R.B. (Bob) Kerr GM8CFL / GM4FDT-SK
Bob Kerr died aged 80 in Invergordon on 27 Nov 2023. He had been an active member of the Lothians Radio Society in the 1960s & 70s.
Robert Bethune Kerr GM4FDT 1943 – 2023
Robin was born in Glasgow Redlands Hospital in 1943 to parents Robert and Anna Kerr.
He moved with his parents from Milngavie to Invergordon in 1952 to his grandparents’
house where he remained all his days. After secondary school he attended Robert Gordon
College in Aberdeen for further education. His early career started with the BBC when he was
appointed to the sound engineering department at Queen Margaret Drive Glasgow.
His interest in radio started at a young age tinkering and repairing broadcast radios for friends
and neighbours sparking the ham radio bug with the GM8CFL c/s followed later with the call
GM4FDT after passing his 12wpm Morse test at the Marine Coast Station Wick Radio.
Growing up with valve and Govt. surplus gear he was a keen home brewer and constructor
for many of the ham bands, mounted into 17 inch rack mounted cabinets in his shack.
Keen on the June National Field Day event his top band rig would be loaded into the farmer’s
top fence wire in the hope of gaining those extra scoring points!
The Easter Ross Radio Club was active for many years from his premises up until his death
with the call GM4MFL, an ideal site clear from TVI and EMC, on the shore of the Cromarty Firth.
Alastair GM3WED
Photos above from Scottish VHF Convention 1969. (GM4FDT 5th from left)
Click for Ross-shire Journal Death Notice.
Click for 1969 VHF Convention article with photos.
Click for Practical Wireless article on valved receivers.
Click for P.W. article “What a Good Idea” – p.52
We are grateful to Shirley of Alasdair Rhind, Funeral Directors, Tain, for these photographs from Bob’s funeral order-of service:
Bob “Robin” Kerr GM4FDT.
Bob GM4FDT with group of friends at a meeting of the Easter Ross Radio Club.
L-R: Bob Kerr GM4FDT SK 2023; Alastair Rose GM3WED (ex-New Zealand Shipping); Alister Ross GM3DYS SK 1983;
George Pople G4AVJ; Gordon Matthew (VE) SK; Norman Mackenzie GM3WIJ SK 2025; Canon Ian McHardy GM3JFG SK 1999.
======================================
Here’s a group of “interesting” radio amateurs from the West of Scotland Amateur Radio Society site.
=======================================================
