First, I want to say a massive thank you to Buzz AC6AC, my Academy advisor, for the intermediate and advanced courses and for the nomination. Also, a massive thank you to my
sponsors Shirley M0WXG, Rich N4DPM and John G4PFZ.
The roots of my radio journey started with my uncle and his passing interest in electronics. This sparked an interest in electronics with my brother, and I followed. We used to get the Practical Wireless magazine and in the September 1977 edition they started a series “So you want to pass the R.A.E?” Following that, we found a course running near where we lived. I was still at school, just about to start 6th form, when the course started. As this was an adult education course and I was at school, I had to get permission from the headmaster to attend! This was granted, course completed and in September 1979 I became licensed. The following year, having passed the 12 wpm Morse test, I obtained my current callsign. It later transpired that the headmaster, his son and the Head of Science all became hams too!
I was quite active through the 1980s and most of the 1990s, both mobile and home where Top Band was my main interest. I did use CW a bit, but not often. I studied with the Open University for several years, until our daughters were born. Both amateur radio and studying ceased for a while. In September 2022, after 42 years in IT for BT, I retired. I needed to have a plan and part of that was to get back into radio.
In 2023 I decided to resurrect my CW to see how far I could take it. The Farnsworth trainer got me so far, but I plateaued. I had seen CWops, but the requirements for membership were way out of my reach, so I didn’t follow up. It must have been nagging at me because in December I applied. The entry test suggested I go to Advanced, but I thought “no way!”. Instead, I applied for Intermediate. I assumed I would not get into the January semester, as it was so close, but I received an email from Buzz offering January and to act quickly. No time to think, “yes please!”
Buzz, the co-advisors Marv W5DT, Heather AH7RF and Tracy WM6T and classmates were so supportive. I struggled a bit at first but then, because it’s a safe space, we all made progress. I was staggered to find Advanced was a possibility. Again, Buzz, the co-advisors Shirley M0WXG and Rich N4DPM and classmates were brilliant. The camaraderie we had, and still have, helped keep me motivated. Now I am proud member #3562. What I thought was not achievable has been! However, this is just the start – there is more to do to keep improving. As a class we have become friends and will, I hope, continue to help and support each other – an unexpected, but very welcome, bonus.
I am a member of the Shirehampton Amateur Radio Club (SARC). I joined straight after the RAE course but stopped going for a while due to family commitments and work. However, I re-joined just before retiring. Through the enthusiasm of our chairman, I became interested in the English Castle and English Lighthouse awards. It’s not something I chase avidly, but it is fun, and I have managed to get a couple of awards. I also took part in a couple of 80 m club contests and have become associated with the Bristol Contest Group.
My wife, Hilary, and I have 2 daughters, Charlotte and Rachel. Charlotte is currently working in Pittsburgh in the Vignali Lab, associated with the University of Pittsburgh, carrying out cancer and immunology research. Rachel lives with us. She went to university, but it didn’t suit her, and it took a while to recover from the experience. She has had several part time jobs but was recently made redundant. She has now started a new full-time job and we hope this leads to other things, as there are opportunities to learn about sales and finance.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.