DAVE PACK (SWT - GUILDFORD DETACHMENT)

This section contains announcements and postings relating to ex-DTELS members of staff who's death has been notified to this forum.
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HoneyMonster
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Re: DAVE PACK (SWT - GUILDFORD DETACHMENT)

Post by HoneyMonster »

I have just revisited the DTels website after some time therefore only just seen that David Pack has sadly passed.

I was one of his Team from 1980 to 1985 initially as a Wireless Mechanic and then Wireless Technician. Steve Melling was one of the WT’s when I joined. David gave me my first start in the radio business and was probably the single most important influencer in my career providing every support and opportunity he could both to me and to the other youngsters (I was 19) at Guildford. He also encouraged me to get my Amateur Licence and supported my gaining professional technical qualifications. That is something I will always be incredibly grateful to him for.

I left Guildford in 1985 to join the then fledgling Radio Investigation Service and took the lessons learned from my time at Guildford with me. I eventually ended up as as an RWE equivalent with the Radiocommunications Agency at Baldock before moving into the IT industry for 9 years when Ofcom ‘released’ myself and hundreds of my colleagues.

Today I am once again back in the Civil Service but now as a Programme Manager developing highly innovative and cutting edge technical hardware & software solutions for radio communications systems deployed by various Agencies. I have no doubt that without that start Dave Pack offered me at Guildford almost 40 years ago, I would not be doing what I now do. I also like to think that he might be quietly pleased at how well one of his team has done. Sadly I never got to tell him.

Thank you David. :D
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gordon wyatt
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Re: DAVE PACK (SWT - GUILDFORD DETACHMENT)

Post by gordon wyatt »

Very sad to hear of the passing of Dave Pack G3MPS.
I can only tell a small story to back up what Bill has said about Dave passing on his knowledge and helping people.
As a very young 14 year old in the early 60's. I had built a 432Mhz tripler and PA from a magazine article. I heard Dave call and went back to him, we worked each other but after giving me a generous report Dave suggested that something was not right with my transmission.
A couple of days later I worked Dave again having found that my tripler was in fact doubling and all my power was on 288Mhz. With glee I explained to Dave what I had found. I could practically see him smiling as he told me he had found the same thing with that design himself. We had a laugh about that at our 1st meeting at Longleat Rally. He was testing me to see if I could find it myself before telling me.

Years later when I was CWT at Hannington Dave was SWT at Guildford detachment. I had a serious problem one Friday afternoon. On the Saturday I had two visits at my home the 1st was Lyn Williams SWT Kidlington and later Dave both these guy's had driven 40 miles to help me out.

It was a priviledge to have known Dave as a Radio Amateur friend and later in the Directorate.

I regret that we only exchanged a couple of emails once he left for VK land.

R.I.P. Dave old friend 73 DE GW8ASA
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Billy Coombes
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Re: DAVE PACK (SWT - GUILDFORD DETACHMENT)

Post by Billy Coombes »

I first met Dave when I joined Shapwick on 02/01/1967. We were both W/T 's and Dave taught me a great deal about how the systems worked. We went on many call-outs together and I had the greatest respect for Dave.

R.I.P. Dave

Billy Coombes
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David Rumens
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Re: DAVE PACK (SWT - GUILDFORD DETACHMENT)

Post by David Rumens »

Dave was well respected within the Hannington Region both technically and as a person. As an SWT at Hannington I always found him to be very helpful when I was working on his patch.

RIP Dave
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DAVE PACK (SWT - GUILDFORD DETACHMENT)

Post by Steven Cole »

Posted on behalf of Steve Melling

I have recently discovered that my old boss at Guildford outstation, Dave Pack (SWT), passed away last October. I had contacted him since he emigrated to Australia, but found this reference through the NSW Amateur Radio news. Some other members of staff may remember him as I believed he did work from Shapwick for some time.

Webmaster Note
I last heard from Dave in 2006. His email at the time mentioned he had joined the Directorate at Shapwick in 1963 then moved on promotion to SWT Guildford in 1969 before taking early retirement in 1990 to enjoy life in Australia. From a facebook page run by Amateur Radio New South Wales his funeral arrangements were scheduled to take place on Monday the 24th of October at Forest Lawn Memorial Park,1640 Camden Valley Way Leppington.

The NSW Amateur Radio News article refers to Dave and his wife Judy emigrating to Australia and his wealth of ATV knowledge and technical skills. He was also responsible for much of the construction, installation and ongoing maintenance of the VK2RFM ATV repeater at Oakdale. He was also involved in the installation and maintenance of the VK2RTS ATV when it moved to its current site at Lawson. His amateur radio call sign was VK2GIO.
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