John Jillings 1939 - 2020
John Jillings and David Martowski in Sidney Fowler's office c. 1980 John was one of the people I got to know soon after joining Millers in 1967, as we were sent on a ‘training cruise’ together, on a small Greek bulk carrier. We joined the ship in Rotterdam and sailed in round to Bremen. I remember particularly remaining tied up for almost a week in Brunsbuttel at the end of the Kiel Canal while a Force 8 raged outside. Poor John; he was landed with a wet-behind-the-ears companion who didn’t even drink - which was all one could do in the single bar open near the harbour. And that was on top of the fact that the ship was ‘dry’ and all we had to eat, it seemed, was rice rolled in vine leaves. We played incessant games of cards. He must have wished that he had John Tilley with him instead but he was too kind a man ever to show his frustration! He was indeed a lovely man, always kind, never ruffled and always fair. He was also a very good at P&I, dealing with the comp...