| 24th | June | 2009 | Created this page in July 2009 |
| Introduction
Jack Ridley - G2AFJ became a Silent Key in 1993, aged 80. Jimmy was a Founder Member of CARS. | 
Jack Ridley - 1955. |
Jack Ridley G2AJF was an active member of Chelmsford RSGB Group in the 1940’s and 50’s. He
originally lived in digs in Galleywood Road just a few hundred metres from Louis Varney, G5RV
and George Cutting G3GNQ then an SWL. Jack later moved to a house in Springfield
that stood exactly where the Sainsbury’s Petrol Station stands today.
G2AFJ QSL Card from 1950
Card confirms the first contact Jack had with the newly Licensed George Cutting, G3GNQ.
1953 visit of the Mayor of Chelmsford
This was the Coronation year and CARS operated GB2CRA.
Jack Ridley was involved with this event.
1953 - CARS operated GB2CRA.
1953 - GB2CRA QSL Card issued to Ruth.
Jack worked for Cromptons and moved with the company to Brantford Ontario in Canada during 1955 where he obtained the callsign VE3EHR and worked several Chelmsford stations including George Cutting, G3GNQ.
VE3EHR QSL Card from 1958
Jack later moved to Montreal in 1967 and for three years where he operated as VE2AJV.
Jack never liked the VE3EHR as he felt it was difficult to understand over the air so when he returned to Brantford in 1970 he requested a new callsign and received VE3DLR, which he retain for the rest of his life.
VE3DLR QSL Card from 1958
While back in Brantford Jack made contact with Al Sass VE3AS, and the two became good friends and supporters of the Brantford Amateur Radio Club VE3BA. Al, it turned out was Jack’s first ever Canadian contact as G2AJF.
Jack maintained a regular contact with his many friends in the UK, including G2PB, and Louis Varney G2RV.
1959 with Louis Varney, G5RV & Peter Naish in Canada.
In the 1970’s he had a contact with GW3PFV and they discovered they both knew George Cutting, G3GNQ. GW3PFV arranged a sked between Jack and George and it was the start of regular Monday night contacts, at 6pm U.K. local time, between the two stations.
George Cutting, G3GNQ in 1975
In total 573 weekly contacts were made between them before Jack passed away in August 1993 in his 80th year.
PS: Some time after my father passed away the family was contacted and asked to release VE3DLR to another Radio Amateur. We were pleased to do so. So while Jack is silent key, VE3DLR lives on. If anyonr reading this is in contact with VE3DLR, please pass on the family’s regards.
Trevor M5AKA August 2002/ Martyn Ridley September 2008
Received in August 2008 from Martyn Ridley, Jack's Son.
For the fun of it I typed G2AJF at lunch time and had your site come up with the notice of George Cutting's passing. I only remember meeting George once (though I must have met him when I was very young), when he was here with his wife on holidays.
As child I remember being woken up by VE3EHR/VE2AJV/VE3DLR as it came blasting through my radio in the morning - Dad being on a contest of some kind. I was too young for G2AJF. Please add G2AJF to you silent key list, August 1993. I don't know whether he actually belonged to your group but I know the RSGB bulletin was always in the house.
The question most ask is whether his sons followed in his footsteps; no and yes. Neither my brother nor I took up radio, but we both became very involved in computers, which if your think laterally, is just a standard deviation away.
Best wishes to the CARS, and for Dad; 73s
Martyn Ridley
Logistics Manager
Kerry Canada Inc.
martyn.ridley@kerry.com
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