10-year commemoration of historic callsign G4ZU

Christmas Day 2015 marked a ten year commemoration of the historic callsign G4ZU.

Gordon 'Dick' Bird G4ZU was responsible for the design of popular antennas such as the G4ZU Super MiniBeam and the 'Birdcage'.
Dick passed away in 2005, and the callsign G4ZU was activated for the first time in ten years by Dick’s descendants.

With the permission of the family and Ofcom, the callsign G4ZU was transferred to grand-daughter Sarah Sipple M6PSK’s husband Pete M0PSX, and with the family gathered for the festive period, Dick's son, Chris Bird was able to pass a seasonal greetings message to his daughter Sarah via the G4ZU callsign. Sarah then in turn received a greetings message from Dick's great-granddaughter, 8 year-old Kathryn, completing the four generation connection.

Kathryn Sipple, Sarah Sipple M6PSK and Chris Bird

Essex Ham member Sarah M6PSK said: “It's great that the historic G4ZU callsign was activated today in memory of Dick's passion for amateur radio - a nice Christmas present, and one for the Bird family scrapbook”

G4ZU Commemoration: www.sxham.uk/g4zu