I have a video of Tom Christian (VP6TC) and his daughters when they visited the Merced, CA Amateur Radio Club during a tour of the United States. I will always cherish my Pitcairn Island QSL cards. So Sorry to hear VP6TC became an SK (silent key). The following appeared in the October 2013 edition of QST that I received in todays mail. Tom Christian, VP6TC/VR6TC, SK TAGS: Daily DX, disease, ham radio friends, hams, meters, thanks, voice 07/30/2013 Tom Christian, VP6RC/VR6TC, a long-time radio amateur who became known as “the Voice of Pitcairn,” died July 7 on the tiny South Pacific Island that was his lifelong home. He was 78 and a descendent of Fletcher Christian of “Mutiny on the Bounty” fame. In 2009 he was diagnosed with possible Alzheimer’s disease. According to his wife Betty, VP6YL/VR6YL, his health “deteriorated all too quickly,” and the last few months were, in her words, “cruel ones to watch such a strong, vibrant man reduced to where he was not really aware of his surroundings and then was unable to walk and swallow food or liquid.” Tom was first licensed in 1957. Over the years, he and Betty kept in routine radio contact with their ham radio friends overseas as well as with two of their daughters who are hams. He often ran just 70 W into a 250 foot wire on 15 meters and was able to work the US easily. Tom was buried July 8 in the cemetery on Pitcairn. He was a Member of the British Empire (M.B.E), and served for 40 years on the Pitcairn Island Council as the Governor’s Representative. In addition to his wife, survivors include the couple’s four daughters, Darilene; Sherilene; Jacqueline, VK2CDC, and Raelene, ZL2RAE. — Thanks to The Daily DX, NN1N, KI5DR and OH2BR
Posted on: Fri, 13 Sep 2013 03:33:41 +0000
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