Scouts from Luton’s Icknield District became masters of the airwaves during three days of hectic activity as they took part in the 51^st Jamboree on the air. Helped by radio hams Brendan Owen, Ray Aldous and Nick Jarman, the youngsters passed messages to fellow Scouts from all over the world.

Searching the short wave radio bands produced old fashioned squeaks and whistles but once on station, signals were surprisingly clear. The team, with a radio linked to a garden aerial, was set up in Brendan’s dining room and they found 58 other stations during the weekend. These ranged from one in nearby Dunstable to remote links in Italy, Spain, Germany, Romania and Kazakstan. For a brief session they spoke with contacts in Pittsburgh, USA.

One of their regular links was with a 230-strong technology Scout camp south of Manchester. Another was a remote station on the Faroe Islands off the coast of Scotland. And they even spoke with Sea Scouts sailing a yacht in the English Channel near Plymouth.

Asher Hussain (11), one of the trainee radio hams said, “I joined Blenheim Scout Troop earlier this year and this is my first Jamboree on the air. I had no idea what to expect. We were all trained to use the phonetic alphabet when we spelt out our names and I sent messages to other Scouts around the UK.”

Ray Aldous, a veteran broadcaster, said, “Asher was an excellent radio ham. He didn’t mumble and his messages were very easy to understand. One of his contacts complimented him on the clarity of his voice. “

For Brendan, Ray and Nick this event allows them to train Scouts for their Communication Badge or their Global Challenge Award. It is something they have been doing since 1974 when they set up their first radio station at the Bromham camp site near Bedford.

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