Silent Keys
The following obituaries are for Amateur Radio Operators that are now sadly, Silent Keys. They where all at some time either members of the Andover Radio Amateur Club, connected to it or the Club has benefitted from their estate.
Angie Chick, G6ABM – Angie sadly passed away on Friday 14th of February 2025, Aged 57. Angie was a long-standing member of ARAC and over the years she served on the committee initially as membership secretary and as treasurer. She will be greatly missed for her friendship, enthusiasm, and energy, in the social activities that she helped organise within the club. For Angie, Salisbury and the surrounding areas has always been her base. Like her parents, Liz and the late Jim Chick many years earlier, she married her husband Rob on the 26th June 2010 at the Salisbury Methodist Church. She grew up around the world of Falconry through her parents’ interests, and it is with little surprise that both Angie and Rob became involved too. Angie’s interests outside of Amateur Radio included Falconry and Flower Arranging. She was, like her father, highly respected in Falconry Circles. Angie was the events coordinator for the British Falcon Racing Association and the Treasurer for the Female Falconers Club.
Angie was licensed in 1982, taking her father’s first call sign of G6ABM, and she took part in club events such as RDF Foxhunts, and Contests. Angie’s day job was in IT and networking, working with major Government systems at one of their local sites. Her knowledge and expertise were vast and I am sure she will be missed by her work colleges.
She was admitted to Salisbury Hospital on 4th February 2025, having been unwell for a few weeks, and she posted the following the day before she passed away –
“This is not an announcement I ever thought I would be making so early in my life. Having spent nine days in hospital all the results of the tests are back. It is with extreme sadness, anger, bewilderment and regret that I have to announce I have a diagnosis of days to weeks, not weeks to months, left to live. I am deeply disappointed that there is so much I had to do with my life but am no longer able to achieve and places to no longer able to see. Please, if you take nothing else from my impending death every opportunity needs to be pounced upon and never to take anything or anybody for granted”.
Angie was one of the best ‘Guys’ you would wish to meet, and will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Bob Coombes, G3ZNH sadly lost his long fight with failing health on 10th May 2024, aged 76. A local lad, born in West Grimsted, his first job aged 9 was as a milkman’s assistant and it was a chance find of an old radiogram on the rounds that sparked his lifetime love of wireless. Having had many jobs working for many companies, mainly based around engineering and electronics, he finally went self employed for a few years as a TV and video engineer in Pennyfarthing Street in Salisbury. He then spent the next 8 years working for CI Electronics before finally concluding his working life at Tesco, but most these jobs just paid the bills and allowed him to fulfil his passions. He passed his Amateur exam in 1970 at Salisbury Radio Club and then joined the RSGB and was rightly proud of his 50th anniversary as an RSGB member. In 1978 Bob set up a mobile disco called Night Owl Disco which he operated under his stage name of John Knight (and at least one of our members remembers dancing the night away at his discos in The City Hall). When discos fell out of fashion, he became a presenter on Radio Odstock, then 2CR then GWR and Classic Gold in Bristol then Brunel Radio and finally Warminster Community radio. He also owned and operated Andover community radio. He was very keen on contests and was a member of the SADGITS contesting group. Bob was president of the Worked All Britain club and also worked as a volunteer in Bletchley Park. When Salisbury club folded, he shifted his allegiance to ARAC and has been both a staunch supporter and steadfast member ever since. He is sorely missed by his wife, Suzzi, family and friends.
