CARA

Calgary Amateur Radio Association

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Thomas Lamb VE6GU became a Silent Key on Thursday March 16, 2017.

  • 21 Mar 2017 9:19 AM
    Message # 4680204
    Robert (Administrator)

    Tom Lamb, who recently passed away at the age of 96, was an amateur radio enthusiast for over 80 years.   A quote from his biography reveals how he was first introduced into the world of amateur radio in the rooming house he and his mother shared in Winnipeg, Manitoba: 

    "At about the same time as the depression began, members of RCAF moved into the rooming house. They worked just down the street at the maintenance depot. One of them was a radio mechanic who set up his own radio equipment in his room on the top floor. We did not have a radio so he used to let me come up to his room and listen. He built his own equipment (probably from parts borrowed permanently from the RCAF) so I became interested in radio."

    This officer taught Morse code to Tom and by doing odd jobs, he saved up his money and bought his first radio when he was 12.  He was able to communicate with people in Russia and Europe but mainly used Morse code to talk with his friends and classmates in Winnipeg during his school years.  According to Tom, microphones didn’t work very well until around 1938.

    When he "joined up" for WWII, his  HAM experience allowed him to gain a higher rank and also led to his involvement in the very secretive Radar Division of the Air Force.  After the war he kept in touch with several fellow officers via his HAM radio.  He had an option to have either a ‘veterans’ or HAM license plate and he chose his HAM number VE6GU which was his license plate number for over 50 years. He continued for years to spend many evenings listening to and communicating around the world with other HAM operators.

    If you would not mind posting this on website for anyone that knew him.

    There is a private family function for Thomas.

     

    thanks  John Brookwell   VE6TUG 


    Last modified: 21 Mar 2017 12:38 PM | Robert (Administrator)


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