Tribute to David Wood, G3YXX (1685)

By Terry Robinson, GM3WUX

David and I were at school together, I think he joined us in 1965 and we soon found common interest in things practical. He was very good with his hands – woodwork, Meccano etc.

He got his full ticket, G3YXX in 1969, so for a while there were four of us sharing the school station which consisted of a KW Vanguard, Eddystone 888A RX and a W3DZZ antenna. We had a great QTH on the southeast side of Worcester and, it being near a Solar Maximum, we had some good fun on that station. Fortunately we shared it amicably enough by myself, Dick (G3YTD, ZL2FF, no longer QRV) and Jay (G3XZG SK).

I left Worcester College in 1970 and David in 1973, we had several AM QSO’s during this time, but once he left, we kept in fairly close contact. He studied Physics at Sheffield University and I attended his 21^st birthday party. Suffice to say, he got very merry and he, two of his friends and I adjourned to a room accompanied by at least one case of beer. At some point, we decided that, as he wasn’t drinking it, we’d take turns to pour beer over him, I think he was past caring (HI). Eventually, we decided that he needed a wash, so he was put in a cold bath. This was very much a tradition, certainly in the UK. I went in on my 21^st. It was all very decorous, you were allowed to remove anything that could be damaged by water, but it was always clear that you were going in, fully clothed.

David graduated in Physics and started a career in Engineering, but soon moved over into Physiotherapy. He joined a private business from which he eventually bought out his partners and ran this business very successfully for some years, till retirement.

This wasn’t the end, he and a friend then established a micro-brewery which proved very successful, like all David’s business ventures. I understand he had a property letting business as well, yet he still found time to get on the air and joined our Club (I forget which year). [Ed. 1997]

Sadly, David developed a chronic heart condition which limited his activity through the last few years of his life.

He was a constant source of valuable advice and had a great sense of humour, which I’ll sadly miss.

David is survived by his XYL Liz and two daughters.

RIP mate, 161