The History of GJ3DVC

In September 1966 the late Jack Rushton GC2JZ placed an advertisement in the Jersey Evening Post asking Radio Amateurs and Short Wave Listeners interested in forming a radio club to meet at Les Quenevais School to discuss the matter.

At the initial meeting a group of licensed amateurs and short wave listeners from many different gathered. They included radio technicians, electricians, carpenters; hoteliers, telephone engineers, gas engineers, a doctor, a plumber, a baker, a policeman, a milkman, a butcher, aircraft engineers, a marine signaller and a couple of students.

After discussion the club, which was subsequently, allocated the call sign GC3DVC was formed. (GC was the prefix for the Channel Islands until January 1977 when the Jersey prefix became GJ and Guernsey and her dependents became GU).

Approximately one year later premises were obtained at Fort Regent, which in those days was derelict. In addition to a coal yard, there was a scrap-iron  yard, a signal post (which is still there today) and a number of clubs such as us.  Our premises comprised three large rooms plus a small room though no toilet facilities were available. This was the first occasion that we had enjoyed premises where we were able to erect aerials and run a transmitting station. We spent two happy years at the fort but had to move due to its' redevelopment.

By this time quite a number of short wave listeners had taken their examination and become licensed radio amateurs. The exam in those days comprised two written papers on theory and licensing conditions. It was necessary to pass a Morse test before a licence was granted.

The Club membership was about 30 at the time.

After an exhausting search in 1970 we were able to rent Le Hocq Martello Tower, which was in a derelict state, for £20 per annum on a nine-year lease, from the Parish of St. Clement. Naturally there was much work needing to be done. Expert knowledge of building was required and obtained from the membership. Two floors and a roof had to be constructed in the empty shell of the Tower. The President at the time, Archie Cole GJ3GS -  was well known through out Island and was a popular President - paid tribute on the opening day to two stalwarts who had undertaken much of the work. They were Jack Walden (SWL) and Don Le Brocq GJ4YCR.

A number of radio projects were undertaken at the club and these included getting to know our French neighbours and helping our Guernsey colleagues. The Lions Club of South America decided to initiate a worldwide contest for Lions Clubs, known as Hunting Lions on the Air. In conjunction with the Lions Club of Jersey, the club runs a contest each year on the second weekend of January. In the first three years Jersey won each time - in 1978, 1979, 1980 and were placed second and third before winning again in 1982, 1983, 1984. This was largely due to the knowledge of contest working and propagation experience of Bert Chater GJ2LU.

Whilst the Tower was a good headquarters it had a number of drawbacks, it was rather small and more importantly it was very difficult to erect aerials. Nevertheless the Club remained at Le Hocq for 20 years.

In late 1989 the then President Ken Kirk-Bayley GJ0KKB found alternative premises at the German Signal Station at La Moye.

Page last ammended: 20-11-2004