I have been aware of amateur radio for some years now.  In fact, I recall back in the 90’s I found a CD with amateur radio goodies on it at a computer fair, and then later on again when a work colleague who was a keen amateur gave me another CD packed with SPART magazines.  I remember the feeling of excitement that would run through me as I viewed all the different designs and radio projects.
 

For some reasons, I think mainly time and the fact that I had to make a living to support my young family, I never got started.  Also as my electronic theory skills were not as strong as my electrical installation theory skills, I was never confident enough to try things and move this side of my engineering experience forward.  I had no-one to discuss things with.
 

Happily that has all changed.  My XYL and I have raised our family and I now have a little more time to myself.  I am now a proud grandfather with a very intelligent granddaughter and I also have the added bonus of having a young nephew whom is also very bright.  Both of them are dear to me and I try to keep them close, so hopefully some of what I do may rub off on them and they too may develop an interest for this fascinating hobby.
 

So, what finally got me to make the effort and look for a club was when I found that my electronics was too weak for me to progress with my electronic studies.
I have been fortunate enough to have worked in the mobile phone industry commissioning base-stations and Node-B’s, so I understand a bit about RF.  But it was not until I joined Silverthorn Radio Club based in Chingford and officially became a member back in November 2010, that I realised how much input amateur radio had with the job I was doing and also how similar certain aspects of the job and hobby were.