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Old 25th May 2022, 7:55 am   #41
dodgy-dxer
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

Thread herw been going a while

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...d.php?t=191231
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Old 25th May 2022, 8:52 am   #42
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

Ah, I didn't look in 'Member Introductions and News' - didn't expect him to be a member (was he?).

The search box didn't show anything recent under his name.

Sadly, it still doesn't alter the news . . .

P.
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Old 25th May 2022, 9:37 am   #43
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

Sad News.

It was a bit of a trek from my home where I lived as a child, but always an entertaining day out. I live a lot nearer now, but sadly haven't visited for years. John was certainly a character, and how he remembered where everything was at his age... I used to be good at that when I was a lot younger, but my brain is turning to putty now.

Goodbye John.
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Old 25th May 2022, 10:22 am   #44
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

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Originally Posted by PaulM View Post
I couldn't find the sad news of the death of John Birkett anywhere else on here, so I'm posting it in this section. If it's a duplicate and/or it's in the wrong place, please amend.

The fullest obituary that I can find is here:

Lincoln short wave club: https://www.g5fz.co.uk/silent-key/john- ... 1928-2022/

A full life indeed, a loss to Lincoln and to the vintage electronics world.

He certainly helped in my early years. I well recall as a 10 year old peering up to his over-stocked shop counter to ask for resistors for my latest project

His shop in Lincoln is a landmark for many - not just locals.

Best regards,

Paul M
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Old 25th May 2022, 11:30 am   #45
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

Thanks for posting that PaulM. Very interesting to read about his life.

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Old 25th May 2022, 4:10 pm   #46
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

I am saddened to hear about John's passing. Another figure in radios gone. I have seen him at the events at the N.E.C, and have been to his shop a few years ago. He was very helpful indeed.
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Old 29th May 2022, 9:25 am   #47
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

I'm also saddened to hear of Johns passing, I visited his shop on a couple of occasions. He was a true gentleman and he will be missed.

RIP Jon
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Old 29th May 2022, 3:53 pm   #48
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I would occasionally call in at Lincoln on journeys from the north. It must have been around 2000 that I was staggered to see on display and for sale in the window, a fairly large piece of communication equipment for which I had been part of the design team in the 1970s. I passed on this news to a couple of friends who had been on the team and one of them went to Lincoln and bought a set for himself!
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Old 30th May 2022, 2:56 pm   #49
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

A sad day and the end of an era in one way, but in another - you never know, let's hope. Everything went off well and fortunately the rain kept off for the short wait outside. It was quite well attended.
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Old 31st May 2022, 11:15 am   #50
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

A lovely tribute - thanks for posting.

Mike
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Old 31st May 2022, 5:41 pm   #51
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Thank you from me too!
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Old 31st May 2022, 7:44 pm   #52
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

Thanks for posting this. He certainly influenced my radio/ electronic interests and hobbies.
Rob
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Old 10th Oct 2022, 7:00 pm   #53
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Default J Birkett

Hi the shop is still open and they have a stand at Newark Hamfest that is good news Mick
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Old 12th Oct 2022, 6:41 pm   #54
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Hi the shop is still open and they have a stand at Newark Hamfest that is good news Mick
That is such wonderful news, we have lost far too many classic component and gear shops, long may it continue!
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Old 1st Dec 2022, 3:35 pm   #55
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Default John Birkett‘s Lincoln

I had occasion to visit Lincoln yesterday so went to see what was happening to this place. I found someone there and although the shop was shut I got their attention and thought I’d update here what I gleaned.
Johns daughter is hoping to keep the shop going but currently works full time and there is probate to sort out.
At the present time time the shop is shut but will be open as and when it is able to but there are no fixed opening times or days. Not sure if anyone has a contact number but that’s the situation currently.
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Old 1st Dec 2022, 4:30 pm   #56
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Default Re: John Birkett‘s Lincoln

Thanks for that Terry.

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Old 1st Dec 2022, 9:06 pm   #57
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Not sure if anyone has a contact number but that’s the situation currently.

I was trying to contact the shop using the number on the net over a few days at different times without success.

John.
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Old 2nd Dec 2022, 12:22 am   #58
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Default Re: John Birkett‘s Lincoln

Quote:
Originally Posted by terrybull View Post
I had occasion to visit Lincoln yesterday so went to see what was happening to this place. I found someone there and although the shop was shut I got their attention and thought I’d update here what I gleaned.
Johns daughter is hoping to keep the shop going but currently works full time and there is probate to sort out.
At the present time time the shop is shut but will be open as and when it is able to but there are no fixed opening times or days. Not sure if anyone has a contact number but that’s the situation currently.
Thanks for the update, nice to hear that there's some hope that the shop could reopen, fingers crossed.

That said, I guess we'll have to appreciate that John's daughter will have her own life, this can be a time consuming process and there are some potentially difficult decisions to be made. We'll have to see what happens.
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Old 2nd Dec 2022, 4:30 am   #59
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

George Dobbs, from that area himself, told me that John owned a number of shops up that street, not just the pair of opposite ones he sold electronics from. Sorting things out might be more involved than you'd expect.

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Old 2nd Dec 2022, 12:35 pm   #60
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Default Re: John Birkett RIP

I remember some long while ago John telling me that the business rates for the main shop alone were around £150 a week and that some weeks he only just managed to break even, so it was the rental on the other shops latterly that financed the electronics one for most of the time. However, that wasn't the case back in the old days when the line of people waiting to be served came out of the door and half way down the street and you had to join the end of that line and wait your turn, hoping it wouldn't start raining!

The other thing that you have to realise is that there's not just the 'one' daughter.
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