Eleven-year-old Andrew Finch was the five thousandth successful graduate of the new "Foundation (prefix M3)" license class in Britain. The success is all the greater because Andrew passed the exam on the first attempt, while he suffers from dyslexia. It happened on October 22, 2002 in Baldock in Heterfordshire.
Andrew became familiar with broadcasting at a scout troop location. He convinced his parents to save his pocket money and later buy him a radio station. But that won't be necessary anymore, because Yaesu UK has given him a new FT-817! G3JPT received several books from RSGB President Bob Whelan and was presented with a special certificate marked M3FMA by the Radiocommunications Agency.
With the introduction of the Foundation license in 2002, the number of radio amateurs in Britain increased by more than 10% in just ten months. According to the RA, there is huge interest in this type of license.