Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society

Anthony Neil Martin M1FDE - Silent Key
5-Jan-1967 - 20-Sep-2008 , Age 41

Silent Key

Anthony Neil Martin, M1FDE became a Silent Key on 20 September 2008, aged 41.

Anthony was a Committee Member of CARS and a Tutor in the Training Group.

Anthony was a professional rf engineer and a pioneer of the Personal Role Radio (PRR) introduced into the British Army in 2002 - he was responsible for the RF design. Prior to its use, the infantry could only communicate with each other via hand signals and shouting.

The PRR is now seen regularly on TV news reports being used by UK and Allied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Background

Anthony was born & educated in Birmingham and left school with 13 GCEs, 6 A-Levels and two S-Levels.

He was sponsored at University by Marconi and was awarded a Science Degree at Bath University where he met Cathy, his Wife. After completing University he worked for Marconi Communications in Chelmsford.

They had two children, Scott & Chris.

Anthony & Cathy,  2006
Anthony with Cathy at the March 2006 CARS Tutors meal at the Imperial in Baddow Road

Anthony was always interested in electronic home constuctrion and radio and he sat the City & Guilds Radio Amateurs Exam (RAE) in December 2001 and was allocated the callsign M1FDE in early 2002.

He devoted much of his spare time to St Mary's Church, Great Baddow and Amateur Radio.
Wednesday evenings he attended Bible Meetings at St Mary's and most Thursday evening at the Amateur Radio Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced classes run by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) in Danbury.

Anthony's contribution to the CARS Training Programme assisted in CARS being awarded the Kenwood Trophy by the RSGB in 2007.   The Training Group, including Anthony, travelled to Scotland to receive it from the President, Angus Annan, MM1CCR.


Anthony with Murray G6JYB (right) at an Advanced Exam training class

He served as a Committee member of CARS and the Essex Repeater Group (ERG).
He ran the MB7ICM 6m Echolink node and helped establish and maintain the Chelmsford 2 metre Echolink node MB7IDA.


Trevor M5AKA; Murray G6JYB; Clive G1EUC (seated) & Anthony M1FDE at the MB7IDA site

Anthony provided much assistance to the CARS website helping to recover the site when it was lost by the then ISP and setting up and maintaining the G0MWT.ORG.UK domain name.

He provided the audio system in St Mary's Church and maintained it and the Radio Microphone system to a very high standard.


Construction

A keen constructor, Anthony always did well in the CARS Constructor Competitions...

  • 2000: 3rd Prize for automatic tester for audio leads (not on web)
  • 2001: 2nd Prize for 12 volt PSU
  • 2002: Entry for an Electronic Thermostat
  • 2003: 1st Prize for a CTCSS tone generator (and see below upto 2008)


     
    2003: 1st Prize for CTCSS Tone genrator - Anthony M1FDE receiving his award from Dick Brocks G3WHR, CARS President


     
    2004: 3rd Prize for Digital Display Board for Grays RCCC - presented by Vice President, Geoff G3EDM


     
    2005: 3rd Prize for Packet TNC - award presented by Chris Chapman G0IPU, CARS Chairman



    2006: 1st Prize for Triplexer - combining 6m, 2m & 70cm


    2007 - working away from Chelmsford so unable to enter.


    Anthony, M1FDE - SK  
    2008: Anthony presenting his entry for a modified car key fob for remote closedonw of his Echolink station


    Anthony, M1FDE - receiving proize from Harry G5HF
    2008: Receiving 2nd prize for Remote Station Shutdown Unit from CARS President, Harry G5HF



    Standing: Trevor M5AKA; Anthony M1FDE; Colin G0TRM; Murray G6JYB & Oliver Prin 2E0WAA
    Seated: Patrick M0XAP operating GB96MWT with John Yates G1UZD
    at the final public day of New Street, June 2008


    Funeral

    The Funeral Service for Anthony was on 2nd October at St Mary's Church, Great Baddow.

    Anthony, M1FDE - SK
    St Mary's Church, Great Baddow

    Service:

    A pdf copy of the service is below...

    The Funeral Service, was led by Reverend Sandra Southee.
    Hymns were led by Ms Lynsey Crisp who had a most beautiful voice.

    Clive G1EUC spoke at the Service about Anthony's involvement with Amateur Radio.

    His Widow, Cathy described the Service as a celebration of Anthony's Life.

    It was followed by an Interment at St Michaels Church in Galleywood.

    At St Mary's, after the Service, there was a Wake at the rear of the Church and was attended by the large gathering of Anthony's friends, work colleagues, CARS Members & Church Members.

    Anthony, M1FDE - SK
    Some of the hundred or so people who attended the Service


    Anthony was a likeable, easygoing character who will be remembered with affection and missed very much by his associates and many friends.
    CARS extend our sympathy to Cathy and the Family.

    John G8DET. Chairman, Trevor, M5AKA & Murray, G6JYB.


    Link to St Mary's Church, Great Baddow website




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