Bill Newman, M0BNN, 31st May 2016

On the morning of Tuesday 31 May 2016 we lost a great friend and beautiful QSL card maker Bill Newman, M0BNN. Bill passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Bill was renowned all over the world for the many distinctive QSL cards that he produced to commemorate contacts to amateur radio enthusiasts who called him at out-of-the-way lighthouse sites, which he visited and photographed. Bill’s efforts in putting lighthouses on the air gained him the nickname ‘Lighthouse Man’ and they were recognised by the Russian Amateur Radio organisation, who several years ago presented him with a Gold Certificate. He also received a Gold Certificate in 2012 for ‘Worked All Britain’.

The cards he made for the Planet Lightship (GB2LBL) and Fort Perch Rock (GB4FPR) together with the ships that called at Liverpool and the personal cards he produced to commemorate people and occasions are second to none.

Bill came into the amateur radio world late on in his life but he made a great impression on this organisation, the Wirral amateur Radio Society.

He originally commenced his working life on the railway, were he became a fireman and later during National Service continued this occupation in the Royal Engineers driving supply trains around Britain. He joined Vauxhall and worked in its Power, Trade & Paint Recovery Plants till his retirement in 1974.

He was a great fisherman and a keen walker. He loved tramping around Scotland, which he knew very well, travelling around in his trusty campervan and becoming well known by all the Camping Club employees.

Thank you very much Bill for all you have done. You will be sincerely missed by all who had the pleasure to know you.

Tribute by members of Wirral Amateur Radio Society (G3NWR)

Category: Silent Keys