David Simmonds, G3JKB, 7th November 2019

David (Dave) Simmonds, G3JKB, FOC 1950, passed away on the 7th of November 2019 after his health had deteriorated over the previous year.

Dave joined the RSGB HQ staff in the summer of 1989, when HQ was still in Potters Bar,  and shortly thereafter was appointed General Manager.

David was licenced aged 16 in 1953 as G3JKB and was a keen CW operator on the HF bands. He became Chairman of Verulam ARC in 1972, a position he held until 1975. Following two house moves he was persuaded by the then RSGB General Manager David Evans, G3OUF to take on the role of General Manager and to oversee the restructuring of the RSGB Membership Database via a new computer system.

David left the RSGB to continue with an ongoing project to redevelop a farmhouse set in 3.5 acres near Binbrook in Lincolnshire where he was able to erect an extensive antenna system. Although now in retirement he took on the running of a failing printing company in Grimsby and, after having put the company back on its feet, he finally retired permanently to enjoy daily HF CW contacts from his purpose-built shack. He had also joined RAOTA and managed the RAOTA video library for some years.

Following two strokes, after the second of which he lost the ability to read and send CW, he and wife Jacquie moved to Woodhall Spa. They then relocated in September 2019 to Chipping Sodbury to be nearer to four of their children.

David leaves a wife Jacquie, 6 children and 11 grandchildren.

Tribute by Bryan Harber, G8DKK

Category: Silent Keys