A Potted History of GU4YOX
Back in the early 70's I had already got into Amateur Radio and was really interested in how anyone with the right knowledge could make contact with someone in New Zealand just by the touch of a switch. Back in 1973, if you wanted to make communication with someone in ZL for example you could write them a letter, which would take 6 weeks and then the return leg would be the same time. If you wanted to phone someone, you firstly needed to have a telephone! We did but we had a "party" line with a house across the street. Could you imagine that now? Then you would probably have to book your call a few days in advance. But with Amateur Radio, and the right time of day you could make that communication. That was fantastic!
After joining the Derby and District Amateur Radio Society (DADARS) in 1972, within a year I was on the committee. This would mean a 2 mile bicycle ride into Derby or a lift in from the family to the clubhouse in the town. I had been given my very first wireless receiver by my Headmaster at school who thought I was interested in things technical. While other kids were reading football magazines, I was saving up to buy the 1973 RSGB Handbook that I still have today. I think it was around £3 and 10 shillings. That was a great read!
I started listening to broadcast stations and then discovered Amateur Stations. I was hooked. My first year at the Derby club earned me the Clubman trophy for "Services to the Society". I really enjoyed my days in my birth place Derby in England learning off all the old hands how to listen carefully for stations. In 1974 I joined the RSGB. My mother paid for me to join the Society. My Associate number was A8731.
Bob Beebe A8731 (13 years old) receiving the Clubman Trophy from A G G Melville with Fred Ward - G2CVV on the mike (Now SK) in the background at the Annual Dinner and Dance (1973 I think) at the Broadway Inn, Derby.
My first "shack" was in a garden shed and I have only a picture from around 1984 of a similar arrangement. How the technology changes......
My early days in radio were spent listening primarily on the low bands and I recall many callsigns that were very active on the air in Derby. G4CBQ, G4COR, G4CAB, G3VKR to name a few. DX stations included PA0HIP and KV4FZ who were regularly heard on 160M.
Here is a picture of GU4YOX (L) and one of my old 160M Derby friends, Ian G4COR (R) who I recall from over 30 years ago! We met up at the Castle Donington Radio Rally in 2004. Phil G4CBQ has moved to Jersey (GJ) and is now GJ4CBQ ! We often meet up when I have opportunity to travel to GJ on business.
I finally took my Radio exams in 1983 and Ken G4HDP (SK) taught me cw (morse code). We drove for three and a half hours to Trusthorpe on the UK east coast to take my test. A uniformed coastguard officer held a very formal session but I managed to pass first shot. Thanks Ken.
I operated in the UK as G4YOX for 7 years before moving to Guernsey and becoming GU4YOX in 1990. My family and I have been here ever since.