Events Diary
Events Diary
Rallies and events listed here are those considered to be of particular interest to VMARS members
NOTE:All events listed may be subject to cancellation or change. Please check before attending
Anyone planning to travel to 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.
| Date | Event | Location | Contact/Link | Notes |
| 2024 | VMARS 25th anniversary year |  | 25 years since the formation of VMARS in May 1999 at Station X, Bletchley Park | |
| Saturday 20th January 2024 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Zoom online auction | Please check the members News Sheet for the full auction catalogue and Zoom access details | Available for VMARS members only |
| Sunday 4th February 2024 | Canvey Rally 10:00 – 15:00 | Cornelius Vermuyden School Dinant Avenue Canvey Island Essex SS8 9QS | https://www.essexham.co.uk/events/canvey-rally | VMARS stand at this rally |
| Sunday 24th March 2024 | Ripon Rally 10:00 – 15:00 | New venue: Great Ouseburn Village Hall, Lightmire Ln, Great Ouseburn, York YO26 9RL | Doors open 10:00 Traders from 7am to 9.30am at the latest, tables £10 each. a few minutes from the A1. Lots of adjacent parking available Hot drinks and bacon butties will be available | https://www.g4sjm.co.uk/contact-us/ |
| Sunday 21st April 2024 | NARSA’s Blackpool Rally | Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre, Blackpool FY2 9AA | http://www.narsa.org.uk | VMARS stand at this rally |
| Saturday 9th March 2024 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Face to face auction at Andoversford Village Hall Gloucestershire | Please check News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public. VMARS members & their invited guests only |
| Sunday 10th March 2024 | Hack Green hangar sale of Militaria and Communications equipment | Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker, French Lane, Hack Green, Nantwich, CW5 8AL. | Doors open 10:00am, tea coffee and snacks available. Traders and enquiries please contact Rodney 01270-262610 or e-mail coldwar@hackgreen.co.uk website https://hackgreen.co.uk | |
| Sunday 5th May 2024 | Thorpe Camp Hamfest Rally 2024 | 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 12th May 2024 | Retrotech UKFormerly known as National Vintage Communications Rally | Sports Connexion Leamington Road, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, CV8 3FL | https://www.retrotechuk.com/ | Vendors of all types of vintage radio and electronic equipment |
| Saturday 18th May 2024 | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Face to face auction at Baginton Village Hall Warwickshire | Lunch provided free to members who pre-orderPlease check News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public. VMARS members & their invited guests only |
| Saturday – Sunday 15th 16th June 2024 | Wartime in the Vale | Ashdown Farm Badsey Nr. Evesham WR11 7EN | https://ashdowncamp.com/ | VMARS stand at this rally |
Sunday 16th June 2024 | 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 23rd June 2024 | 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.On-site catering. Disabled facilities. |
Sunday 30th June 2024 | Dunstable Downs Amateur Radio Car Boot Sale | Stockwood Park, Luton, Beds. LU1 4BQ | 09:00/Traders 07:30 http://www.ddrcbootsale.org | NEW DATE – SAME VENUE Due to the Radio 1 Big Weekend being held on the bank holiday weekend on ‘our’ Stockwood Park site, at the end of May and the associated pre event setup taking most of May we have had to move our event to the 30th June. Rally timing for 2025 will be back in May. |
| Friday 5th July – Sunday 7th July 2024 | Capel Military Show | Aldhurst Farm Temple Lane Capel Surrey | https://www.capelshow.co.uk/ | Displays and sales stands |
Sunday 14th July 2024 | 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, |
| Sunday 28th July 2024 | Wiltshire Radio Summer Rally Sunday | Kington Langley Village Hall, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. Just off Junction 17 of the M4. | Chairman@Chippenhamradio.clubOpens 9am, closes 1pm. | Admission £3Car boot: car-size pitch £10, van size pitch £15., indoor tables £10. |
| Friday 9th – Sunday 11th August 2024 | Yorkshire Wartime Experience | Hunsworth Lane Hunsworth Nr. Bradford BD4 6RN | https://www.yorkshirewartime.co.uk | Displays and sales stands |
| Sunday 11th August 2024 | 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 |
| Saturday TBA | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Baginton Village Hall | Lunch provided free to members who pre-orderPlease check News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public. VMARS members & their guests |
| Sunday 25th August 2024 | Milton Keynes Amateur Radio Society | Heron’s Lodge Guide Activity Centre, Bradwell Road,Loughton Lodge,MK8 9AA | www.mkars.org.uk | |
| Saturday 7th September 2024 | VMARS 25th Annual General Meeting | Royal Air Force Cosford | Additional details will be posted in the News section on this site when available. Information will also be published in VMARS monthly News Sheet | VMARS Members & families |
| Sunday 1st September 2024 | Telford Ham Fest | Harper Adams University Campus TF10 8NB | Talk in GB4THF What Three Words:husky.knees.tougher | Amateur radio rally and boot sale |
| Friday 27th – Saturday 28th September | The National Hamfest | Newark Showground | http://www.nationalhamfest.org.uk | VMARS stands at this eventCHECK DATESStatic display and VMARS information stand in the hall and possibly a working vintage station in the grounds |
| Date TBA | VMARS Vintage & Military equipment auction | Baginton Village Hall | Lunch provided free to members who pre-orderPlease check News Sheet for full details and auction catalogue | Not open to the public. VMARS members & their guests |