Following a 5 year 'apprenticeship' as a short wave listener, he passed the RAE and the 12 wpm morse test in 1971 and was granted the callsign G4ALG. Steve was a very active HF and VHF contester through the 1970s and 1980s, moving to Wales in 1982. In the late 1990s he became a keen QRPer, and an enthusiastic experimenter on 136 kHz.

By 2003, Steve found that the increasing levels of contest QRM on the popular HF bands every weekend prevented him from testing newly-built gear and keeping in contact with old pals. So, in February 2007, Steve dismantled his radio station and sold his large collection of homebrew equipment on eBay.

Prior to going QRT, Steve made several appeals to RSGB representatives in an attempt to persuade the RSGB to promote fair access to the amateur bands, and ensure that contesters operated within their regional band plan. The RSGB responded by appointing an RSGB Officer to protect the interests of contesters, without creating a similar post to look after the interests of ragchewers, experimenters, or other casual users of the HF amateur bands. Subsequent announcements from the RSGB only served to indicate its support for those contesters who ignore band plans and use their power hungry 'super stations' to squeeze out other users of the amateur service.

Steve had the following letter published in the December 2007 issue of the ISWL journal 'Monitor':

"I have been extremely dismayed by the increasingly aggressive and selfish behaviour of amateur radio contesters. Although I had been a short wave listener; ragchewer; experimenter; homebrewer; and contester for over 40 years, the increasing amount of Contest QRM on the popular HF bands every weekend meant that it became impossible for me to keep in contact with my radio pals; or test my newly-built gear; or carry out experiments.

Many of my friends also found the same problem. If they did try to get on the bands, they were simply crowded out by high power contesters - often operating outside their regional band plan, and unable (or unwilling) to hear existing QSOs between stations of 'normal' signal strength. Eventually, many of my pals simply got out of the habit of checking the bands - effectively going QRT. Letters to RadCom and RSGB officials were often ignored. The few letters that did get published in RadCom were either significantly edited to remove important points; or immediately 'rubbished' by an RSGB officer in that same issue. The RSGB effectively silenced any debate on the subject, branding complainants as being members of an 'anti-contest lobby'. Personally, I am not aware of any appetite for an anti-contest lobby - but I do know of many radio amateurs who desperately want to see the restoration of fair access to our amateur spectrum.

I respectfully suggest that everyone who operates out of their regional band plan - for whatever reason - helps to chip away at the spirit of amateur radio. All members of national societies have a stake in the band plans: a proportion of their membership fees have contributed to their development and publication. There's no point in going to all that cost and effort to produce band plans if they are not fully supported by all of us.

Anyway, after 40 years of amateur radio, and fed up with Contest QRM, I reluctantly decided to dismantle my radio station in February 2007. Most of my homebrew station has been sold on eBay, and the remaining items will be sold this winter.

Over the past 5 years, I have heard all the contesters' arguments. These include statements that non-contesters should instead operate mid-week; or QSY to the WARC bands; or QSY to the VHF bands; or that they should learn to enjoy contesting. Such alternatives don't make any sense to the victims of Contest QRM, and these alternatives are no substitute for national amateur radio societies ensuring fair access to the amateur bands - for all users of the amateur service.

Less than 10% of radio amateurs take part in contests, which means that a very large percentage of the amateur population is regularly displaced by a small (but loud) minority of radio amateurs. Many of those who are displaced by contesters will eventually give up amateur radio and find more worthwhile ways to spend their time.

When I first listened on the 40 metre band as a 12 year-old, the people that I stumbled across 'sold' me amateur radio - just by being there. Their politeness; their manner; their stories; and their helpful advice to others all projected that spirit of amateur radio that inspired me to build F.G. Rayer receivers; to learn morse; and to join my local radio club.

40 years on, what does the newcomer hear these days? Just people screaming '59' at each other, I suppose."