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
- 2019 – Captain Alistair McLundie – Western Ferries
- 2018 – Angus Ferguson – City of Glasgow College
- 2017 – Captain Charles Mawer – Serco Marine
- 2016 – Gregorie C. Marshall – J & C Peacock
- 2015 – Gavin W Roser – Pantrak
- 2014 – Kenneth MacLeod – Northern Marine
- 2013 – Guy Platten – CMAL
- 2012 – Ron Bailey – Clydeport
- 2011 – Roger Lockwood – Northern Lighthouse Board
- 2010 – Colin MacMurray – The Clyde Group
- 2009 – Philip Preston – CalMac Ferries
- 2008 – John Adams – Teekay Shipping (Glasgow)
- 2007 – R M Bishop – V.Ships (UK)
- 2006 – D Jane Harris – J & J Denholm
- 2005 – James Cowderoy – Harrisons Clyde
- 2004 – Bruce Lucas – V.Ships (UK)
- 2003 – John Wignall – OBC
- 2002 – Andrew Nicholson – J & J Denholm
- 2001 – Stephen Abram – Henry Abram
- 2000 – Patrick Harrison – Harrisons Clyde
- 1999 – Harley Marshall – J & C Peacock
- 1998 – Jo Maclay – Acomarit
- 1997 – Douglas Nisbet – Svitzer / Wijsmuller / Cory Ship Towage
- 1996 – Alistair Tear – G M T Shipping (Gardner, Morrison, Tear)
- 1995 -Michael Abram – Henry Abram
- 1994 – Ken Cadenhead – Harrisons Clyde
- 1993 – John Denholm – J & J Denholm
- 1992 – Peter Cooney – Acomarit
- 1991 – Colin Paterson – Calmac
- 1990 – H L Leitch – J & A Gardner
- 1989 – Andrew Wilson – Harrisons Clyde
- 1988 – Peter Henderson – J & J Denholm
- 1987 – David Cowan – Henry Abram
- 1986 – Peter Wordie – Harrisons Clyde
- 1985 – Gordon Mucklow – Clyde Shipping
- 1984 – Archie Ross – J & J Denholm
- 1983 – P J T Kendall – Clyde Shipping
- 1982 – Max Cheales – H Hogarth
- 1981 – W A Cameron – Warden & Bell
- 1980 – Iain Harrison – Harrisons Clyde
- 1979 – A J Struthers – J & A Gardner
- 1978 – D J Haley – Anchor Line
- 1977 – W M Cuthbert – Clyde Shipping
- 1976 – H C Abram, VRD*DL – Henry Abram
- 1975 – Sir Ian Denholm – J & J Denholm
- 1974 – J Percival Agnew – Lyle Shipping
- 1973 – W F Blackadder – Runcimans
- 1972 – Alistair Aitchison – Furness-Houlder
- 1971 – J C Robertson – Wm Robertson
- 1970 – John Dunn – Harrisons Clyde
- 1969 – Robert Hunter – Roxburgh Henderson
- 1968 – T R Warden – Warden & Bell
- 1967 – P S MacCallum – Steel & Bennie
- 1966 – Thomas S Shearer – Lyle Shipping
- 1965 – John Urquhart – J Hay & Sons
- 1964 – J B Shaw – John Bruce & Co
- 1963 – R D Easton – James Dunn & Co
- 1962 – H M Dickson – Houlder Bros
- 1961 – A G McCrae – P Henderson / Clyde Navigation Trust
- 1960 – W F Robertson – Wm Robertson
- 1959 – Wm Nicholson – Lyle Shipping
- 1958 – James Lindsay Keir – City Line
- 1957 – GGS Cayzer – Cayzer Irvine
- 1956 – Alan D Cuthbert – Clyde Shipping
- 1955 – W L Denholm – J & J Denholm
- 1954 – Hugh Hogarth – H Hogarth
- 1953 – J H Stuart Black – Donaldsons
- 1952 – W Logan – Clyde Shipping
- 1951 – T M Lawrie
- 1950 – Sir John Denholm – J & J Denholm
- 1949 – L Harper Gow – Gow Harrison & Co
- 1948 – L Harper Gow – Gow Harrison & Co
- 1947 – Norman P Donaldson – Donaldson Bros & Black
- 1946 – The Hon Sir Joseph O Maclay – Maclay McIntyre
- 1945 – James Shearer – Lyle Shipping
- 1944 – James Shearer – Lyle Shipping
- 1943 – James Shearer – Lyle Shipping
- 1942 – James Shearer – Lyle Shipping
- 1941 – James Shearer – Lyle Shipping
- 1940 – James Shearer – Lyle Shipping
- 1939 – J H Maurice Clark
- 1938 – S Crawford Hogarth – H Hogarth
- 1937 – Claud A Allan – Allan Line
- 1936 – G W Service – Prentice Service & Henderson
- 1935 – Thomas Dunlop, Jr – Sir Thomas Dunlop
- 1934 – Robert Galloway
- 1933 – William McInnes
- 1932 – William S Miller
- 1931 – William S Miller
- 1930 – Wm F Robertson – Wm Robertson
- 1929 – T L Duff – T L Duff
- 1928 – John C Graham
- 1927 – Lawrence Glen – Glen Line
- 1926 – John Greig
- 1925 – George Sloan
- 1924 – The Right Hon Lord Maclay – Maclay McIntyre
- 1923 – Wm Henderson
- 1922 – John Denholm – J & J Denholm
- 1921 – Andrew Houston
- 1920 – John Malcolm
- 1919 – R J Dunlop – Queen Line
- 1918 – R J Dunlop – Queen Line
- 1917 – R J Dunlop – Queen Line
- 1916 – Wm Cuthbert – Clyde Shipping
- 1915 – Wm Cuthbert – Clyde Shipping
- 1914 – Wm Cuthbert – Clyde Shipping
- 1913 – Francis Henderson – P J Henderson
- 1912 – Sir W H Raeburn – Raeburn & Verrell
- 1911 – W S Workman
- 1910 – The Right Hon Lord Inverclyde
- 1909 – Robert Clark
- 1908 – William Robertson – Robertsons
- 1907 – J A Roxburgh – Roxburgh Colin Scott
- 1906 – T W McIntyre – Maclay McIntyre
- 1905 – John Innes
- 1904 – W F G Anderson
- 1903 – Henry Watson
- 1902 – Sir Charles W Cayzer – Cayzer Irvine
- 1901 – J S Dickie
- 1900 – Sir Nathaniel Dunlop – Dunlops
- 1899 – Sir Nathaniel Dunlop – Dunlops