Published: Thursday, 24th April, 2008 8:05am

MSP on right wavelength

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A GROUP of amateur radio enthusiasts have proved that they are "hams" with big hearts after raising more than £13,500 for charity.

Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club has been fundraising for the British Heart Foundation, since a colleague died 15 years ago, and were treated to a visit to the Scottish Parliament last week by an MSP who is also a club member.

Liberal Democrat member for the South of Scotland, Jim Hume, together with East Lothian councillor, Ruth Currie, took the club on a tour of Holyrood.

Mr Hume said: 'I was delighted to host the visit. The secretary of the Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club, Bob Glasgow, and his members have over the years raised over £13,500 for the British Heart Foundation which is a huge amount of money.

'Amateur radio is an important communication tool in bringing together people of all ages and nationalities worldwide creating a shared comradeship, and amateur radio operatives, or "hams" as they"re called, have been leaders in developing many of today"s modern electronic and communications technology.

'It is important to note that amateur radio has played an emergency role in many disasters including the Lockerbie bombing, Hurricane Katrina and during the 2004 tsunami.  

'I congratulate members of the Cockenzie and Port Seton Amateur Radio Club on their success.'

The club has been raising money for the charity, since member Robert "Bunny" Anderson died 15 years ago. The money has been mainly raised from the club"s annual "junk nights", where people are invited to buy tables from which they can sell items such as radio or computer equipment.

Said club secretary Bob Glasgow: 'It all started when Bunny died suddenly from a heart problem.

'We had a whip-round to lay a wreath at his funeral and there was money left over, so we decided to adopt the British Heart Foundation as our charity in his memory.'

Bob said that after some initial reservations, club members enjoyed the trip to Holyrood. 'To be honest, quite a few of us were a bit sceptical about going there, but it turned out to be fantastic and we ended up really enjoying it,' he said.

Bob, who is a computer engineer and founded the club, added: 'I trained Jim, his two sons and his daughter, to get their licences, and taking us around Holyrood was his way of saying "thank you".'

The club has about 20 members and meets on the first Friday of every month. Anyone wishing to join can contact Bob Glasgow on 01875 811723, or log on to the club"s website at www.cpsarc.com for more information on its activities.