Silent Keys01 February 2010
Norman Fitch, G3FPK Silent Key
Posted by Dai, G8FXM
We have just recieved the sad news from David, G4ASR that Norman Fitch, G3FPK - VHF/UHF Radcom columnist became Silent Key on Friday 29 January.
Messages of condolence may be added by clicking here
Messages of condolence may be added by clicking here
Comments
Posted by Murray, G6JYB on |
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Very sad news and the end of an era for me - I honestly don't recall the VHF Column without Norman Murray G6JYB |
Posted by Trev, EA5ISZ on |
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Another well known personality lost to our hobby. Vale Norman |
Posted by Ian, G6TGO on |
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Norman has been a freind of mine for a few years now, and his loss will leave a big void within the Amateur Radio community here and abroad. Rip Norman. |
Posted by Simon, M3SWK on |
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Very sad news. Always looked forward to Norman's write ups in Radcom. Norman also helped me out more than once via email. A true gentleman. A very sad loss to the hobby. Condolences to his family. Simon, M3SWK |
Posted by John, GW4MBN on |
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Very sad news. I`ve always equated the VHF column with Norman. He will certainly be missed. Our thoughts are with his family. John G4MBN |
Posted by Jamie, GW7SMV on |
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Very sad news, I've been sending my updates/reports to him since being licensed in 1994. Always looked forward to reading his column. RIP Norman Jamie GW7SMV |
Posted by Graham, G3OHC on |
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I've known Norman for over 40 years since our weekly skeds on 2m - he will be sadly missed, he was always a "gent" RIP Norman Graham G3OHC [ edited ] |
Posted by David, G4ASR on |
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It was with great sadness that I learnt of the untimely passing of Norman Fitch G3FPK who died at his home in Purley, Surrey on Friday January 29th 2010. He regularly participated in a local net but failed to appear, the police were called and he was found dead at home. A very sad ending to his life. Norman was a fellow author writing the VHF/UHF column in the RSGB magazine RadCom since 1989 when he took over from Ken Willis G8VR. He had written that column in every monthly issue of RadCom for the last 21-years and his knowledge and creativity will be greatly missed. Norman was a natural writer and prior to writing for RadCom he wrote the VHF Bands column in Short Wave Magazine providing excellent coverage of v.h.f. events at that time. He also wrote many VHF orientated articles both in SWM and Practical Wireless. First licensed in 1949 the station of G3FPK was active using CW on the HF bands and winning a number of awards. In the 1960s he was the honorary secretary of the Amateur Radio Mobile Society. Norman was however particularly active on the VHF and UHF bands and could often be heard chasing operators up and down the bands after an opening to find out what stations had been worked. He clearly had an enthusiasm for DX operating and was always willing to assist newcomers onto the VHF bands. Many G8-stations of the day (I was one of them) would be guided by his experience when making initial transmissions. I can still remember the â??adviceâ?? he gave me when running a Belcom Liner-2 into a non-linear amplifier! As a member of the RSGB VHF Committee, Norman was a regular attendee at the VHF Convention (Winning Post, Twickenham and Sandown Park Racecourse) where he was always keen to meet the operators that had been regularly writing to him. Indeed I can still visualise the queue of people waiting in line just to speak to Norman. He was that sort of person. I regularly met Norman at RSGB VHF Committee meetings in the 1980/1990s. He was always immaculately dressed in a suit and was a real gentleman. Full of constructive ideas as well. In his professional life he was a civil engineer with many published papers. I recall Norman telling me that at one time he was involved with the construction of a new stand at Chelsea Football Club. He made a very large contribution to amateur radio over many years and will be sadly missed. Rest in Peace Norman. David G4ASR, RSGB VHF Manager, PW VHF columnist |
Posted by John, G0CDB on |
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Very sorry to know this. I will miss Norman's column in radcom. Condolences to his family. RIP Norman. John, g0cdb. |
Posted by Andy, GM4JR on |
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Very sad news, a great loss to the hobby. As muted by others, I don't remember the column without Norman. |
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