Dave Dixon, G0AYD died after a short illness on 24th February 2024 aged 75. Born in the Lake District, Dave had a tough start in life. He briefly worked as a shepherd, a cattleman and “down the pit” but really found his feet when he joined the Royal Artillery as a driver signaller, spending time deployed to Aden, Northern Ireland and Hong Kong (where he met the love of his life Sue) for the next 10 years. On leaving the army, he joined the Fire Service and was stationed at Netheravon and Middle Wallop airfields for 33 years before retiring but he also spent time in both Kosovo and Iraq on a number of occasions, using specialist rescue equipment. Dave was rightly proud of his children : Sam, Mary and Chris, sadly his first grandchild was born just two weeks after his death but he was very pleased that it was going to be a little girl. Like many people, Dave was first involved in CB Radio, before taking up Amateur Radio, initially through the Salisbury Radio Club and upon its closure, ARAC. He was a member for most of the next few decades and was a stalwart supporter and helper at the Boot Sales and the International Marconi Day events that we ran over the years. He was also a member of GQRP and FISTS and gave immeasurable physical and financial support to the local repeater GB3JB. Dave will be remembered in so many good ways for example, his morse transmitting was very fluid and when he was chatting to Jim (G4NWJ) the CW conversation was almost musical; his cheery little “Ey up chuck” greeting with accompanying huge grin; that he was very proud of the fact that he had no microphones in his shack, it was a CW only zone; and finally, the fact that he wore loud cargo shorts almost to spite the weather !
Terry Poole, G3VMT passed away on 6th June 2023, aged 78 years. Born in Shropshire he
passed the RAE and Morse Test in August 1966 at the tender age of 21. After marriage to Teresa the following year, they resided together in the county of Berkshire. Terry belonged to three different radio clubs: Newbury, Reading and Andover. For ARAC, he regularly took part in the annual V/UHF National Field Day competitions. His shack was served by an HF aerial which was a 70ft Center-fed dipole at about 20ft AGL, fed via ribbon feeder, from a Balun on the outside wall of his shack. The station V/UHF aerial was a typical ‘White stick’ aerial at 20ft AGL. Terry’s main station equipment included an Icom IC-7300 and Yaesu FT-817, together with a collection of reprogrammed/modified Philips FM-1000’s (ex PMR Mobile V/UHF TX/RX) for 6m, 4m, 2m & 70cm bands. His radio interests included: The development and programming of various PIC devices, including the VFO for the Andover club BitX HF Transceiver project; Ex-Military (‘Green’) radios, of which Terry had a collection; Home construction, including BitX HF transceiver, AM and DSB HF transmitters, A ‘Sideband converter’ for use with his Military radios, enabling operation on LSB, where the radio is USB only. Terry’s other interests included Model Aircraft constructing and flying of model aircraft of up-to 6ft wing span and with piston engine propulsion. Terry will be sorely missed by his wife, Teresa his son, two daughters and six grandchildren.
David Anger, M0BMF sadly died on 2nd June 2023, aged 89. David was first introduced to radios by accompanying his granddaughters to Girl Guiding Thinking Day on the Air in the 1990s at Salisbury Amateur Radio Club. He hunted out a local club for himself back at home in Suffolk and joined both Colchester and Sudbury groups. He went on to learn all about radios, went through the different exaination levels and became such an expert in his field that he helped to teach and mentoring many youngsters. He took part in many events, helping to run sponsored walks, runs, car meets to name a few. He also arranged visits for his clubs to places like the local Radio Stations, Fire and Safety Headquarters and the local RAF station. His wife became a radio widow, but in the end she joined him for many event but she didn't study for her own licence. He was especially pleased one year when Victoria, one of his granddaughters, was on an International Guiding Camp at Foxlease in the New Forest where the local radio club was in attendance and he was able to speak to her. That made his day. Victoria was inspired and went on to do her Foundation Licence for her Duke of Edinburgh Award. On moving to Andover, one of the first things David did was to locate ARAC, which he attended when his health permitted. In later years he was unable to attend but he continued to use his radios at home. To the end, radios were his passion and he requested his call sign to be engraved on his memorial headstone.
