An afternoon in the sun looked like an ideal opportunity to work some station on 70 MHz. Bedsford park is the highest point around at the dizzy height of 100m ASL. I decided to take the 12m roach pole and Icom 7100 and the slim jim.
The portable trolly, battery and antenna.
After setting up the radio, powered by a 90Ah leisure battery my first visitor was the local parks patrol. They have recently been kitted out with a look alike “emergency” response vehicle, complete with blue lights and checkerboard markings. We had the usual chat that started along the lines of “Have you asked permission” … (oh this isnt going so well.) I didn’t quite work out why I need to ask permission to sit in the park with a fishing pole and Icom radio, it seemed like the local dog walkers with their poop machines or the kids throwing sticks into the conker tree was just fine but thats another story. He was quite amicable once I told him I was a licensed amateur radio operator, either that or he was just confused by the term.
Sitting on the park bench
Anyhow, after the passing of the parks police enforcement team. I got down to some operating, calling CQ on 70.450. It was great to hear so much activity, and I quickly worked 12 stations.
I managed to work.
M1COI – Henry- Belvedere
G3XFE – Chris – Eastbourne / Tunbridge wells
G8YNC – Peter – Alexandra Palace
G3VSJ – David – Hoddesdon
G4UAQ – Ian – Maidstone
The Slim Jim up 12m on the roach pole.
M0KSJ – Kevin – Chislehurst 
G3VPS – Peter – East Grinstead
G3RQZ – Peter – J6 M25 Godstone
G8NDL – Ken – Swanley
G8KQA – Roger – East Sussex
G7CRQ – Adam Wallington.
A very enjoyable afternoon, thanks to everyone I worked 73 M0TAZ
