An Amateur Radio Club has existed in the Pontefract area since the 1940's. 

In September 1949 the then Pontefract & District Amateur Radio Club were holding meetings every thursday at the Pontefract Community Association Centre in Halfpenny Lane. The Chairman at the time was Mr. R. G. Sutton, G3ADH. 

The December 1951 issue of Short Wave Magazine (SWM) carried a news item, ‘Pontefract Area Transmitting  Group.- This is a revival of the former Pontefract & District Amateur Radio Club, and its aim is to foster interest in transmitting, rather than the usual gamut of radio and allied topics’.

The 'Pontefract Area Transmitting Group' used to hold fortnightly meetings at the Fox Inn with Ron Shadlock, G3US serving as President (SWM, March 52). In December 52 the group started morse practice transmissions each Sunday at 1030 hrs. on 1990 kcs with Bert G3HNC, Ron G3US, Don G3IDT, G3HCX and John G3CYS taking it in turns. Other members at the time were G6MF, G2HBH, Tommy G3HCF who was a railway steam engine driver, and Sam Ellis G3JNY who ran a local TV shop.

Frank Smith G(M)3JKS joined the group in 1952 as a SWL after being introduced by his neighbour, John G3HCX who he'd heard on a crystal set. Frank took the RAE at Whitwood Technical College in Castleford and the 12wpm morse test at Pontefract Post Office. He also played Rugby League for Castleford and Featherstone Rovers. Frank moved to St Albans in 1974 becoming a member and later Chairman of St. Albans amateur radio club which was a very busy and active club under the Roman name of Verulam.

By November 1957 the club had established a club room in the Queen's Hotel, Pontefract and were using the callsign G3FYQ with Walter Farrar, G3ESP serving as club secretary.

Our current radio society has been in existence since 1979. We started out meeting in Knottingley town hall before moving to our present location at the Carleton Grange Community Centre, Carleton Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 3RJ.

The September 1981 addition of Short Wave Magazine (SWM) carried a short news item in the 'Clubs Roundup' section on PDARS June D/F contest. Foxhunts were quite popular with clubs at that time.

For 20 years, until October 2014 Neil Clarke G0CAS (G8VFV) together with G3USF compiled the weekly solar report for the GB2RS Sunday morning news broadcasts.

Also pictured with a pint of beer in his hand is Reg G4KMW who became a local morse examiner for the RSGB.  

Club members have always been keen on building their own equipment. For many years PDARS ran a components fair at the Carleton Community Centre organised by Colin Mills, G0AAO. Responsibility for the rally later passed to Colin Wilkinson G0NQE who ran it for a further 6-7 years.

Despite a very successful 'Fair and Junk Sale' organised by Mark, M0ZIM and held on the 26th August 2013 there have been no further rallies held since then.