[UK-CONTEST] Vanity calls- revisited

[Adrian Rees]

Spot on, Clive, I couldn't agree more. 
 
FWIW, Wrexham ARS are having the local RSGB Regional Manager around for a "Any Questions" type session. The manager is going to get the questions well in advance, so he can ask the appropriate people at HQ for comments and answers. Should be an interesting evening,  as one of the questions I will be asking is about vanity calls. 
 
I also support your comments about pussy footing around the delicate sensibilities of the politically correct.
 
I for one would like a short vanity call, if for nothing else, to use during contests. 
 
73 
 
Adrian MW1LCR

________________________________

From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com on behalf of Clive Whelan
Sent: Thu 24/07/2008 13:13
To: uk-contest at contesting.com
Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Vanity calls- revisited



I recently became aware of the so called G5UM callbook ( thanks to
Geoff/G4AFJ for the heads-up, and to the local Highfields club for
publishing it to the web). This in itself is a fascinating historical
document, and made me realise that I was by no means aware of all the
local two letter calls issued, since on reflection, a finite number were
middle aged before the war, and were sadly SK by the time I ever
operated a receiver ( 1958).

Germane to the issue of vanity calls is the fact- not previously known
to me- that these calls were regularly re-issued, presumably when the
original holder went SK or simply relinquished the call. Indeed Jack Hum
was the second holder of  G5UM, and purely by casual reading it may be
seen that some calls were issued three times to different people! So,
the postwar practice of issuing calls strictly in sequence ( until
relatively recently), and not re-issuing them save in exceptional
circumstances, was by no means the norm in that era. It is not clear to
me what courtesy was offered to the families of the original holder
before re-issue of a call, but my best guess is little or none. There
surely can be no bar to reissuing two letter calls- either legally or
ethically- since the original holders must have been appraised of the
practice of re-issue as described.

There were a total of over 4,000 two letter calls available originally,
and making allowance for those still QRV, possibly 3,500 are notionally
available for reissue. We know I think, that even amongst contesters, a
majority would probably choose the status quo, and therefore amongst the
population as a whole the number favouring a vanity call would be a
substantial minority. Furthermore, as I understand it, an expressed
reluctance in Ofcom in this world of political correctness is to the
issue of vanity calls to a subset of the current amateur population. The
aforementioned two letter calls could clearly not be issued to current
Mx3, and 2x0 licensees, since they carry privileges not consistent with
their current licences. May I be permitted a "Norman Tebbit" moment and
suggest that those who do want a vanity call should get on their bikes
and obtain a licence appropriate thereto!

We all know, I think, that bureaucrats will always stand in the way of
progress, if for no other reason than that they seek an easy life, and I
feel sure that this is also the case in Ofcom. Whilst I sympathise with
those in RSGB who have to deal with these faceless people, it is i.m.o.
their responsibility  to maintain the pressure upon them  to  achieve
our reasonable aspirations. Vanity calls is one small part of these
aspirations of course.


73


Clive
GW3NJW

P.S. I can see one two letter call that was never actually issued (
there was in fact a number thereof) which I'd love to have. Am I going
to tell you  what that is? You bet I'm not ;-)
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