The first signal
Joined the Post Office international telecommunications service as an apprentice at Dorchester Radio Station.
THE AUTHOR
A life spent
connecting the world.
Engineer, author and historian of the radio years.
The story behind the books.
Born in Dorchester, Paul M. Hawkins began his career with the British Post Office international telecommunications service in 1967, joining Dorchester Radio Station as an apprentice.
Over the following years he worked at Goonhilly Satellite Station in Cornwall and the Bearley short-wave receiving station in Warwickshire. Between 1980 and 1983 he worked in the United States as an RF design engineer.
Back in England, Paul joined Thales in Somerset, where he worked on antennas and communication systems until retirement in 2014. Alongside his engineering career he researched and wrote about the history of international radio communication, sharing his knowledge in articles, books and lectures.
In 2015 he spoke about Marconi beam wireless stations at a conference in Bologna, Italy, and met Princess Elettra Marconi, daughter of Guglielmo Marconi.
His books draw on an unusual combination: the care of a historian and the practical experience of someone who worked with the equipment, stations and people behind the story.
The journey so far
From radio to satellites
Worked at Goonhilly Satellite Station and Bearley short-wave receiving station.
Across the Atlantic
Worked in the United States as an RF design engineer.
A career in engineering
Designed antennas and communications systems at Thales in Somerset.
Point to Point
Published his history of international radio telecommunications.
An Essex centenary
Co-authored a book about Brentwood and Ongar radio stations.