PLEASE NOTE:
- G4SSH-SK. Further to his hospitalisation on 17th December, I regret to report that Roy passed away on Christmas Day. Please see my later post - No37 on this thread).
- This thread reached 100 messages and was automatically closed. Please see the continuation thread: G4SSH Roy SK 25/12/2020 part 2 - People - SOTA Reflector
(I have modified the title from “G4SSH Roy in Hospital with COVID-19” to the current one. Andy MM0FMF). Thanks for that Andy and for instigating part-2, John.
To All:
I’m sorry to say that G4SSH Roy, well known CW man and ex-SOTA News Editor, was admitted to Scarborough Hospital after being found unconscious in his care home on the morning of 17th December.
Having failed to get through to him on the phone since 27th November on which date we had a good conversation for over 30 minutes, I was amazed when he phoned me tonight (19th) from his hospital bed on the COVID ward. We were on for 5-minutes, Roy speaking 90% of the time and though I could make out almost nothing of what he said, his voice was at least fairly strong which is encouraging. I could hear the nurse helping him with phoning. At the end we did our usual thing which was ‘VA’ in Morse from me with ‘dit-dit’ coming right back; then ‘73.’
I know Roy was known to many SOTA activators, who do miss him on the air, as do I. He moved to a new and larger room in October so I dropped-off his FT1000, Keyer etc. at the home; giving the manager a 20m band indoor dipole plus instructions. No outside antennas allowed. It wouldn’t be up to much but I thought if he could at least hear even one or two of the strongest CW signals it might help with the isolation.
Unfortunately the home haven’t had chance to string the aerial up because COVID is in the place. I wish I’d been allowed to, or dared to, go in. It would have taken me half an hour. The other issue is Parkinson’s and its effect on Roy’s mental well being in the way of hallucinations. Sometimes when you speak to him he is better than others.
Many thanks to Andy MM0FMF who phoned me yesterday, to everybody on Phil G4OBK’s thread who left messages and to Allen to say I’m very sorry to hear about his sad loss which must be truly dreadful, especially when Christmas comes around. I managed to pass these good wishes on to Roy tonight at the end of our conversation.
I am in touch with Roy’s daughter Heather via email and if I hear any more I will post it on here.
Born 1936, we hope & pray he’ll pull through. If so it’ll be a long job. Where there’s life there’s hope and our local amateur Muriel G6AFZ managed it in April and she’s the same age as Roy.
I hope everybody finds at least some positives in their respective Christmases though this won’t be one to remember.
73 John
(G4YSS/ GX0OOO/P)
Just stay safe!
