By Barry Simpson, VK2BJ

David Pilley was born in Christchurch on the south coast of England in February 1930. He had an early interest in “wireless” and built his first crystal set and a TRF receiver at the age of 13.

When he was 17 David joined the Royal Navy and was in the Signals Division. During his Navy service he spent time in Malta where he obtained his amateur call ZB1AIS.

He had met his future wife, Daphne better known as Dee, whilst she was holidaying in Bournemouth near to Christchurch and she eventually flew to join David in Malta where they were married in January 1952.

On leaving the Navy in 1955, they returned to England. David entered the nascent electronics industry with which he was involved throughout his working life. He qualified as an engineer and was a member of The Institution of Electrical and Electronics Incorporated Engineers.

David obtained his UK Amateur Radio License, G3HLW, during that period. He joined FOC in 1965 as member Nr. 832.

In furtherance of his career, David held positions with various employers and from 1967 onwards spent many years living overseas with his family variously in Germany, USA and Australia, where he eventually settled in 1980 and obtained his Australian license, VK2AYD.

On his retirement, David moved to the town of Wauchope near to Port Macquarie on the NSW Mid North Coast where he built a home with acreage bordering a lake providing plenty of room for him to erect antennas and indulge in ham radio.

Throughout both his working life and after retirement, David travelled the world extensively leading to the suspicion that he might have been involved in matters beyond straight forward electronics but that conjecture must remain a mystery. Wherever he went in the world, he developed very close friendships which lasted a lifetime and equally he provided generous hospitality to those who visited him.

David had a thirst for knowledge and pursued all his interests with great vigour. From an amateur radio perspective he was often to be found on CW on the HF bands and was a keen participant in BERU and other contests. In 1996, he formed the two man Australian team with VK5GN for the WRTC held in San Francisco.

In his retirement, he was a member of the Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club Inc. and was awarded Life Membership in 2015. He was also a member of Probus and Lions Club and he was an enthusiastic golfer.

From my own personal experience as well as feedback from others who knew him, he was a kind, thoughtful and friendly man – in short, he was a gentleman.

David passed away at home surrounded by family on 19^th September 2023. He was predeceased by his wife, Dee, in September 2018.

A celebration of David’s life was held in Port Macquarie, NSW on 4^th November 2023 which I attended along with around ten amateurs from the local radio club. There was an abundance of other attendees from all walks of life.

He leaves behind two daughters, Jayne whose son Andrew has a novice licence and Amanda who is also planning to perpetuate the family interest in electronics by obtaining her own licence.