"ZS1AU"

Dennis Wells
 Durbanville
South Africa
on the lower left to right 2m fm,TS440s, Collins 30L1, TS430 top left to right: FTDX100, FTDX560, Handie W32E  for 70cms/2m  ( satellite.)  Antennae: 204BA @  50 FT & DB1015  @60 FT &  5/8 GP for 2m @ 61FT

I had the pleasure to work Dennis for the first time in January, 2000.  We exchanged 59 reports on 20 metres and he forwarded the following background bio.

ZS1AU
I am also the son of a radio amateur of yesteryear. Look up about Len Wells  Ham Spirit on my own web site.  

I have in my possession a pair of  headphones that picked up the very first words uttered on the air by the first radio pioneer in Cape Town.  He was Mr. Streeter  A1A   &  my grandfather lived next door.  My father a lad of 15 was asked to listen on a piece of equipment known as a wireless & as he was too young to possess these dangerous electrical components,  my grandfather was granted a license A1B to allow my father to take part in listening which he & a scouting pal Bill Bryngton did.  

Around 1922  Mr. Streeter succeeded in transmitting over the air,  without wires.  His voice was heard ,  be it next door,  by my father.  My father was licensed in 1933 as ZS1AU & continued until the ww2 stopped him & then continued in 1946 after the war. 

Len Wells ZS1AUMy father was a post office telegraphist & could send on a straight key & receive as fast as a typewriter could take it. He was instrumental in 1941 of picking up the German battle ship The Graf Spee in a battle with the British navy in a hide away in La Plate in Argentina.  My father took down all he heard & it was in code & sent it to Intelligence for deciphering.  The Graf Spee scuttled & sank.  In 1950 my father Len Wells suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage & died suddenly while on duty.  I took over the callsign a few months later & this year I will be on the air 50 years with my fathers callsign.,  

My brag board - Awards:
(All firsts)  WAZL - Christchurch Garden City Award - Stampede City Award (Calgary)  Mobile to mobile/ continent to continent, Barney Joel Award ( 1973 ) ZS4 to ZS1ANT (Antarctica/South Pole) & to VE/mobile

Also winner in first mobile section of ZS  hf contest.  In ZS national contests have won & runner up in various sections fone & cw over a number of years.  Also 5th in world in Hunting Lions In the Air (1989)  In 1990 missed 1st in world because Lions International in South America lost the logs !!!!   As a result I was declared winner in ZS as copy of ZS logs were held by ZS rep.

Served on committees of local SARL clubs  & 3 1/2 yrs as a councilor on the council of The SARL

Now you know a bit about ZS1AU
73
Dennis Wells

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