Club BBQ 2026 – Our Biggest and Best Yet

As our Club continues to expand in membership, activity, experience and socials, it was no surprise that our Summer BBQ was our biggest to date, with over 50 members, partners and families getting together!

The long, hot summer of 2026 provided yet another record-breaking hot day and evening, complete with clear skies, a gentle breeze and plenty of sunshine.

Our Club Treasurer, Martin (2E0XBZ) and his wife Shirley were once again our wonderful hosts for the evening. Their garden provided the ideal location for a BBQ, comfortably seating everyone who attended. With multiple gazebos, tables, and plenty of chairs, the garden was full to capacity thanks to the fantastic turnout.

Our annual social events are always special occasions because so many partners and family members can join us. It gives us a chance to catch up on non-radio chat (well, mostly non-radio!), extending our warm community and friendships across the whole club family.

To beat the heat, the club provided a massive supply of chilled soft drinks, Pimm’s, and beer. A special highlight this year was two barrels of delicious home-brewed beer and cider, kindly crafted by our very own Lee (G0RSZ).

Martin and Shirley’s son, Steven, stepped up as our master BBQ Chef for the evening, continuously cooking up amazing burgers, chicken and sausages through a very warm night.

Martin even managed to arrange our BBQ on the evening of a 90% solar eclipse! This added an extra touch of excitement to the gathering, along with a fantastic view of the eclipse from the front garden.

Something new for this year was an after-dinner raffle featuring a wide range of radio-related prizes donated by our members. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets, the funds raised directly helped cover the costs of running the event.

We wrapped up the feast with delicious puddings, cakes, cheeses, and ice creams as the temperature finally cooled down to a pleasant 24°C, giving us plenty of time to relax and chat outdoors in the garden.

It was a truly enjoyable evening with great friends, fantastic hosts, and delicious food and drink. A big thank you to everyone who brought along homemade dishes, desserts, cheeses and beverages, as well as those who donated to our raffle. Finally, a very special thanks goes to Martin, Shirley, and Steven for hosting such a wonderful get-together at their home!