The First UK Amstrad Group (UKAG) Meet-Up

I went along to the very first UK Amstrad Group meet-up (UKAG for short) at Ottershaw Village Hall, and it was brilliant. This isn’t a full event film, just a short report from the day, and a nudge to look out for the next one if Amstrad CPCs, PCWs, GX4000s and the surrounding oddness are your sort of thing.

What was it like?

It was a private, ticketed event for Amstrad fans, collectors, repairers and retro computing people, and the hall was a proper hustle and bustle of really friendly people. There were lots of games to play on a variety of systems that were around back in the day, and plenty of chatting between people who all knew exactly why they were there.

Amstrad fans playing games on period machines at the first UK Amstrad Group meet-up in Ottershaw Village Hall — Machines to play all round the hall

Jo Cook and Roland Perry

It wouldn’t be a meet without learning something. Jo Cook, who wrote for Amstrad Action, gave a great talk on her time on the magazine. Roland Perry, a key figure behind the Amstrad machines you know and love, brought along some machines from his time at Amstrad and gave a fascinating interview about his days at the frontier of computing, including what Alan Sugar was really like. I learned quite a lot: really illuminating stuff.

Jo Cook giving a talk about writing for Amstrad Action at the UK Amstrad Group meet-up — Jo Cook on her time at Amstrad Action

Roland Perry being interviewed about his time at Amstrad at the UKAG meet-up — Roland Perry’s interview was a highlight

Bargains, oddities and a high score challenge

There was old stuff and new stuff for sale at show prices, and plenty of oddities. My favourite was a heavy old video camera plugged into a stock Amstrad. Yes, you’re thinking why. But why not? Add a machine of the show prize, a high score challenge and snacks (who doesn’t love snacks?) and that’s a great day out.

A heavy vintage video camera connected to a stock Amstrad computer on display at the UK Amstrad Group meet-up — A video camera plugged into a stock Amstrad: why not?

Should you go to the next one?

Yes. This was the first UKAG meeting and it was really good fun, so come along to the next one. Thanks to everyone at UKAG for putting it on, and to everyone who stopped for a chat. Details of upcoming events are on the UKAG website.

On the bench, my Amstrad adventures include a CPC 464 that was found in the woods (and part 2) and adding an audio input to a CPC464.