CQWW 2025 – Behind the Airwaves at Humber Fortress ARC
CQWW 2025 – M6C Behind the Airwaves at Humber Fortress ARC
It’s that time of year again at Humber Fortress Amateur Radio Club — the annual CQ World Wide contest weekend callsign M6C, when our peaceful site transforms into a buzzing hive of radio, coax, and caffeine.
Towers rise, antennas stretch across the field, operators settle in for marathon shifts, and the sound of “CQ Contest!” fills the air.
But as every seasoned op knows, contests aren’t just won with radios — they’re powered by food, teamwork, and a lot of tea.
And that’s where our legendary crew comes in.
Meet the Heroes of the Kitchen
Sue M6URG— our Club Secretary and the CQ Worldwide Queen of 80 Metres — is the heart of it all. She does all the secretarial work for CQWW Worldwide and the Club throughout the year, and somehow still finds the time to keep the kitchen fully stocked and the team fed from dawn till dusk.
Food magically appears, the kettles never stop boiling, and no one dares sneak past her without a proper meal.
Backing her up is the kitchen dream team — Jan M9NSQ XYL , Jo our QSL Manager , and Linda M6LGN, with Mike Wood our Host, Charlie 2E0CIK, Chris G0URG, and Charles M7PNP always ready to lend a hand.
And of course, Steve (NSQ) on tea duty, guarding the teapot like it’s contest gold.
Honestly, there’s more organisation in that kitchen than in the entire shack!
Chief Breakfast Officer – Mike Wood
Our host and all-round legend Mike Wood deserves special mention. Not only does he close off the site so we can fill it with towers, cables, and coax, but this year he also took on the mighty role of Chief Breakfast Chef this year, with sidekick Charlie 2E0CIK.His full English breakfasts have been known to revive even the most sleep-deprived 40-metre crew, and we’re fairly certain the 20-metre pile-ups run smoother after one of his fry-ups.
Without Mike’s generosity — and his patience while we turn his place into a temporary radio fortress — this whole weekend simply wouldn’t happen.
The Feast That Keeps Us Going
The kitchen isn’t just busy — it’s a banquet in motion!
From Linda’s famous beef hot pots, which could warm even the coldest operator after a long night on 80 metres, to Charles and Jo’s Curries, which add a bit of heat to the contest weekend (and maybe to the operators too!), the food never stops coming.
Then there’s Chris and Sue’s spaghetti Bolognese with garlic bread, a firm favourite that always disappears faster than a good DX signal.
Add in a few surprise desserts, endless tea and coffee, and enough food to feed a small army, and you’ll see why everyone says the catering setup at Humber Fortress ARC is second to none.
The Unsung Heroes
A heartfelt thank-you also goes out to the members who help out year after year but never actually sit on the radios. You’re the invisible gears that keep everything moving — fixing cables, tidying up, fetching supplies, and keeping morale high.
And to those who can’t be here in person but still support the club through memberships and donations — you’re every bit as important. Your contributions keep the lights (and kettles) on, and your belief in what we do keeps us motivated.
Leadership Behind the Scenes
A special mention must also go to Chris , our Chairman, and Charles , our Vice Chairman, for their leadership, planning, and endless hours of behind-the-scenes work that make events like this possible.
Their dedication helps keep everything running smoothly — from organising the logistics and ensuring everyone’s in the right place, to supporting both the operating and catering teams.
Without their steady guidance and hands-on involvement, none of this would come together the way it does.
Hero of the Logbook – Jo, Our QSL Manager
Every contact we make during CQWW — whether it’s across town or across the globe — deserves recognition, and that’s where Jo steps in.
As our QSL Manager, Jo keeps the logbooks organised and makes sure every QSO gets its well-earned confirmation. She’s the quiet hero behind the scenes, ensuring that all those “59 TU!” moments are properly logged and acknowledged.
Gone are the days of envelopes, stamps, and overflowing piles of cards — the cost of postage simply became too much. So, the club made the move to email-based QSLs, and Jo now manages our eQSLs with precision and care.
Each card is automatically sent out via email, beautifully designed and instantly delivered — no waiting weeks for postmarks or hoping your card survives the journey. Thanks to Jo, our confirmations are faster, greener, and fully up to modern standards.
So next time you see that Humber Fortress ARC eQSL pop into your inbox, you’ll know it came from the steady hands of Jo — our Hero of the Logbook, keeping the spirit of amateur radio alive, one email at a time.
The PR & Social Media Hero – Ed M8HKZ
This year’s digital spotlight shines on Ed (M8HKZ) — our PR and Social Media Hero. Ed has taken charge of all things online, becoming the face of Humber Fortress ARC across TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
From capturing the fun and chaos of setup days to producing slick videos that show the excitement of contest life, Ed has helped share our story with the wider world. His energy, creativity, and camera skills have put the club on the map and inspired others to get involved in amateur radio.
We’d like to say a huge thank-you to Ed for all his hard work, enthusiasm, and for being the voice — and lens — of the club this year. Keep those cameras rolling, Ed — the world’s watching!
look at the links above for facebook and youtube.
The Contest Manager – Kevin M0KVK
Another vital role in making CQWW happen goes to Kevin (M0KVK), our Contest Manager. Kevin’s job is to bring together all the operators — local, national, and even international — and make sure they can attend and operate across the weekend.
He works tirelessly to build a strong, competitive team every year, balancing skills, schedules, and enthusiasm to ensure every band is covered and every hour is productive. Thanks to Kevin’s coordination, we’ve got what we believe is one of our best contest teams yet for 2025!
The Tech Team – Keeping It All Connected
we can’t forget the Tech Team — Charles (M7PNP) and Andy (G7LRR) — who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure everything actually works when the clock hits 00:00 CQWW time!
From getting all the PCs networked and the logging software synced, to setting up the automation, radios, and amplifiers — these two make sure every signal gets out clean and strong.
Whether it’s diagnosing gremlins in the middle of the night, repairing gear before, during, or after the contest, or just making sure everything “talks to everything else,” they’re the unsung backbone of the station. Without them, there’d be no score, no audio, and probably no sleep!
Our Club Mascot – Little Scamp
Of course, no CQWW weekend would be complete without our club mascot, Little Scamp. Always ready to supervise from a comfy chair or patrol the site for crumbs, Scamp brings smiles, wagging tails, and a bit of luck to every contact we make.
He’s part of the team — proof that a bit of canine charm and a wag of the tail can boost morale better than any amplifier!
To Our Distant Friends
We’d also like to send a big wave (and a virtual brew) to our overseas and long-distance members. Even from afar, your continued support and encouragement mean the world. Knowing you’re part of the extended family makes all the difference.
In the End…
Radios may win the contests, but it’s the full English breakfasts, beef hot pots, Curries, Bolognese, garlic bread, desserts — and the people behind them that keep us upright and on frequency all weekend long.
Here’s to the whole team — in the shack, in the kitchen, in the leadership, and cheering us on from afar.
CQWW wouldn’t be CQWW without you.
If you hear us M6C give us a call.
Photos courtesy of Humber Fortress ARC Team, CQWW 2025
© 2025 Humber Fortress Amateur Radio Club
BUT THEN……….. Our 10-meter PC had a fit and died on us, causing panic and sweaty palms. Another PC was set up very quickly by Andy G7LRR as this was an “anticipated” event from the contest planning stage. Andy announced “panic over” as he had got the backup running, but upon checking the score we had lost 2 million points from the total. Now I really don’t need to write the panic mode we were all in at this point, with certain ops crying openly into their tea (the crying is a tall tail lol).
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