HISTORY OF THE SSBA
The Glasgow Ship owners’ and Shipbrokers’ Benevolent Association was constituted following a meeting held within the Christian Institute Glasgow on 10th February 1899.
The original gathering was attended by many local ship-owners and brokers, some of the names of which would be recognisable by shipping people today. This was followed by the first general meeting of members held on 9th May 1899 at which Mr. Nathaniel Dunlop was appointed President.
A quote by Mr. Dunlop’s first Director’s Report captures the spirit behind the Associations birth, “for many it has been considered something of an anomaly that the shipping trade of the City of Glasgow – should have no Benevolent Association to identify with it.” The anomaly had been righted.
It was a natural development that the Directors, in 1998, decided the Association should broaden its geographical limits to embrace Scotland as a whole. This recognising that, unlike earlier times, many in the shipping community are now based in east coast ports.
If the need exists for a Benevolent Association such as this, its support should not be confined a particular part of the country: our membership is nationwide, our recipients are nationwide and our interests are nation wide.
As a consequence, on 15th April 1999 a special meeting was held at which members unanimously approved new rules and regulations extending the Association’s sphere of influence. The Charity’s name was changed to the Scottish Shipping Benevolent Association to reflect this.
The Association has held an Annual Dinner since its inception over 100 years ago with the exception of the war years. This is traditionally held on the second Tuesday in November in one of Glasgow’s major hotels. It’s the Association’s only formal affair and it also provides the ideal channel through which our members and their guests can be addressed by senior figures from the maritime industry.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alistair started out as a cadet with Harrison’s Clyde Ltd of Glasgow in the mid-80s. Then after qualifying, he sailed on their deep sea fleet of bulk carriers and offshore supply vessels, latterly as Master. To gain experience on other types of vessels he moved to Seacat’s high-speed vehicle and passenger ferries travelling at 38knots. Alastair completed the Masters Checkout Procedure for these sophisticated crafts and sailed as Master for a short time before joining Saga Cruises where he served as Master for 15 years then Senior Master for three years, sailing worldwide as far south as the Antarctic and as far north as the Arctic and Greenland. In 2015 Alistair decided to come ashore to experience shipping management and took up the position as Operations Manager with Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd. With his vast experience and passion for seafaring, Alistair is a real asset to SSBA.
Eleanor is a partner with CMS, a law firm with 70 offices in 39 countries across the world. Since the early days of her legal training, she has advised on a range of international maritime issues including vessel sale and purchase, shipbuilding contracts, ship management and crewing contracts, vessel financing and chartering, transport of goods and arrangements with port authorities. Her clients have included ship owners, funders, insolvency practitioners and major players in the offshore industry.
John has been working in the heavy lifting industry with Henry Abram and Sons Ltd since 1997. He has helped grow the original base of just two directors and two engineers to now being part of a large group made up of six companies. In total there’s a staff base of around 60 people and the group covers everything from design to engineering, fabrication and marine operations.
Gareth is the General Manager of Clyde Training Solutions, who provide marine, offshore and renewables training at their state of the art centre in Clydebank. After starting at sea on large ocean going container ships in the mid 90s with P&O Nedlloyd, and later Maersk Line, he rose up to the rank of Chief Officer. Then from 2010 until 2017, he pursued a career in the oil and gas industry on anchored semi-submersible rigs, serving three years as OIM/Master with Dolphin Drilling. He first heard about the SSBA when he joined The Clyde Group in 2017, and is very grateful to be on the board of directors.
Christine took over the role of Honorary Secretary back in 2015 and thoroughly enjoys being part of the charity and the association.
As well as being the Past President of SSBA, Angus is a curriculum head at City of Glasgow College in the Faculty of Nautical Studies. He loves teaching and helping students become successful and develop their careers. His first experience of SSBA was at our annual golf day and he’s now a proud member of the board of directors.
Joyce worked for The Clyde Group for over 30 years where she was instrumental in its growth and success. Joyce joined the board of the SSBA in 2016 before taking over the important role of Almoner on 2018.
