Members of Pembrokeshire RAYNET (the emergency arm of amateur radio), recently took part in a lighthouses/lightships on the air weekend by operating from St. Ann's Head lighthouse.

Members from all over Pembrokeshire were invited to take part in this annual worldwide contest. This year saw a big increase in lighthouses taking part, with 291 registered. However, there were a lot more than that on the air.

Members of the group were kept busy all weekend making contact with lighthouses as far apart as Africa, North and South America, Asia and Europe, but the one contact that they were pleased to make was with Robin Island in South Africa, the island on which Nelson Mandela was held prisoner.

Pembrokeshire RAYNET is made up of radio amateurs and radio groups from all over the county, such as Cleddau Amateur Radio Society and the Tenby Radio Repeater Group.

Amateur radio has been going through a period of hard times with an ever-shrinking membership. However, since the introduction of the new foundation licence on January 1, membership has started to grow. The foundation licence is a quick and fun way to start in amateur radio with local instruction and exams. Details can be obtained from John, tel. 01834 842238 .