Fred 'Angus' Small ZL3FS,  New Zealand's oldest 'Active' Amateur - SK at 95

Bill ZL3NB has contacted us with the sad news of the passing of probably New Zealand's oldest 'active' radio ham, who died on the 22nd December, at the age of 95.

Bill writes:
For those who do not know of Fred 'Angus' Small ZL3FS here is just a brief rundown on his ham radio career.

Angus was always keen on radio going back to the days of crystal sets and monster masts that dotted the landscape around the Lyttleton Harbour Bays near Christchurch where he grew up and gained interest during the 1920's as a wee lad.

He always looked upon radio amateurs with the most esteem respect, but for fear of failure, he could never foster the courage to become a ham saying once to me "Back in the 1960s the local radio club trainer was too technical for me" which I found ironic considering the intelligence of the man and his position with Shell Oil but never mind.

In the 1980's he got involved with CB Radio which was the beginning of great enjoyment for him and after his lovely Xyl Joan passed away with cancer in the early 1990's radio was his pillar of strength during the dark days that followed.

Although numerous local ZL3 amateurs attempted to help him obtain a ham license he allowed that mental block to curse him time and time again.

It was not until 2003 that a very close and dear friend of his from the CB days who became a amateur Ray Fabian ZL2AT  (82 yrs old and now an SK) got hold of him and nearly threatened him with a offer he couldn't refuse. It was with Ray's insight and patience he taught Angus the ropes and prepared him for the exam. In October of 2004 Angus passed the amateur exam with flying colors at the age of 90 finally fullfilling his life long childhood dream of becoming a licensed amateur radio operator.

Angus was quite a cw man and remembered it well considering the last time he used it was in the jungles of the Solomons and other South Pacific Islands during WW2 as a Signals Operator with the Royal New Zealand Army. Morse was his passion and what amateur radio was about.

He enjoyed for the most part just having daily cw sessions with his mates around Christchurch and New Zealand although did dabble with Dx at times. His most exciting DX contacts were with the 3Y0X and ZL7T Dxpeditions.

Time has now caught up with him like it will the rest of us, but for this man he had a chance to live his dream and enjoy it defining the words that age holds no barrier to success.

At 95, he would of been, I believe, New Zealand's oldest 'active' radio amateur.

Rest in Peace Old Timer.

73

Bill, ZL3NB