☺.
My husband Ken, G1PAG (now SK) and I, like many of us, have ‘worked’ alongside Martin over many years e.g., during RAYNET Exercises on Cannock Chase, Emergency situations and also supporting Charity events.
Martin G3USF - an Amateur Radio Operator never to be forgotten.
Shelagh Tomkinson G1UYT
Sad news indeed I had never worked with him on any Raynet duties but
used to work him in the mornings when we were both on our way to work.
Allan Doe G4NJR
Very sad news.
I never met or had the good fortune to work with him. From what I have heard about him he was a wonderful man and will be big loss.
My condolences to all his family.
Ian King M0IDK
Martin was a keen Radio Amateur and founder of Staffordshire RAYNET, along with being a founder and active member of North Staffs RAYNET, he was also a keen and active reader of the RS news for many years.
He will be missed by many.
Dave Arnold G8YQA
That’s sad news.
PJ Rowley M1IRM
Feature
Looking back
Below is a picture of the the Trophy that a group of Staffordshire RAYNET members where awarded for their involvement in co-ordinating the rescue work following the Mexican earthquake in 1985,
Also a newspaper cutting from the Sentinel dated October 15th 2001.