Rodney Hope, G6YEY sadly died after a long illness on 19th March 2022, aged 75. Some will remember Rodney the cyclist, some Rodney the warehouseman. Some of us will also remember Rodney the rose gardener - a side not many at ARAC ever actually saw…it seems there is more to life than radio! He was a long standing member of the club though, before he passed his Amateur exams, he was a keen CBer and some of our members knew him from back then. Rodney was a staunch volunteer at our annual Boot Sales and a very enthusiastic participant in the DX Foxhunts. He was absolutely made up when, after a number of years of chasing round the countryside, he finally won. The over-riding memory of Rodney is that he was a very gentle and kindly man, a true radio amateur, who never spoke badly of anyone. He will be a much missed member of our club. Rodney is survived by his wife Veronica and two sons.
Jim Chick, G4NWJ died unexpectedly and suddenly on 5th August 2018, aged 74. He left school at 15 having been head boy, despite having spent a year in hospital with Meningitis, to attend Salisbury Technical College, where he did very well and subsequently, achieved a 5 year apprenticeship at Auto and General as an auto electrician. When Jim's apprenticeship was finally at an end in 1965, he was a very able car mechanic but more importantly had enhanced his electronics skills significantly. The Post Office were the fastest to reply of his job applications and he was employed as a Postal Engineer. The work was very varied, he would do anything from fixing stamp cancelling machines, to installing alarm systems, repairing conveyor belts in the sorting office and recalibrating the scales in the small village shops all across Salisbury Plain and into Hampshire. The only reason that Jim could leave the Post Office in the late 80s, was that Falcon Telemetrics, the falconry transmitter business that he had created, was going well and it allowed him more time to indulge in his really passion of falconry. Over the years he entertained and educated 1000s of people with flying displays and was influential in the world of falconry both politically and personally for over 40 years. He passed his Amateur Radio exam in 1980 and was allocated the callsign G6ABM, he quickly learned Morse code and passed his A Class Licence so that he could move on as G4NWJ, freeing up his old callsign for his daughter, Angie to take up in 1982. He was initially a member of the Salisbury Amateur Radio Club and continued to be so until its sad demise, when he moved to the Andover club along with many others, some of which are still members today. He was a driving force within the club, having spent many years as the Chairman and on the committee. When radios stopped being valve driven, he was very sceptical at the “hippy doodah” changes, but just before he died, he has not only completed a uBitx, an All-band High Frequency Amateur Radio Transceiver which utilises Arduino technology, but assisted other Andover Radio Club members in the completion of theirs. Over the years, he was instrumental in many projects that the club undertook. Jim was often called on for his technical experience and expertise to repair other members kit and radios. He was also invaluable at the Car boot sales having an extensive knowledge of electric and electronic tools, kit, radios and cables. Jim enjoyed participating in many radio events often being the mainstay of the overnight contests. Radio Foxhunting is something that he has always excelled in, due in the main part to the experience he had tracking birds with the falconry transmitters that he designed and retailed.On the day he died he was proudly telling a fellow amateur that he met at the show of his win on the previous Tuesday with Angie. He died on a lovely sunny day at a show where we were about to perform our flying display, sat under a tree, eating his lunch, surrounded by his birds and telling a funny story to Angie whilst his wife, Liz made him a coffee. He wouldn't have wanted to go any other way!
Jack Wintle GØUJW died peacefully in his sleep on 30th Dec 2016 aged 86. His wife Jean continues to reside there. Amongst his many interests, Jack focused on radio communication and along with many others initially made use of CB radio, which allowed him to speak to friends in distant parts. This interest grew and he joined the Andover Radio Amateur Club where he was able to obtain his full licence. With this and some new equipment he could work stations around the world and with that many friendships were struck up. One of the things that fascinated Jack was being able to intercept weather map data from the latest satellites and then discuss the forthcoming weather with people all around the British Isles. Jack was very popular with all the members of the Andover Radio club eventually becoming its Chairman, which allowed him to invigorate the club with new ideas. One of his best was to suggest that the club held twice annual Car Boot Sales, the first of which was held at Middle Wallop in September 1996 and later at Wildhern in April 2001, the profits from which saved the club from folding when accommodation charges became prohibitively more expensive. These sales still carry on today and are a real lifeline for the club. One of the things that he will be remembered for is his nightly Morse code classes because having learned the code himself he decided to spread it to the other newer members by use of a twice weekly 'Net'. At least five club members and six more outside Hampshire gained their certificates because of his efforts. The club decided to elect Jack to be its President in 2000, a post which he held until 2006, but his popularity continued and shortly afterwards he was made a life member (of which there are only 5) Jack will be missed by many of the members at the club meetings and hundreds around the world on the air.
