A tribute to John Banks

22nd April 1948 31st July 2017

John Banks. What can one say? Everything really. A one off, his own man, etc, but underlying Johns
very individual character, are the words of Vince Champion, his long enduring copy editor.

John was a good man who strived to do the right things. And that is so, he was and he did.

His often self-depreciating manner was at odds with his unprecedented knowledge of ships and their
engines, cargo handling, and the ports which used the technology that John wrote about with
undiminished passion.

In his words, I always think that successful marine publishing is down to personal communication
with the industry He certainly excelled at that, making business friends around the world, putting his
personal stamp on his journalism

And its no surprize that John didnt want a saccharine obit, as he put it to me, therefore to please
him, are the words of a colleague I learned from John how to handle deadlines, simply ignore them

John had a colourful career. His route into shipping was as a merchant navy "Alternative Cadet" joining
BP at 16 and serving his marine engineering apprenticeship with the line.

In a break from journalism, he had several jobs on the Thames, becoming an expert on the lower
reaches, relating with a guilty smile how he once blew up the engine of a ship in the estuary (misplaced
spanner apparently), He worked in Toughs Teddington boatyard, and on a Dutch barge carrying grain
from Tilbury to Addlestone...where he and Brenda decided to make their home. He even had a spell
as a green keeper at a Golf Club in New Malden. Tugs and dredgers were of particular interest to John,
often outdoing the glamorous giant containerships he wrote about.

Having established himself as a journalist, he knew he had to fill the pages but always sought new,
original material, travelling year in year out on his beloved ferries to the continent and Scandinavia,
and further afield to the Far East and America. Wherever he docked it was his custom to seek out a
Guinness pub, and although usually booted and suited, it didnt stop him quickly becoming a virtual
local mixing the chat and singing the songs.

In his time with Mike Mundys magazine, Port Development International, he scooped important
developments in the handling of containers, coining the name for a new invention, subsequently
trade-marked around the world by the inventor, Kees Stinis, whose daughter is with us today,
representing the family.

In the day job he took particular pride in being spick and span for interviews. Describing himself as
double breasted unfashionable pin stripes, cufflinks and Chelsea boots, and in his other persona
which he called the full Toad, green tweed suit and yellow waistcoat with flower in lapel,...mimicking
Wind in the Willows Mr Toad ... attire which often drew compliments from the senior industry figures
he interviewed. Although not a scot, when appropriate he liked to wear the kilt. In fact when invited
to a black tie leaving dinner at the Dorchester for Robin MacLeod, ex-md of Felixstowe, John hired a
MacLeod kilt,.....great fun he said when the host turned up in the same tartan along with his two sons
also clad the same......I got a mention in the closing speech as "Jock Banks".......
Equally, he loved dressing the part of the countryman, his faithful (sometimes unfaithful) lurchers at
his side, his Discovery 4wd adorned with multiple search lights, gun rack, and the ultimate accessory,
sleeping quarters on top, in which he delighted to sleep overnight parked in forbidden areas of some
the ports he visited.

Very much his own man, he eschewed many of the formalities of city and suburbia, but was equally
at home in both when required. That was the contradiction of John Banks.

Surprisingly, a keen supporter of the English cricket team, but no surprise that he and Brenda
supported the Irish rugby team and London Irish.

Above all, it was his companionship and conversation that I valued, spending many an afternoon on
the Thames on his old wooden clinker sail boat Claryan, myself retired, him avoiding writing on a sunny
afternoon. It wasnt Swallows and Amazons, more like The Vital Spark, the Para Handy Clyde puffer,
a special favourite film of his.

As well as his ongoing adoption with Brendas birthplace, Ireland, and regularly visiting her family
there, he had a great affection for Scotland, holidaying in the highlands. We climbed together to the
summit of Byrons Dark Lochnagar with Charlie his Welsh Spaniel and Taighe one of the many lurchers
owned by Brenda and him.

No tribute to John would be complete without mentioning his watering hole, The Pelican on the Wey,
some 200 yards from his front door. Although having ups and downs with the various landlords, he
always returned to socialise with longstanding friends and neighbours. In reply to a boast We went
down to the Yacht/Fishing/Diving Club tonight for dinner John responded with its churlish but I
prefer the view from The Pelican on a bleak winters day....

There are many, many, stories of his escapades, doing Banx-like things as Judy Cheslin correctly calls
them. He really missed David Cheslin a special friend who died four years ago almost to the day.

An anecdote from Tim Knaggs, a fellow journalist on a visit to the ferry Eagle, we found ourselves
with some spare time, and there was John driving a forklift truck around the vehicle deck
unauthorised, of course...

From Michael Grey, here today John and I go back a long way, to my Shipbuilding and Shipping Record
days, when he was on Shipping World with a long suffering editor who unfortunately had no sense of
humour. We worked together on Fairplay for a while. I shall miss him. Alan Thorpe remembers when
Michael, as editor, left John in charge of Fairplay, John put a photo of Basil Brush on the front cover
to illustrate a boom boom in the shipping market he said.

Barry Luthwaite recounts a Fairplay party, as the clock ticked round to 10 pm. John was off. Enquiring
if he was ordering a taxi he donned his leathers, goggles and helmet, showed us his motorbike and
promptly bombed off home to Newcastle for the weekend. On the reverse trip John often had to get
from Newcastle to the printers in Southend by 10.00 on a Monday morning

John retired two years ago after 18 years writing for World Cargo News and Bulk Materials
International. I dont really know if John missed journalism, but his great hero was Graeme
MacLennan, a long serving marine journalist who died with his boots on, while writing in the bath. I
have a feeling that John might have wanted to emulate him, but it wasnt to be.

As Brian Singleton, commented you will miss his unique quirkiness and dry wit.

Yes Ill miss him. We will. We all will.

Kipling was Johns favourite poet, the closing line of his favourite poem, Sestina of the Tramp-Royal
is So write, before I die, E liked it all! That was John Banks.

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Ronald A B Sim

14 August 2017