Harold is a true Meltonian, born (1919) and bred here in town, spent his working life in woodworking and now enjoys his well-deserved retirement with his wife "Fran". He has truly help to build the town - in fact on his interview for this page, when climbing the stairs to the WINFORCE Office, he approvingly touched the bannisters and whispered "These are some of ours".
If the late Syd, G8CZ earned himself the accolade of "Father of Radio in Melton" then surely Harold is the natural successor to the distinguished title, for he has very kindly given us permission to display his original 1938 Artificial Aerial Licence - the fore-runner to the modern Amateur Transmitting Licence. As Harold was under age at the time of issue (the age of majority was then 21 years) his father was named therein. This document has been very carefully preserved by Harold and is unquestionably of historic value to this record of over 60 years of Amateur Radio in Melton Mowbray. It is of especial interest to note Clause 7 of the Licence and the terms dealing with the "artificial" aerial and radiation not being perceptible outside the building!
During his peak operating years in the heyday of the hobby Harold concentrated on the noble art of Morse Code at which he was very skilled, preferring the rag-chew type of contact rather than the frenzied Contest operating and award chasing so beloved of some operators - à chacun son goût.
He was called to HM Forces in February 1940 and although wishing to join the Royal Corps of Signals was enlisted instead into the 14th Battalion Sherwood Foresters and became one of their Infantry Signallers. He saw service in Egypt, notably at El Alamein, in the Western Desert, the scene of the Allied victory, and at the Anzio Beachhead and on through Italy to the River Tiber at Rome.
We are saddened to report that Harold became Silent Key on Easter Sunday 23rd March 2008.