Ray Jolly G4VMJ died 6th August 2015 aged 86. Ray had been a member of ARAC since the days when we all met up at the Love Lane Social Club. He unfortunately suffered bad health over a number of years and was not often able to attend the club and this was exacerbated after his wife died. Ray lived in Mile End Eoad and was occasionally active on HF. As his health deteriorated he went to live with his daughter Sue who would bring him in his wheelchair to the Boot Sales at Wildhern. His picture shown here dates back to happier times in 1980.
Arthur Sharp GØWNZ. He was a former member of ARAC. Arthur lived in Winchester and became a member of the Andover Club after the collapse of the Winchester club. He had started life his working with heavy horses on a farm and ended up a chauffeur, he was always happy to share lots of country sport stories.His wife is an excellent cook and each time Jim (G4NWJ) went to his QTH to help him install his radios or fix up aerials she produced a superb lunch. In later years he moved to Portsmouth and was no longer able to get to the ARAC Boot sales. He will be sorely missed by those who knew him and those who recognised his friendly style.
Gerry Sanderson G2DBT - please click on this link for his obituary. Gerry Sanderson
George Sweet G3OZY (not actually an ARAC member). He was the RNARS representative for the Andover area. George for many years lived in South Street, Andover.
Frank Green G4UVO (ex-Treasurer). He was the First President of ARAC who also ran a "Pound" shop in Bridge Street, Andover. Frank used his caravanette as a meeting point for the ARAC members visiting the Rallies at Longleat, which was very handy. A member of RNARS and a great CW operator until arthritus in the wrists stopped him.
Dave Cox G8OPR/GØRRJ. A great SHF operator on all bands up to 10GHz. Participated and virtually ran the ARAC VHF field days from Chute Causeway. Dave died aged only 49 on 17 March 2008
Pete Sankey G6DKO. Worked for many years for a branch of Racal. He was resident at Summerlug in Winterbourne for a long time.
John Lundy SWL (ex- Chairman), sadly died on the 27th March 2010. Known to his circle of friends as 'M'. John actually kept ARAC running when no one else wanted to take on the reins of power. He never actually took the Ham exams, unlike his daughter Sarah-Jane and son-in-law Nick G6GFO
Maurice Barnes GØFVE. Was in the RAF and stationed at Boscombe Down many years ago, he retired back to the local area to be close to his family.
Dennis Price G3AEO (ex-Chairman). Member of the old school of technically proficient Chairmen. Dennis worked latterly at the Home Office technical unit at Weyhill. He was a prolific builder of Ham equipment in his village of Little London.
Joyce Price G4RJP Married to Dennis Price (G3AEO) and employed at the Home Office technical unit. Joyce was a competant CW operator and was part of the Observer Corps at the end of WWII and beyond.
Bill Brown G1GCS. A handy man to have around, Bill could shin up anything to install antennas. He operated on 2m and 70cm as well as all the HF bands for which he had an 80ft lattice tower behind his council house! Bill also bred and raced pigeons together with his nursery for Koi Carp.
Dave Lunn G3LSL (ex-Chairman). Dave lived in Clatford/Abbots Ann which did not have a good takeoff for VHF nets. After his retirement he moved away, to Leicester we understand, but died shortly after.
Gone but not forgoten.....