19 Feb 2010

M0VOG AT FIREPOWER IS ALL FIRED UP

Firepower at Woolwich is all FIRED UP

School Holidays are one of the high spot of year for Children - well it is for School Children but it may be a time of trauma for parents looking for something to do, Grandpa can come along as well and enjoy playing with our "toys"

The Royal Artillery Museum – Firepower, located in the Old Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, close to the Market Square, buses, trains and the Ferry Crossing and with plenty of free parking, will be especially worth visiting this year.

There are the guns from the Crimea onwards including those which have provided the Victoria Cross metal for 150 years. Part of the display, earlier this year, is still on site. In addition to guns the museum has an active and working Amateur Radio Station which will be operational during normal opening hours.

In June 2006 at least 10,000 Radio Amateurs worldwide were contacted by the special Amateur Radio Station GB150VC operating from Firepower to commemorate the inauguration of the VC, but this autumn the radio station will be concentrating on letting young people take part. There will be live voice and Morse operation – you can come along and learn about Morse using the interactive computer programme or a special Morse key. The Radio Station staff will show anybody how to operate the radio.

The station is usually open to the public to view and to take part (yes you can actually transmit yourself, no matter what age!) both at weekends and during the week at school holiday times.

In addition, if you are an Ex Royal Artillery radio operator or a Radio Amateur then come on in and make yourself known. By the way the youngest person to operate so far as been 3 years old!

All radio instruction is free, but normal entry charges apply to the museum. On site there is an excellent Café providing snacks and lunches. If the weather is good why not have a picnic on the banks of the Thames – there is an excellent view from Central London to the estuary and into North of the River. Watch the planes take off from London City Airport or just gaze at the river traffic as it passes.

Additional interest is a free ride across the River Thames to North Woolwich (and back again!) and the adjoining Leisure Centre.
It’s all a day out within a few minutes walk of the centre of Woolwich.
If you would like to meet with a Regular Soldier, then come on in and they will also be there to greet you.
Thames Clippers now operate a service from Westminster Pier.

More details can be obtained from www.firepower.org.uk or www.firepowervintageradio.zoomshare.com