Mid Northants Raynet Group

In 1953 licensed radio amateurs voluntarily provided communications to assist the Local Authorities and Emergency Services during the East Coast Floods. In 1954 the Radio Society of Great Britain formed the Radio Amateurs Emergency Network (RAEN).

In the following years, agreement was reached with the licensing authorities to enable Radio Amateurs to pass messages for third parties in emergency situations. This was qualified as messages passed for "User Services" which today includes the British Red Cross. St John Ambulance. St Andrews Ambulance Association, Chief Emergency Planning Officers, or any United Kingdom Police Force, Fire or Ambulance Service, Health Authority, Government Department or Public Utility.

As late as 1976, RAEN had become known as RAENET which was later changed to RAYNET, the general name by which the organisation is known today. During the first two decades it grew into a nation-wide network, and its groups were used in numerous local authority exercises, by Emergency Planning Officers (EPO's). In emergencies when storms, floods, telephone equipment failures, search & rescue missions, etc. necessitate additional emergency communications, EPO's call on RAYNET.

Administration of RAYNET used to be carried out by the RSGB, who kept the membership records and produced identity cards for the registered groups and members. The RSGB also provided insurance cover for all RAYNET members, and appointed a Chairman to form a committee known as the National RAYNET' Committee (NRC).

In the early 1990's, the RSGB began to suffer some financial difficulties and it requested the NRC to organise RAYNET to stand alone as a self-funded body The RAYNET membership was then consulted and a separate democratic organisation was formed at the members request The NRC then became the Committee of Management (CoM), formed a company in order to achieve charitable status and is now registered as The Radio Amateurs' Emergency 'Network Limited (known as the NETWORK). The word Limited was removed from the title in November 1993 by special resolution in similar fashion to that of the RSGB.

Funding is obtained by subscription from the Network registered members. It is hoped that the achievement of Charitable Status, in 1995, will enable external sponsorship to aid the operation of RAYNET At the request of the membership the Network is also now affiliated to the RSGB.

Some groups have preferred to remain "independent" of the NETWORK and others have become affiliated to the RSGB but overall, this has not affected the operation of RAYNET as a whole. The Committee of Management, however, look forward to the time that all RAYNET groups will eventually merge with the co-operation of the RSGB.

Floods have played an important part in RAYNET's development over the years. Since 1953, the East Coast area has suffered floods on several more occasions. Many other parts of the UK have also been flooded, including Towyn, Llandudno. North Yorkshire and Strathclyde in all of which RAYNET were involved.

Air disasters have also made use of RAYNET services. Kegworth, Coventry and the recent Harrogate air-accident have all tested RAYNET'S communications expertise, but Lockerbie involved members in its biggest ever operation in terms of numbers. RAYNET providing at least 80 operators during each of the first ten days, with 130 on duty on the busier ones.

The organisation has also been involved in a fair share of maritime incidents, most recently Piper Alpha, Zeebrugge and the Shetland oil spill. Overseas work involves RAYNET providing disaster relief communications, usually for the Red cross, the Mexico earthquake being one notable example. News of relatives in overseas areas hit by disaster can be passed on quickly to families in this country.

RAYNET members give freely of their own time, not only to provide communications when needed, but also for the essential training sessions and exercises. Generally, they use their own radios and equipment but, some User Services now provide and install some equipment for their local groups.

A 24-hour national emergency contact point has recently been established for User Services on 0141-621-2121, although this should not replace the local contacts which have been built up over the past 40 years of RAYNET's existence.

The Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network can be contacted at its postal address of Hunters Moon Newton-le-Willows, BEDALE, North Yorkshire DLB 1SX, from where correspondence will be directed to the appropriate Zone, Group or member. Contact may be made with the Chairman, Ron Cowan GM4SRL, on telephone 0141-620-1000.

David G C Hicks. G6IFA

October 1996