Back to home page

General information on the BRATS

Who are we?

The name BRATS it a shorting of our name Bredhurst Receiving & Transmitting Society. The club is an Affiliated Member of the RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain) with Training lead instructors approved by the RSGB.

We are Radio Amateurs based in the Gillingham, part of the Medway Towns, in The Garden of England (Kent). Our mission is to boldly go where no radio amateur has gone before! We are serious about having a good time. Most amateurs know of the BRATS due to our annual rally, normally during the 1st quarter. Our rally brings together the radio amateur masses primarily from Kent and the bordering counties which gives these folk a hands on opportunity to try and buy the new and established products on offer. It also gives radio amateurs a chance to meet face to face!

What is the history of the club?

The Society was first formed in February 1982, under the name of the Bredhurst Breakers Club (BBC). The club was best described as an up market CB Radio Club, due mainly to its interest in the technical side of radio (CB) and the lectures. Within a short time the limitations of CB were realised by many of the members, and a steady progression into amateur radio and short wave listening took place. To reflect this wider interest the club changed its name to the Bredhurst Receiving and Transmitting Society (the BRATS) The society is in the unique position of being able to offer the hardened Radio Ham, the CBer and the SWL a common meeting ground where all facets of the hobby of radio communication can be seen.

What do we do?

Description - Enthusiastic active Radio Amateurs who enjoy themselves in and around the Medway Towns, regularly using our remote shack for training and amateur radio operating - including contests. Other activities includes staging DF hunts  and holding 20 minute Technical talks at our thursday club meeting.

Training - we offer training for the Foundation , Intermediate and Advanced level licences. FLC & ILC Courses run at the club. Club open to all adults over 18 years. Children free if related to an adult member.

Radio operating - available from our remote "air conditioned" shack with the club's own equipment.

Contests - from time to time we operate in RTTY, Phone, and CW contests all according to what members wish to do. During the winter months the BRATS enjoy lectures, quiz nights to name but a few activities.

Talks - we have talks given by members and outside speakers in our popular "20 minute Technical Talks" which usually run on for much longer than the allotted time due to the enthusiasm of the members questions !!

Training for the Amateur Radio examinations?

Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced training is given by members of the club and we also have a dedicated training web site as indicated on the home page with a link there too.

Where do we meet?

The BRATS meet on a Thursday night from 20:30hrs at our Club Room located at

The Parkwood Community Centre, Long Catlis Road, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 9PN

Refreshment is always available on tap or from a bottle!

On many weekends and sometimes mid week members can be found at our remote shack where most of the training is carried out for each of the exam levels.

Where do we meet on air ?

We also meet on air each Tuesday from 8:45pm on 2m freq 145.400MHz  +/- for our weekly Brats and friends net.

Also some club members meet on 144.275 ssb +/- Monday evening 20.30 ish.

Club's NEWSLETTER

A club's news letter is published approximately monthly throughout the year to bring members up to date with activities. This is sent electronically in .pdf format.

You could join or enquire about joining?

Club membership is open to all adults over 18 years. Children free if related to an adult member and must at all times be escorted by that family member.

For more information write to :-

Membership, The BRATS C/O The Club Room, The Parkwood Community Centre, Long Catlis Road, Rainham, Gillingham, Kent, ME8 9PN

or you could come along to the club venue on a club night to meet us and arrange joining the club - please bring alone an application form which you can down load and print out from the link below.

If you are joining to train for exams part way through our year April to March then pro  rata fees exist which when less than 6 month exists the membership is for 1 Year plus the remaining part of the current year.

Download a membership form       Back to home page