Events Diary
Anyone planning to travel to the events listed below is strongly advised to check that it is to take place as shown – past events are known to have been changed/cancelled, and the organisers do not always let us know. This information is provided in good faith and to help our members. VMARS cannot guarantee its accuracy.
Rallies and events listed here are those considered to be of particular interest to VMARS members. Please contact webeditor@vmars.org to add an event that you think suitable for this diary or to advise corrections or changes.
| Date | Event | Location | Contact/Link | Notes |
| 2025 | VMARS 26th anniversary year |  | 26 years since the formation of VMARS in May 1999 at Station X, Bletchley Park | Over 600 members and growing. Click here to join VMARS |
| February 2025 | Canvey Rally Cancelled | The Canvey Rally has been cancelled this year due to the venue availability withdrawing | https://www.essexham.co.uk/events/canvey-rally | |
| Saturday 22nd February 2025 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Village Hall Crossfields, Andoversford, Gloucestershire GL54 4LE | Please check the VMARS News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public. VMARS members & their guests only |
| Sunday 16th March 2025 | Ripon and District Amateur Radio Society Rally | Great Ouseburn Village Hall, Lightmire Lane, Great Ouseburn, York YO26 9RL. | For enquiries or to book one or more tables, please email: radars.rally@gmail.com | Doors open for traders at 7.30am and to the public at 10am (admission £3). Free parking, refreshments and bacon butties available. |
| Sunday 23rd March 2025 | British Vintage Wireless Society BVWS Biggleswade Swapmeet | The Weatherly Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SG18 8JH | Contact Jeremy Owen G8MLK 01344 842275 secretary@bvws.org.uk for details and bookings | Doors Open 9:30am £8 All welcome Free Parking Refreshments |
| Sunday 13th April 2025 | NARSA’s Blackpool Rally | Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA | Details from Dave, M0OBW 01270 761 608, 07720 656542, dwilson@btinternet.com, www.narsa.org.uk | VMARS stand at this rally |
| Sunday 27th April 2025 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Auction Baginton Village Hall Warwickshire | Lunch provided free to members who pre-order Please check News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public. VMARS members & their guests |
| Sunday 27th April 2025 | Cambridge Repeater Group Rally | Foxton Village Hall, Hardman Road, Foxton, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB22 6RN. | Contact Lawrence, M0LCM: 07941-972724, rally2025@cambridgerepeaters.net www.cambridgerepeaters.net for details and bookings. | The doors open at 9.30am (7.30am for traders) and the entrance fee will be £4. |
| Sunday 11th May 2025 | Retrotech | Sports Connexion Leamington Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL | https://www.retrotechuk.com/ | Vendors of all types of vintage radio and electronic equipment 10:30am- – 4:00pm |
| May 2025 TBA | Thorpe Camp Hamfest Rally 2025 | Thorpe Camp visitor Centre, Tattershall Thorpe, Lincs. LN4 4PL | 7am arrival for Traders (please do not arrive earlier than this time), 9am arrival for buyers. | |
| Sunday 25th May 2025 Date to be confirmed | Dunstable Downs Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale | Stockwood Park, Luton, Beds. LU1 4BQ | https://dunstabledownsradioclub.org/bootsale/visitors | Open at 09:00 for visitors Car parking £4 |
| Saturday – Sunday 21st – 22nd June 2025 | Wartime in the Vale | Ashdown Farm Badsey Nr. Evesham WR11 7EN | https://ashdowncamp.com/ | VMARS stand at this rally |
June 2025 TBA | East Suffolk Wireless Revival – Ipswich Radio Rally | Kirton Recreation Ground, Back Road, Kirton, Suffolk, IP10 0PW. Just off the A14 | Doors open at 9.30am and the entry fee for visitors is £3. The venue has free car parking. Trade tables are from £10.Contact Kevin G8MXV, 07710 046 846 or visit www.eswr.org.uk | VMARS stand at this rally There will be trade stands, a car boot sale, a bring and buy, special interest groups, GB4SWR HF station and an RSGB bookstall. Catering is available on site. |
| Sunday 6th July 2025 | Newbury Radio Rally | Newbury Showground – J13 off M4 RG18-9QZ | Advance bookings (with discount) can be made via www.nadars.org.uk/rally.asp | Open to sellers at 8am and visitors at 9am. Lots of free parking. Entry is £3* visitor, £15* sellers pitch.(*2024) On-site catering. Disabled facilities. |
| FRIDAY 4TH, SATURDAY 5TH & SUNDAY 6TH JULY 2025 | Capel Military Show | Aldhurst Farm Temple Lane Capel Surrey | https://www.capelmilitaryshow.com/ | Displays and sales stands |
July 2025 TBA | McMichael Radio Rally & Boot Sale | Reading Rugby Club, Sonning Lane, Sonning-on-Thames, W.Berks. RG4 6ST. | 09:30 http://www.mcmichaelrally.org.uk | Email general enquiries to rally@radarc.org, traders enquiries to traders@radarc.org, telephone Colin Ashley on 07706 512 505, |
| Monday 21st July 2025 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Auction Baginton Village Hall Warwickshire | Lunch provided free to members who pre-order Please check News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public. VMARS members & their guests |
| July 2025 TBA | Wiltshire Radio Summer Rally Sunday | Kington Langley Village Hall, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. Just off Junction 17 of the M4. | Chairman@Chippenhamradio.club Opens 9am, closes 1pm. | Admission £3Car boot: car-size pitch £10, van size pitch £15., indoor tables £10. |
| 8th – 10th AUGUST 2025 | Yorkshire Wartime Experience | Hunsworth Lane Hunsworth Nr. Bradford BD4 6RN | https://www.yorkshirewartime.co.uk | Displays and sales stands |
| Sunday 10th August 2025 | Flight Refuelling ARS Hamfest | Cobham Sports & Social Club Ground, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 3DA | 10:00 http://www.frars.co.uk | Amateur radio rally & boot sale |
| August 2025 TBA | Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society | Heron’s Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road,Loughton Lodge,MK8 9AA | www.mkars.org.uk | |
| September 2025 Date to be advised | VMARS 26th Annual General Meeting | Location to be advised | VMARS Members & families | |
| Sunday September 2025 TBA | Telford Ham Fest | Harper Adams University Campus TF10 8NB | Talk in GB4THF What Three Words:husky.knees.tougher | Amateur radio rally and boot sale |
| Sunday 14th Sept 2025 | British Vintage Wireless Society BVWS Biggleswade Swapmeet | The Weatherly Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire SG18 8JH | Contact Jeremy Owen G8MLK 01344 842275 secretary@bvws.org.uk for details and bookings | Doors Open 9:30am £8 All welcome Free Parking Refreshments |
| September 2025 TBA | The National Hamfest | Newark Showground | http://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk | VMARS stands at this event. Static display and VMARS information stand in the hall and possibly a working vintage station in the grounds |
| Saturday 20th September 2025 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Baginton Village Hall | Lunch provided free to members who pre-order Please check the News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public. VMARS members & their guests |
| Saturday 1st November 2025 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Baginton Village Hall Warwickshire | Lunch provided free to members who pre-order Please check the News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public. VMARS members & their guests |