Howard Booth - VK2AMD - Silent Key
May 28th, 2008 by webmaster
It is with deep regret that the I.A.R.S. President Tony Stone has reported to the club membership of the passing of Howard Booth, VK2AMD.
The following is an extract of the notification release by the club.
Valê
Howard Booth, VK2AMD.
Howard Booth, VK2AMD, passed away last Sunday afternoon 25th May 2008, at the age of 100. Howard was the Inaugural President of the first radio club in Wollongong, in those days known as “The Wollongong Amateur Radio Club”.
Howard received his Australian licence, under the callsign VK2AMD, in September 1948. Being born in
Leeds, England he was also licenced as U.K. callsign G2AS, Howard held both licences until his passing. Howard and his family lived in Ocean St Windang. Howard turned 100 years old on the 6th March this year making him one of the oldest amateur operator’s on the bands in Australia.
During the formation of the amateur radio club, Howard told of building the clubs transmitter and receiver at his place of work, which was HG Palmer’s Electrical and Radio Store. Here, Howard was able to obtain the parts required for the transmitter. It consisted of two 807 valves, in push-pull configuration in the final. The transmitter was built over a period of about 24 hours. It was of course, crystal controlled with the crystals being ground from watch glasses. Howard said “the parts of the original transmitter cost us about ten bob”! ($1.00). When asked about the crystal being ground from watch glasses, he replied, “That’s just how it was done in those days”.
The original transceiver operated on 40 metres, and later, when a doubler stage was added it could operate on 20 metres. Latter further modifications were made to allow access to the 80 metre band.
It’s a sad time for the present Illawarra Amateur Radio Club, with their sixtieth birthday celebrations only a month away. Without the strong guidance of Howard in the early days the present prosperous club would no doubt be a very different organisation than it is today.
The Executive Committee, and the membership of the Illawarra Amateur Radio Society express their deepest sympathy to the members of Howards’ surviving family.
Farewell friend.
Valê
Howard Booth, VK2AMD, Silent Key.