Getting back in the saddle...

I'd been 'away' from amateur radio for a while - initially due to leaving home and going into a job with ridiculous hours and very little pay. I had neither the time nor money to be an Amateur for some time, and once I'd let my licence lapse, I figured it'd be the devil's own job to get it back.

Now having 3 good jobs rather than 1 awful one, my hours are less and my pay-cheques more. :-) With my father (M1APT) having passed away in August, and his kit now being more readily available - it seemed as good a time as any to get back into the hobby. The club (Southdown Amateur Radio Society) had given myself and my family great support following my father's death, and having gone to a group meeting to say hello and thank you - I found myself nominated to be on the committee! After a few moments thought, I realised that it would enable me to give something back to the club which had been so supportive right back from my being a young amateur (I achieved my Novice licence at the age of 10, and my M1 at 13).

I phoned the RSGB on Monday and asked what I had to do to get my licence reinstated. They were very helpful and referred me to Ofcom - who were even more helpful! All I had to do was give them my name and address over the phone (I gave them my work address) and they would send the "new licence" form out to me the same day. I would have to fill it in as much as I could, enclose a one-off £20 payment, a photocopy of something which proved I had my callsign (eg. photocopy of a callbook page) and send it all off to them, after which they would be able to reinstate my licence, for life, within a week of posting!

Sadly, the adverse weather has resulted in the post being held up - so I have not yet received the form. It seems however, that getting my licence back is going to be easier than I had dared to hope! I'd advise any amateurs who's licences had lapsed back when you had to renew them every year, to get their callsigns back as it involves so little effort and cost to do so.