Dear CTARC Members,
Our beloved Charles passed away on Saturday 6 June, at 18h10, losing his two and a half year battle to pancreatic cancer.(You are welcome to message Julie on via her e-mail or cellphone, which information will be supplied on request by Anne, the CTARC Secretary.)
Due to current Lockdown restrictions, we will be postponing his Memorial until further notice.
This group is just to keep everyone informed. Thank you to everyone for your overwhelming support and love.
Thank you for sharing your moments you had with Charles.
I am so glad he had the years he did with the club, before he became too tired and ill to participate. He really enjoyed the time spent with you all, learning new things along the way, building up his collection of ham radio equipment with the help and advice from you all, pottering around in his study and listening to the Sunday broadcast. My sons, who live with us, used to always smile when they heard all the strange bleeps coming from his study, and fondly say that Dad was communicating with his alien buddies again. He took such joy away from all the interactions he had, whether it was over the radio, at club meetings or club events, his life was enriched.
I think the last time he was involved with radios was when he was in the Antarctic as part of the SANAE team from Dec 1988 to Feb 1990 - his job was to film the Aurora.
He was, by training, a space physicist (a genuine Rocket Scientist - a good icebreaker when asked what he studied). He did his undergrad degree at Natal University and his honors at Wits in Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics, winning a gold medal, for being the top student. He then represented Natal University, as the one of the scientists on the SANAE team.Our sincerest condolences to Julie and her family for their sad loss. We will all miss Charles greatly.
For many years he spoke of getting back into it and I am so glad he did, and am so grateful for all the club members that made his time with the club so enjoyable.
Charles packed more into his 56 years than most people do in a few lifetimes -
‘A flame that burns twice as bright, burns half as long’ quote by Lao Tzu
We are missing him terribly, but also know, that although, physically he is gone, he is still with us in every other way.
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| Gerald Meneses ZS1GRM 1939 - 2019 |
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| Gerald ZS1GRM, Dave ZS1DFR & Dennis ZS1AU |
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| Gerald with Dennis ZS1DTM |
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| Gerald's badges reflected both the history of South Africa and his own amateur radio career! |
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| Gerald ZS1GRM, photo courtesy of ZS1AU |
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| The ZS1OAK Committee [in approx 2008]; L to R: Dennis ZS1DTM, Ettienne ZS1AX, Marion ZS1QRN, Gerald ZS1GRM, Dave ZS1SG, Dennis ZS1AU and Fred ZS1FCS |
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| Bernie Crockford / ZS1BW (Photo by kind courtesy of Dennis / ZS1AU) |
On Friday 22 December, the key of Bernie Crockford / ZS1BW or “Boere Wors”, as he will be affectionately remembered, went silent. He was 88 years old.
Bernie was born on the channel island of Guernsey.
He saw service in the Royal Navy, and came out to South Africa in 1947 on the HMS Vanguard, which was considered then to be the most advanced battleship in the naval fleet.
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| The special white-painted royal train, with the HMS Vanguard in the background |
Also on board that ship were members of the Royal Family, including then Princess Elizabeth, on their post-war tour of South Africa.
Bernie liked our country so much that he returned here. He married Sylvia, who survives him, and in time became the patriarch of a large family that includes children, grand children and even great grand children who will all, like us, remember him with fondness.
Bernie worked for Gallo South Africa as a recording engineer, in a studio in Oranjezicht. Ted Baker (then ZS1RA) was the managing director. Bernie also worked later on for CNA and was the manager of the Wynberg branch when he retired.
His QTH was in Ferness Rd in Ottery for a number of years, where he kept a significant radio station with a TH6 beam antenna. It was from this QTH that he broke the South African record for DX contacts in the two metre band when he worked a station on a ship up in Luanda harbour on 144 MHz, taking advantage of unusual coastal ducting conditions. As far as I have been able to ascertain, that record still stands unbroken.
Bernie was an honorary life member of both the SARL and of the CTARC. He served as CTARC Chairman and on the CTARC committee. He edited the CTARC newsletter, "Ragchew" for years and also diligently put together the "Acorn Times" newsletter of the Oakdale Klub-Amateur Radio. He also hosted the ZS1OAK Natter Net for some years. He also used to relay the transmission of these CTARC Sunday morning bulletins on the 80 metre band for a while.
Later, Bernie and Sylvia moved up to Langeberg Ridge, where he was not too far from Dave Perry / ZS1SG.
Bernie was one of the great characters of our hobby, broad in compassion, wise in his insights and not unafraid to puncture some over-inflated sacred cows where necessary. We shall certainly miss him.
Go well, old man.
Bernie was a great radio amateur, a GIANT amongst GIANTS and did so much for all in this ZS1 area.A private family memorial service for Bernie was held on 5th January 2018.
He held the SARL Jack Twine & Honorary Life Member Awards.
He served as Chairman and Committee Member of the Cape Town branch / CTARC & Oakdale Club and was the editor of Ragchew (for CTARC) and the Acorn Times (for Oakdale Club).
Bernie was one of a kind and his XYL Sylvia stood by him in all his ham activities.
He was a popular and likeable human being and we will miss him for his contribution to amateur radio and his friendship over many decades.
My deepest sympathy to Sylvia and his large family.
He was 3 months younger than me and his passing was still unexpected.
Bernie had many interesting ideas and was a very busy and hard-working person.
May he rest in peace.
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| Bernie was awarded the Len Wells Ham Spirit Award trophy in both 1981 and 1989 |
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| Bernie at the mike of ZS1OAK |
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| Bernie and Sylvia |
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| Dave / ZS1DFR and Bernie / ZS1BW share a joke at the CTARC fleamarket |
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| Left to right: Alfie / ZS1HX, Bernie / ZS1BW and Mike / ZS1FP |
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| Bernie receives his Honorary Life Membership of the CTARC from CTARC chairman Bud / ZS1BW in 2003 |
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| Photo by kind courtesy of Dave / ZS1DFR |
