Mike and I had many discussions about Krenkel and the Krenkel award. Mike shared much of his knowledge and stories with me. While we never met or had a QSO on the radio, we became friends. Thanks for sharing. 73 de WA3PZO
I am Mike's younger brother (80 y.o.) and of course attended his funeral in Sheffield. I knew he had an American friend who he shared the Krenkel interest but not who. Mike started my radio interest when we were both at home using a R208 receiver bought by our father when Mike's returned from the RAF doing his National Service. RIP Mike
Mike and I corresponded in 2017 about Soviet QSL cards including especially references to UPOL and to RAEM. He said in an email to me that since his retirement "much of my "spare" time has been devoted to reading/translating Russian, amateur radio (99% cw) and collecting Ernst Krenkel, RAEM, memorabilia and research. " He wrote "My #1 passion is Ernst Krenkel RAEM of Chelyuskin fame - I have a personal letter dated 1959 from Ernst which forms the basis of my "Krenkel Collection" , and sent me "a recent photo taken in the Krenkel Museum in Moscow. Vadim, UA9MCM, is on the left - curator Eugene, UA3AJT, is on the right, with "G4AYO" on the wall in the middle. " "It is a tiny fraction of the collection which now takes up 10 albums (QSLs, stamps, covers, postcards, letters, photos....)." he wrote, and that "my special folded G4AYO/RAEM QSL has been on the ISS ". A great contributor to Amateur Radio, Russian popular culure and the spirit of free communication exemplified by Ernst Krenkel Andy, G0SFJ
