i have been interested in shortwave radio listening since i was very young growing up in a small coal mining town in central nova scotia canada. i joined the canadian navy and was trained as a wireless operator and worked on many ships as well a naval radio station (CFH) and tape relay center. i eventually changed my naval trade to deep-sea diver and was also involved in commercial diving,submersibles and explosives disposal.

after naval service i was employed by the canadian coastguard as a radio officer at the local coastal station at ketch harbour(VCS), nova scotia, a station which was always busy with morse code,mainly from commercial shipping and russian and japanese fleet factory fishing vessels in canadian waters .for several years after coastguard service i was employed with a local tug company as both master and mate and sailed mainly in the local coastal area .

finally in my 65th year i studied for and passed my basic course with the halifax amateur club,with graduation march 16th/2006. with many thanks to the halifax club and their volunteer staff i am eagerly looking forward to many years of enjoyment with this great hobby.

my rig is a yaesu ft-897d with bolt-on tuner, g5rv and carolina windom antennas at about 30 feet, pwr 80 watts. i am a die-hard cw ham, and love to use my old navy vibroplex  bug as well as paddles. fists nbr -12789