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G4PDZ Remembered

A Cornishman by birth, he worked in the late 1940's for Mays of Churchgate in Leicester, as a Radio and TV repairman. After leaving Mays he went to work for the British Shoe Corporation where he stayed until he was made redundant in the early 1980's

With his redundancy payment Frank and son Paul G4MQS opened an Amateur Radio shop in Braunstone Gate and later on Hinckley Road, until he chose to retire a few years ago.

Frank was directly responsible for the formation of the L.A.R.S. Committee in 1983. There had been an amateur radio show at Granby Halls since 1971, run and organised by the ARRA. However, in the early 1980's the ARRA were of the opinion that Granby Halls was not big enough to cope with an expanding market and they moved the show to the then Motorcycle Museum at Castle Donington. Subsequently traders decided to abandon running their own show altogether and Frank saw the opportunity to continue the tradition of a Leicester Show. He approached the two largest amateur radio organisations in the area at the time, The Leicestershire Repeater Group and The Leicester Radio Society. As a result the Leicester Amateur Radio Show Committee was formed to organise what has become a major event in the U.K. amateur radio calendar. Frank was especially pleased to receive a letter of congratulation from the patron of the RSGB, HRH Prince Philip on the occasion of the 25th show in 1996.

Franks skills of persuasion helped the show to thrive and expand, improving each year on the facilities offered, even to the point of winning over the City Council which allowed the use of Nelson Mandela Park for car parking in 1996 and again for 1997.

This year, after the City Council announced the closure of Granby Halls Frank still managed to persuade them to allow the halls to open especially for our 1997 show.

As a result of his involvement in the show Frank made many friends and was greatly respected throughout the amateur radio world. Both LRG and LRS held Frank in the highest esteem. He served as Secretary to both organisations over the years and was currently Vice President of LRG and the President of LRS.

Frank had written a history of The Leicester Radio Society that established it as one of the oldest amateur radio clubs in the country and had also written a short history of Glenfield where he lived for many years. He had been a special constable for 25 years and had also been involved in raising funds for various charities.

A great many people will miss Frank; not least those throughout the amateur radio community who will especially remember him every autumn, when the Leicester Show comes around again. Frank Elliott G4PDZ, a real radio amateur and true gentleman.

Ted Fuller G6XYP - With thanks for information supplied by John Theodorson G4MTP and Geoff Dover G4AFJ.

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