The club started its life off as the Kings Lynn Shortwave Club in 1935, meeting on a Wednesday evening every week. There was no shack at the YMCA, just a meeting room, but occasionally they would operate from there using the call sign G3VGQ.
Unfortunately not a lot is known about the early years but we have managed to find an old photograph from the early days, thanks to John Taylor G3SAW.
Below is a copy of the rear of the photo with some names already filled in.
- 4LM Les Bradshaw
- 2JS Charlie Bayes
- 2HBZ Mervyn Shipp
- 3SZ Arthur Chilvers
- Brother of 3sz
- 3IP Arthur Brookson.
The 60’s
In 1966 the technical college started running an RAE class and other electronics classes run by Dave Lake, now G3ZCA. Equipment was bought, namely a HW100 as well as other equipment, and they became the students radio club. By 1971 the YMCA club had joined with the college.
Below is a Lynn News article from approx 1967 when they had a publicity day at the college. The gentleman on the right of the picture is Norman Blaxter G3VZD, who was the first member to hold the club call of G3XYZ.
During the late 60’s the Kings Lynn (YMCA) radio club, although only a small group of active members, were still going strong doing all sorts of events for charities etc.
The 80’s
Through the 80’s, the main side of the radio was being held at the Norfolk College of Arts and Technology – where many would be going to take the RAE. The club at this time, being known as the Norfolk College Students Union Radio Club, had their own shack facilities at the NORCAT club house off Hospital Walk.
GB3KL went live on air for the first time in June 1980, from a site in the town centre. After a while it was moved to Knights Hill. Then in 1987, it was moved to one of the lower buildings of the tech college.
Below is a newspaper article from the Lynn News dated March 17, 1987:
In 1987, the club managed to get hold of the club call G1XYZ to run at that time UHF/VHF, with G3XYZ being used for the HF bands.
On 19th October 1989, there was an AGM called and the club name was changed from Norfolk College Students Union Radio Club to Kings Lynn Amateur Radio Club (KLARC).
The club finally moved to it’s present location at the Scout Hall, West Winch, in 1989.
The 90’s
The 90’s proved to be a very busy time for the club. So much was going on, with the first club rally being held at the HQ, but unfortunately because of lack of car parking space had to change venue.
At the end of 91 the club gained permission to build an extension onto the existing Scout HQ which was to become the all new radio shack. It was finished and in use by early 92.
The first Great Eastern Radio Rally was held at the Kings Lynn Corn Exchange on the 7th July 1991.
The complete Radio Club Rally booklet can be found in the Photo Archive.
Preparations go ahead for the first Great Eastern Radio Rally at the corn exchange Kings Lynn.
New Mobile Tower 1993
In the mid part of 1993, KLARC had it’s very own mobile Tower for contesting and portable and portable work.
It was built by club member Ted Turner G7NCG and the help of others.
The next few years gave way to contesting and also managed to get a few good results.
There are even some trophies in the club shack from this era.
A cutting from 1993 Lynn News:
One of the biggest events was in 1999, when the club made Arthur Chilvers G3SZ, its honorary President: 
More photos can be found in the Photo Archive.