Stephanie is youngest radio amateur in the UK

STEPHANIE Gregory is all EARS – and she couldn’t be happier she’s making waves.

The bubbly seven-year-old is the youngest licensed radio amateur in the United Kingdom. And it’s all down to the help and support she’s been given as a member of the Elderslie Amateur Radio Society (EARS). Stephanie has just passed her amateur radio exams which means she no longer has to operate from the r dio club under supervision. She told the Paisley Daily Express: “I have been coming come to the meetings with my dad for a while now and I used to watch what he was doing. “It looked like good fun so I asked if I could have a go. I thought it was brilliant.
“I’ve now been doing it since August and I thought it would be good if I could become a member of the same club.” However that meant sitting the full-blown radio amateur exam, although thanks to the hard work of club chairman Eddie Higgins, the club is now a qualified test centre.
Stephanie, a pupil at Wallace Primary School, said: “I asked if I could sit my exam and was told that would be okay. “I eventually passed the exam and I was delighted. “I don’t have my own radio yet but I can still talk to people while I’m at the club. “And my dad’s got a radio in the car so I get to use that as well. It’s brilliant fun.” Stephanie’s dad Miah, who is treasurer of EARS, has been broadcasting over the airwaves for a couple of years now. And the 29-year-old software engineer wasn’t at all surprised by his daughter’s enthusiasm. He said: “Stephanie has always shown an interest in things like radios, so I was half waiting for her to ask the question.
“She has her head screwed on the right way and likes to learn new tricks by playing around with things.” EARS founder, Eddie Higgins, said: “Stephanie studied really hard for her foundation radio amateur exam both at the Elderslie club and at home with her dad and, to be honest, it wasn’t a massive shock when she passed. “She might only be seven but she worked incredibly hard to prepare for the exam – and it paid off. “Initially, she was a little 'microphone shy' although she was soon ‘on air’ and rambling on about her experiences at school and how much fun she was having. “On behalf of everyone at the club, I would just like to say a big congratulations to Stephanie.” But not only has the bright spark become the country’s youngest radio amateur, she was recently presented with the Bill Robertson trophy for outstanding achievements at the club’s AGM. EARS transmit from the Elderslie Village Hall on Thursday evenings. For more info, contact Eddie Higgins on 0141 889 5597. The club also specialise in providing training for people with special needs.