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• Richard Brunton G4TUT's letter recalling an amusing encounter with a policeman near London's Billingsgate fish market, reminded me of a fond memory I have going back almost 30 years. Richard met a policeman who was interested in Amateur Radio but my memory is of a Scottish policeman who was already an Amateur! The meeting took place on the kerbside of the busy road outside Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, Tayside. A friend and I were parked outside the hospital undertaking tests for the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA/ITV). The white Range Rover, with its large (10 metre) pneumatic mast and u.h.f., antennas was very distinctive at full height. Packed with specialised equipment, the vehicle looked like an Amateur's mobile dream when the mast was in use. We hadn't been parked for long when we were approached by a Tayside police officer. Even though the police were very tolerant of IBA and BBC vehicles carrying out their technical work it, wasn't unknown for an over zealous officer or traffic warden to issue a parking ticket but this time we had no need to worry. The officer came over to me (I was driving and my friend was operating the television equipment) and introduced himself as Frank GM8BZX. He was very friendly and made sure we weren't bothered during our tests (I seem to remember it was in preparation for Channel 4). We were frequent visitors to that part of Scotland and Frank became a special friend. Little did I realise that I would come to meet him again many years later at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham in 1990! I've never enjoyed attending the NEC in Birmingham, it's an expensive place and money drains from wallets and purses as soon as visitors arrive! However, it was a real pleasure to meet Frank once again during his year as the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) President for 1990. We were soon chatting about old times and we were photographed together as I renewed my lapsed membership. In private, Frank said he never thought he would "collar an old friend in such a pleasant fashion!" Friends Everywhere We are extremely fortunate in Amateur Radio because the basis of our hobby is communicating with others. There are few enough of us in the UK for us to feel that we are part of an extended 'family'. In fact, wherever we go in the world it's likely that another Amateur or radio enthusiast will be met somewhere on the journey. The meetings can happen literally anywhere and I encourage readers to write in to share their own memories. Many lasting friendships can result and I still have Christmas cards and birthday greetings from Amateur friends I met in diverse places such as the Soller Railway on the Spanish Island of Majorca and on the Bergen to Oslo railway in Norway. However, perhaps the most unusual meeting and delightful friendship
developed when I met my friend Tim Murphy, a trolley bus driver from Dayton,
Ohio in the USA. I got to know him when riding on his trolley bus with
the late GW3RJY during one of my visits to the Dayton HamVention where
he arranged a special tour using his vehicle and arranged a breakdown
so we could see the British made repairs van in action! Intrigued about
Amateur Radio, Tim visited the Hamvention on a number of occasions and
we've remained good friends - thanks to Amateur Radio. Now let's hear
your stories please!
Rob G3XFD
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Our
friendship continued right up until the weekend of another RSGB Presidential
installation in Wales some years later. I was unable to stay overnight,
as I had to be back in Dorset for the Sunday morning. It was the last
time I was to see my old friend. He died on the following Monday. However,
Frank's name, valued friendship and the memories of his deep, friendly
voice live on in the form of the Tennamast trophy, which is dedicated
to his memory and is awarded to the highest scoring Scottish station in
the annual PW 144MHz QRP Contest. It's a most fitting tribute to a truly
dedicated Radio Amateur. 