Michael Telkman, G8DCA

It is with sadness that I report the sudden passing of Michael Telkman, G8DCA. While Mike might not have been a high-profile member of the amateur community, anyone who bought, built or used one of Wood & Douglas’ range of amateur radio kits in the 70s, 80s and 90s will have been touched by Mike’s design genius. Each and every one of the W&D range of amateur market kits and modules was designed by Mike.

Mike was born in 1952 and grew up in Sussex. From an early age he had an inquisitive interest in electronics. On leaving school he joined the UKAEA as a student engineer and was sponsored for his electronics degree at Southampton University.

Michael Telkman, G8DCA (SK) seen at his desk at W&D

While employed by the UKAEA, Mike encountered Alan Wood, G4EEE and John Douglas, G8MGC who had formed an embryonic part-time company undertaking design and development projects. Mike joined the partnership and became the engineering influence. The first of his products was a single channel crystal-controlled transceiver for what was then the Phase 2 repeater rollout. As sales increased for the ever-expanding range of VHF and UHF amateur radio kits and modules, the company evolved into a full-time entity. With this corporate change came more and more demand for commercial products for markets in broadcast, telemetry and security.

Mike retired from W&D in 2001 but the technical bedrock that he created allowed the Company to continue to expand and flourish. In 2013, at the time of the commercial sale of Wood & Douglas Ltd, the Company was employing 70 staff at four locations in the UK, had annual sales of £8m and had received the Queens Award for Enterprise for its export sales. The Company was internationally recognised and respected.

Mike was a quiet and unassuming individual, something that totally masked his genius. Designing kits and modules might seem to some as a trivial undertaking. Designing something that would work when potentially it could be assembled by all manner of technical and practical ability on perhaps a kitchen table with a poker for a soldering iron takes some doing. He excelled at this. Anyone who experienced Mike’s patient technical support on the W&D rally stand or had the pleasure of working with him at W&D will be saddened at the early passing of ‘Big Mike’.

Alan Wood, G4EEE

Category: Silent Keys