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 RAYNET RAYNET, The Radio Amateurs Emergency Network, is a British national voluntary communications service provided by radio amateurs. It was formed in 1953 and exists to supplement national communication channels in the event of an emergency. The idea of RAYNET came into being in the aftermath of the North Sea flood of 1953. Police authorities requested the assistance of local radio amateurs to direct and co-ordinate the rescue teams. Although illegal at the time the Home Office agreed to let the radio amateurs involved pass third party messages for the emergency services. The Home Office realised the need for an organisation which in times of emergency could effectively pass messages facilitating the rescue operations of the professional services who themselves lacked instant communications on any scale. The following year RA-EN was formed which later became RAYNET. Today RAYNET provide communications support for many public events nationally such as the London marathon, the Isle of Mann TT races, the Yorkshire Dales 100 mile run and many other smaller events. They are also available to assist with comms support in the event of disaster and have, in the past, provided support for the Lockerbie air crash, the Zeebrugge ferry sinking, the Severn tunnel incident, the Towyn floods, the Portland WWII bomb evacuation and the Sea Empress oil pollution disaster. Working with RAYNET is very rewarding and provides vital communications training and experience should you ever be called upon to provide communications support in an emergency situation. RAYNET is always looking for new members so if you have some spare time and would like to use the privelages your license grants in a constructive way to help your community then visit the RAYNET website for more information on the group and details about joining your local RAYNET group. To visit RAYNET's website  |
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