In 1986, Rev George Dobbs G3RJV addressed the Dover Radio Club for a talk about QRP or low power operating. George was the founder and main man in the British G-QRP Club.

I had a neighbour that was a nightmare and I looked forward to this talk.

Little did I know that this slight man, a vicar from Rochdale near Manchester would change my life:

No; it wasn't a call from God but a call from George. His first comment made me sit up and take notice.

"An operator with a small dipole at QRP levels will squirt his RF weakly all around but an amateur with a beam is lucky, he can squirt his RF weakly in just one direction!

This short, bearded diminutive man actually made sense to me, what I wasn't to know was that within a few short years I would be spending my 10 day trips to America and the Dayton Hamfest with this man. We would become firm friends. Not only him and I but my wife and his wife, JoAnna  liked each other so we even shared a few holidays!

Back then in the mid 1980's QRP was a strange hobby to follow but I signed up and got membership number 2559, a number that would haunt me. Every QSO with a club member would be answered by a call 'number again?' NO, This is NOT your report! MY NUMBER is 2559! UR rst is 549!

I travelled to Dayton and also to Germany with G3RJV for many years selling my kits as Kanga Products. We shared a room on most trips, the funniest being a room with a double bed on more than one occasion!!

I also became the G-QRP Clubs SSB & Data manager in the early 90's and remain so.

In the early days of my trips to the USA I joined QRP-ARCI. The QRP - Amateur Radio Club International. I was very soon to become to International Representative collecting subs from non Americans.

In 1997 I had decided to take a break from Dayton and the clubs Four Days in May (FDIM) celebrations.

A couple of weeks before FDIM I received an email from the then clubs President. I showed it to my wife who promptly told me to get a flight. The Saturday evening of the event I received the clubs highest honour when I was the enrolled in the QRP Hall of Fame.

After a few years I was invited to join the elite; the Board of Directors. The six ARCI members that ran the club. I accepted and joined in the BOD in 2001.

After a while I was asked if I fancied running for Vice President. No Thanks, I am not a Yank! Within a month I was the VP!

Two years later the President resigns and I am asked to take over, I have the 100% support of the BOD so I go for it. The FIRST NON AMERICAN PRESIDENT IN THE 40 YEAR HISTORY OF THE CLUB!   WOW, what an honour.

I held the post for not just the normal 4 years, but was asked to stay on for another term, after a further 3 years I felt I was getting stale and resigned. My then Vice President W4DU after much encouragement took over. He is excellent in the job!

QRP is not just low power but a frame of mind. Enjoy using low power when you can but if you need the amp - use it.

Why not?