The White Rose Amateur Radio Society was formed in 1967 as The Pudsey & District Radio Club but had been previously known as The Star Radio Club, in Bramley.     Several amateurs around the city of Leeds discovered a number of keen short wave listeners without facilities to further their interest.

A small club was formed which turned out to be an immediate success and with an ever increasing membership base.   And with  the increase in members larger premises had to be found!, these turned out to be a room hired for one night a week.

Next aerials were erected and the Pudsey & District Radio Club Club were soon on air with a transmitting station.     Over the next year, the club grew from strength to strength, with its prime aim in encouraging beginners to take up the hobby & give every assistance possible to those wanting to take the Radio Amateurs Examination & become a licence holders.

In order to promote the club to the general public & the amateur fraternity as a whole, it was decided to hold an amateur radio rally in 1969.   This was called the White Rose Rally and made such a great impact that it was decided that the rally should be made into an annual event.    The rally is now known throughout the country and every year visitors arrive from every corner of the British Isles and from other parts of the world.

From the name of the rally arose an award which could be granted to licensed amateurs & short wave listeners contacting & hearing a requisite number of Yorkshire transmitting stations.   Many Radio shacks now proudly display a copy of the White Rose Award.

In 1971 accommodation became a problem and after spending some time without a suitable club room the opportunity arose to lease an old derelict house at 83 Town Street, Armley, Nr. Leeds (to the rear of the White House Hotel).   After inspection   the property appered to be completely untenable as it had been left derelict for several years.   Also at this time a committee meeting was held, the club was renamed as the White Rose Radio Society and the plunge taken to re-furbish the house.   Enthusiastic members with lots of willingness rolled up there sleeves and got to work.      One member undertook to wire the house for electricity, others replastered ceilings and walls, rotten floorboards were replaced and soon the place began to look respectable.  Several coats of paint and wallpaper were applied, tables, chairs, carpets were donated and the transformation was complete.  The whole task took only six arduous months, the impossible was only achieved by the contributions of time, effort and finance from members whose enthusiasm made the club what it is today.

In 1979 the club moved to the Moortown Rugby Club. The club house was paid for by funds raised by the members and much of the building work was done by them.

Unfortunately, the Rugby Club ran into financial problems, and in 2012, they sold the site to club owner Terry George. The White Rose Radio Society were not seen as part of his development plan and we had to look for new premises. We were rescued by an offer from the Moortown Social Club. We built a small club room in a spare bit of their building, and that is our new home.

At its peak, the membership rose to 150 members. Sadly, amateur radio is less popular than it was and we now have a smaller group. But those that remain are dedicated and most of us attend the meetings every week.