PAST PRESIDENTS
- Angus Ferguson 2018
- Captain Charles Mawer 2017
- Gregorie Marshall 2016 JC Peacock
- Gavin Roser 2015 Pantrak
- Kenneth MacLeod OBE 2014 Northern Marine
- Guy Platten 2013 CMAL
- Ron Bailey 2012 Clydeport
- Roger Lockwood 2011 Northern Lighthouse Board
- Colin McMurray 2010 The Clyde Group
- Philip Preston 2009 CalMac Ferries
- John Adams 2008 Teekay Shipping (Glasgow) Ltd
- R M Bishop 2007 Ships (UK) Ltd
- D Jane Harris 2006 J & J Denholm
- James Cowderoy 2005 Harrisons Clyde
- Bruce Lucas 2004 Ships (UK) Ltd
- John Wignall 2003 OBC
- Andrew Nicholson 2002 J & J Denholm
- Stephen Abram 2001 Henry Abram
- Patrick Harrison 2000 Harrisons Clyde
- Harley Marshall 1999 J & C Peacock
- Jo Maclay 1998 Acomarit
- Douglas Nisbet 1997 Svitzer / Wijsmuller / Cory Ship Towage
- Alistair Tear 1996 J & A Gardner
- Michael Abram 1995 Henry Abram
- Ken Cadenhead 1994 Harrisons Clyde
- John Denholm 1993 J & J Denholm
- Peter Cooney 1992 Acomarit
- Colin Paterson 1991 Calmac
- H L Leitch 1990 J & A Gardner
- Andrew Wilson 1989 Harrisons Clyde
- Peter Henderson 1988 J & J Denholm
- David Cowan 1987 Henry Abram
- Peter Wordie 1986 Harrisons Clyde
- Gordon Mucklow 1985 Clyde Shipping
- Archie Ross 1984 J & J Denholm
- P J T Kendall 1983 Clyde Shipping
- Max Cheales 1982 H Hogarth
- W A Cameron 1981 Warden & Bell
- Iain Harrison 1980 Harrisons Clyde
- A J Struthers 1979 J & A Gardner
- D J Haley 1978 Anchor Line
- W M Cuthbert 1977 Clyde Shipping
- H C Abram, VRD*DL 1976 Henry Abram
- Sir Ian Denholm 1975 J & J Denholm
- J Percival Agnew 1974 Lyle Shipping
- W F Blackadder 1973 Runcimans
- Alistair Aitchison 1972 Furness-Houlder
- J C Robertson 1971 Wm Robertson
- John Dunn 1970 Harrisons Clyde
- Robert Hunter 1969 Roxburgh Henderson
- T R Warden 1968 Warden & Bell
- P S MacCallum 1967 Steel & Bennie
- Thomas S Shearer 1966 Lyle Shipping
- John Urquhart 1965 J Hay & Sons
- J B Shaw 1964 John Bruce & Co
- R D Easton 1963 James Dunn & Co
- H M Dickson 1962 Houlder Bros
- A G McCrae 1961 P Henderson / Clyde Navigation Trust
- W F Robertson 1960 Wm Robertson
- Wm Nicholson 1959 Lyle Shipping
- James Lindsay Keir 1958 City Line
- GGS Cayzer 1957 Cayzer Irvine
- Alan D Cuthbert 1956 Clyde Shipping
- W L Denholm 1955 J & J Denholm
- Hugh Hogarth 1954 H Hogarth
- J H Stuart Black 1953 Donaldsons
- W Logan 1952 Clyde Shipping
- T M Lawrie 1951
- Sir John Denholm 1950 J & J Denholm
- L Harper Gow 1949 Gow Harrison & Co
- L Harper Gow 1948 Gow Harrison & Co
- Norman P Donaldson 1947 Donaldson Bros & Black
- The Hon Sir Joseph O Maclay 1946 Maclay McIntyre
- James Shearer 1945 Lyle Shipping
- James Shearer 1944 Lyle Shipping
- James Shearer 1943 Lyle Shipping
- James Shearer 1942 Lyle Shipping
- James Shearer 1941 Lyle Shipping
- James Shearer 1940 Lyle Shipping
- J H Maurice Clark 1939
- S Crawford Hogarth 1938 H Hogarth
- Claud A Allan 1937 Allan Line
- G W Service 1936 Prentice Service & Henderson
- Thomas Dunlop, Jr 1935 Sir Thomas Dunlop
- Robert Galloway 1934
- William McInnes 1933
- William S Miller 1932
- William S Miller 1931
- Wm F Robertson 1930 Wm Robertson
- T L Duff 1929 T L Duff
- John C Graham 1928
- Lawrence Glen 1927 Glen Line
- John Greig 1926
- George Sloan 1925
- The Right Hon Lord Maclay 1924 Maclay McIntyre
- Wm Henderson 1923
- John Denholm 1922 J & J Denholm
- Andrew Houston 1921
- John Malcolm 1920
- R J Dunlop 1919 Queen Line
- R J Dunlop 1918 Queen Line
- R J Dunlop 1917 Queen Line
- Wm Cuthbert 1916 Clyde Shipping
- Wm Cuthbert 1915 Clyde Shipping
- Wm Cuthbert 1914 Clyde Shipping
- Francis Henderson 1913 P J Henderson
- Sir W H Raeburn 1912 Raeburn & Verrell
- W S Workman 1911
- The Right Hon Lord Inverclyde 1910
- Robert Clark 1909
- William Robertson 1908 Robertsons
- J A Roxburgh 1907 Roxburgh Colin Scott
- T W McIntyre 1906 Maclay McIntyre
- John Innes 1905
- W F G Anderson 1904
- Henry Watson 1903
- Sir Charles W Cayzer 1902 Cayzer Irvine
- J S Dickie 1901
- Sir Nathaniel Dunlop 1900 Dunlops
- Sir Nathaniel Dunlop 1899 Dunlops