I was very saddened to hear that John Heath had passed away over the weekend. I had come across him about 20yrs ago whilst calling CQ on 2m ssb, it soon became clear we had the same interest in Amateur Radio Satellites. John was a very private person and after an exchange of emails last year it became apparent that his health was declining rapidly but he never let on about the serious of his condition that's just the sort of man he was. I think Clive Wallis has posted an exelent epitaph for John which I don't to intend to elaborate on much more. I will just like to add that John was a founding member of the National Space Centre A.R.S here in Leicester and participated in a number of Special event stations on Amateur satellites :-GB1MSF,GB1WIS,GB5OSO to name but a few. Although his new QTH in Devon was not very suitable for Satellite operations he still retained a keen interest in Radi right to the end, indeed in the last 6 months of last year he was experimenting with kites and wire antennas and had constructed a QRP kit for HF. John Heath was a Gentleman in the true sense of the word and a good friend always willing to help out in any way he could I will say no more John Heath R.I.P.
Robert G8ATE