Doug was a Meltonian, the son of a railwayman and dedicated not only to our mutual hobby but to the encouragement of youngsters in furthering their education, especially in the technical fields.
It was Doug's motivation in 1958 which gathered together the then radio amateurs and Short Wave Listeners in the district to form the Melton Mowbray Amateur Radio Society and create a pattern of meetings and radio nets which continue in almost unmodified form to this day.
He was the first member of the Society to volunteer to give private tuition for the City & Guilds Radio Amateurs Examination before the availability of classes at the local College of Further Education. He later became a Governor of the Melton Mowbray CFE.
He was one of the first amateurs in the district to "go mobile" and the very first locally to use SSB, having constructed for himself the famed G2DAF equipment.
Doug, a Graduate of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, became Works Engineer at the Holwell Ironworks, Asfordby Hill and was instrumental in arranging our long-term meeting place (the St.John Ambulance Brigade Hall of the Holwell Works Division).
His premature death on 19th January 1977 reluctantly forced the Society to open its now ever-growing list of Silent Keys. The Doug Lilley Memorial Trophy was created and the recipients are in the classes of Licensed Member and Non-licensed Member, at a vote of Members present at the AGM, who have done the most for the Society and made the most progress respectively.
A picture taken of Doug for the "Rogues' Gallery" of Holwell Works - a treasured heirloom belonging to Muriel, his wife and naturally admired by his son Nigel as well as past and present Members of the local Radio Society. Many of you will notice he is sporting with pride his RSGB membership badge.
Page © 2000 G3NVK
RICHARD WINTERS