RAYNET PRESENTATION
RAYNET is an organisation close to Rochdale Rotary President John Cannell's heart and their Greater Manchester County Controller Roger Alexander(see photo) gave a comprehensive talk to Rochdale Rotary club recently
It is a national organisation of radio-amateur volunteers, who look to provide communications in times of emergency and disaster. Radio communication is an essential part of the organisation of large outdoor events such as the Rotary club’s Spring walk. Wherever people are at risk from the hazards of climate on mountains, rivers, lakes , or near to dangerous traffic Raynet has a part to play and can speed up rescue of injured people.
RAYNET’s first civil emergency activity was after the East Coast gales and flooding in 1953 when the police brought in the keen amateur radio enthusiasts to help with the disaster relief programme .
RAYNET members now cover the whole of the UK (Rotary President John covers East Lancs) for many kinds of Civil emergencies ,large Charity and other public events. It is invited by the Police, Ambulance and Fire service, Health Authority, Government or Local Authority dept. to help in communications. Flexibility of the RAYNET resources allows use of equipment in difficult terrains often from small cars or vans. An example is the Standedge tunnel where RAYNET is an integral part of the emergency plan for any potentially dangerous incident. Standard wireless and satellite communication equipment housed in large vehicles is useless in the mountainous terrain which surrounds the tunnel.
Examples of Charity events locally covered include the recent Rotary Ironman Competition at Bolton, MegaHike for MedEquip4Kids, Lions Boundary walk , Rochdale Rotary’s Spring walk over Brown Wardle .
Raynet is keen to get new members and anyone interested contact www.raynet-uk.net or email Roger on 2e0wwz@raynet-uk.net
(Photo shows Chris Moulding, Hugh Morgan Jones , Rotary Immediate Past President Elvet and Roger Alexander with some of their portable radio equipment)