Death of Louis Varney, G5RV
It is with regret that we have to report that Louis Varney, G5RV passed away on Wednesday, 28th June 2000 at his home in Burgess Hill, Sussex.He was 89 on the 9th June 2000.
CARS Club President Harry, G5HF was the last person to work Louis, on 11th January, 2000.
Louis was a Founder Member of the Society in Chelmsford in 1936 and was a Life Member. He will be remembered for his work on Amateur radio aerials and in particular the G5RV for the HF Bands.
It is strange to report that the rope halyard broke the day Louis died bringing his double size G5RV aerial down to "half-mast".
Louis's QSL Card dated December 6th 1942 when he was in the Army but living in Chelmsford.
At this time he would have been a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Signals, SCU3 Unit - HF Interception and DF
He was in charge of installation, calibration and maintenance of all DF Stations in the UK.
It records a meeting which included Harry Heap, G5HF who at that time was a Secret Y Station Listener.
It also includes Lawrence (Laurie) Fuller, G6LB who ran a Gents Outfitters shop in the High Street
having come from London, F E Smith, BRS 5242 who ran a Radio and HiFi shop in Moulsham Street,
late Harry Lowe, BRS 3555 (but G2HPF after the war) and George Heales, BRS 3650.
Two Canadian Amateurs, Mr Welsh, VE5PM and Mr Davis, VE4UO were present but no details are available for them at present.
Information and QSL Card by courtesy of Harry Heap, G5HF, Life Fellow Member of CARS.
G5RV Memories by Arthur Butcher, G3KPJ
G5RV Memories by CARS
Louis sent this QSL Card to GM3AWW as a request for a QSL Card in return for his DXCC Award.
It shows Louis operated from 75 Countries using over 50 Call-signs.
Peter Bendall-SWL, Alan Davies-G3INW, Peter Naish-G3EIX and
Louis Varney-G5RV (Right)
Peter Bendall was later G3NBU and now DJ0JR, Alan is now GW3INW,
Peter Naish was later VK2BPN.
The photograph was taken in a tent set up in "The Rec" Chelmsford (now
Central Park) to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1952.
The Special Event Station, callsign GB2CRA (Chelmsford Radio Amateurs) was
the first time that a GB callsign was issued for such purposes.
Louis, probably though his contacts in the GPO (the Licencing Authority at that
time) arranged for the call to be issued. Up to then, only the RSGB
Headquarters had GB callsigns - they were not very pleased when Louis broke
their monopoly. This was probably what started the general issue of such
callsigns.
The photograph shows the original G5RV "TVI Proof" 50 Watt Transmitter
built by G5RV. The later one had 2 x 807s in the PA and was published as
the "Elizabethan" because of the Coronation. Also in the picture is a
HRO loaned by Lawrence Fuller, G6LB.
The photograph was taken by G3KPJ using a 9 x 12cm plate camera and the above
picture was scanned directly from a contact print. Our thanks to Arthur,
G3KPJ for permission to publish his photograph.
Louis Varney (left) talking to the late Arthur Butcher,
G3KPJ with Vice President Geoff Mills, G3EDM looking on.
Photograph taken a year or two ago when Louis
presented a Talk to CARS.
President Roy Martyr, G3PMX introducing Louis Varney before
he presented a talk on Aerial System Tuning Units (ASTU).
Photograph taken in July 1995.
President Roy Martyr, G3PMX talking to the audience with Louis Varney during
his talk.
Note late Geoff Cockerill, G2AMQ is seated centre.
Louis Varney adjusting his ASTU.
Louis Varney answering a question from the floor.
While Louis was lecturering, his Wife Nelida sat outside as that evening was very hot indeed.
Taken at another CARS Meeting in Arbour Lane when Louis was a member of the audience.
Seated left to right. Gwyn, G4FKH; Harry, G5HF; Louis, G5RV and Martyn. Tony G4YTG is standing right.
Looking behind Gwyn is the late Arthur Butcher, G3KPJ, to the right SK Harry Lowe G2HNF and then Ken Whittle, G7RFT.
Behind Martyn is Malcolm Lees G4KGL. Just peering out behind Tony is SK George Cutting G3GNQ.
SK Ela Martyr G4HKI and President Roy Martyr, G3PMX can be seen as can SK Wally - CARS Reverend.
Eric Lawley G3MMX can be seen in a red jumper towards the back - he now lives near Plymouth.
Right at the back is Andrew from Silver End and CARS Lead Trainer Chris Chapman, G0IPU.
Contact Information
The August Newsletter refering to the Death of G5RV is available for
you to read and print-out, if you wish.
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