Description:William Butler, photographed here in his mid-60s at his home in Waterloo Road, Burslem, was a keen amateur shortwave radio operator. William never used a microphone to contact other shortwave operators, instead he always used a Morse code key to communicate. William could recognise other operators by their Morse code style. One of his regular radio contacts was with an operator on the Pitcairn islands in the Pacific Ocean.
William used ex-military shortwave radio sets for his radio communication. The calling cards on the wall in the background are from the many amateur radio operators William Butler contacted from around the world.