John Nockels ("Nocker")

Ionosphericist (beastieman) 1970-71

a tribute by Hwfa Jones


He changed our sense of humour by the glorious misinterpretation of all we said - something I picked up from him on Base and do to this day to the exasperation of my family. I remember John as a genius who could interpret a birds nest of components in a few moments and a man who took the art of electronics beyond all practicalities of the mundane to mystify us with flashing lights at the bottom of the bog pit and a huge machine which magically (and practically) turned empty cans of beer into full ones. He was an extraordinary capable man who automated the Ionospheric sounding equipment within a few months of landing on Base. As such he had little to do work-wise for 2 years and was able to direct his talents to more productive projects. I can now reveal the secret we have kept for 44 years. For all his skills he did make an error in the automation which led to the misinterpretation of the amount of ozone over the continent by a number of eminent scientists and the whole global warming mess we now know is due to that error ...... but we cared little at the time as he made us a magic beer machine in the time he saved. There wasn't the smallest harm in John - a true gentleman that I have missed for over 40 years, especially his sense of humour!

[John died on 22 March 2014 ...Ed.]

25 March 2014

John was involved in the super-accurate 50 Hz regulator and the beer machine.
See also here.


1970 index page
Z-fids home page