Today I have received a Text off Pauls Daughter that the SOTA chasing legend Paul @M0CQE passed away peacefully last night. He was a masive Inspiration to me, and helped me to push my SOTA activation game, and a frankly he was a bloody good friend.
Everyone who has activated in the G/SP region and beyond has worked him, always a HUGE signal SOTA Chasing hasnt been the same since he got ill and came off the radio, and im sure you will all join me in a tribute to the great man.
Paul Hazell - M0CQE…………… RIP My Friend, ill miss you old buddy
This is extremely sad news, Paul was a very supportive chaser of mine, and we always had a brief chat over the airways on every activation. Rest in peace Paul, you were a very thought of chaser, sad times.
Please send condolences to his family for me @2E0JWA Alan, and thank you for sharing the sad news, I thought I hadn’t heard Paul call into me lately.
Sorry to hear that, Paul called me many times over the years, often heading to high ground with his HH to reach me on 2m. Always good to hear his call and his polite warm wishes. A true gent.
Very sorry to read this sad news about Paul. I’d been wondering if things weren’t going so well as I hadn’t been chased by him for some time.
Was always good to work Paul. We invariably exchanged some friendly words when speaking on SSB or FM, and I’m sure like others, will miss his distinctive way of sending his callsign on the key.
Very sad news. I had over 50 chases from Paul over nearly 10 years. If I didn’t have a big pile up we’d always chat, he was happy to have a conversation and was always interested in the summit details. I’ll miss speaking to him. Condolences to his family and friends.
That is sad news. I’d noticed that I hadn’t heard his distinctive fist for some time. He chased me over 100 times, mostly on HF CW but with a number on 2m FM.
This is very sad news. I have enjoyed many pleasant chats with Paul. Without SOTA we would probably never have spoken, yet through our shared hobby we chatted as friends. Paul’s friendly voice, and distinctive fist will be missed.
Very sorry to hear that sad news, Alan. Paul was my favourite Chaser & we usually had a bit of a chat. He was the top chaser with me at 26 chases, the last when I was on Cadair Berwyn last April.
It was only this morning that I checked his log to see if he was back on the air.
I remember asking after him when you chased me on Lliwedd last July.
My condolences to you & his family-the SOTA community has lost a good friend & member.
73 John G0MHF
I had noticed he’d not chased me for quite some time and wondered why. I’ll miss his distinctive fist which was quite unique as a couple of others noted.
Very sad news. Paul was always a great chat while on a summit, usually on 2m. I was always surprised to hear him while on summits in south wales, all the way over in Oldham.
This is really sad news to hear. I had noticed Paul’s absence of late as I hadn’t heard him chasing with his distinctive slow CW style that often got through the pile up. He will be sadly missed.
Very sad news, he had been a constant through my activations and has held the top chaser position in my log for some time, several times saving what could have been a failed activation. I know he struggled since being in hospital and while he returned he was not himself. His absence has been noted for the last few activations.
Words fail me now so, rest easy my SOTA friend, thought’s and prayers to the family.
So very sorry to hear this. I too was always so pleased to hear from him. He was such an encouragement to me as a new operator, supportive and friendly - and just lovely to speak to. Extra memorable to us, his station was one of the few we could receive on VHF at the home QTH.
