I’m amazed that it was only August 2023 when I joined the Fundamental pre-class sessions of Buzz AC6AC. I had only booked on a whim after seeing a reference to CWA on a Facebook post. Thanks go to Buzz & his fantastic cohort of co-advisors who led me towards nomination & acceptance to CWops.
I was first licenced in 1990 as G7HTI, becoming G0PDZ in 1991 after passing the 12 wpm Morse test. I also hold the US call AG5XD obtained in 2019, passing all three exams in one sitting.
I live in the Southeast of England in the town of Margate on the North Kent coast on the Isle of Thanet.
Sometime member, of the North Kent Radio Society, Clifton Amateur Radio Society and now a member of and secretary for the Hilderstone RS, G0HRS / G7HTI (I gifted the club my old call for ‘Hilderstone training & instruction’.)
Interests include QRP, portable operating, special event stations, contesting & supporting my local club activities.
After an absence from the hobby from the late 1990s through to a return in 2011, with occasional activity in the ‘quiet’ years, I now have again established a station at home.
I contest both with G0HRS & as a member of the Invicta Contest Group, M5IC.
I was a keen CW operator from 1991 when I passed my 12 wpm test but was never confident & struggled to get my speed above 14 wpm as a straight key operator. CWA & twin paddle has really moved that on!
I am a divorced father of five now adult children but remain on good terms with their mother. I am a grandfather of five from two of my children.
Almost my entire working life was spent working as a police officer with London’s Metropolitan Police. After my early years in uniform in Southeast London I transferred to Royalty Protection initially in uniform protection duties before moving onto other roles in that department. My final few years were as a Detective preparing for the London 2012 Olympics. I retired from the Police in 2011 to work directly for the London Olympics, at the close of which I retired completely.
I was a keen yacht & dinghy sailor. Sailing & radio took up much of my time in my early retirement years, both of which led me to taking up volunteering roles with club committees. I then volunteered in a management role at my local RNLI lifeboat station liaising with the Coastguard on lifeboat launches on service. I stood down when the all-weather lifeboat was removed from service.
I am currently the Group Lead Volunteer with my local Scout Group, a management role supervising all the uniformed & support volunteers. I jest that as I move towards my second childhood, I enjoy the company of those enjoying their first.
I post an occasional blog on my website https://g0pdz.uk
Hopefully meet you all on the air.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.