Graham Robertson
1952 - 2014
Graham Robertson F.I.C.S | 5th November 1952 – 28th September 2014
Graham was born in Cardiff, where he spent his youth and attended Glamorgan Polytechnic studying mechanical engineering. Unfortunately this was not the best time to pursue such a career as the recession and the 3 day week in the early 70’s meant that there was no call for mechanical engineers.
Unable to find a placement, Graham found temporary work in various occupations ranging from labouring on a building site, window cleaning and car maintenance to driving a lorry for the local cemetery. His entry into the shipping industry came about by chance when he was asked to drive a car for a ships agent recovering from a heart attack. This thrust Graham into the deep end of Ships Agency during the summer of 1972 for Charles M Willie Ltd, based in Cardiff. With his natural ability he quickly progressed and was soon plying his trade between Cardiff and Watchet, Somerset, but by now was also actively involved in Chartering as well as Ships Agency work.
It was not long before his talents were spotted and he was appointed Chartering Manager for Bethel Gwyn & Co. Ltd, Avonmouth in 1975. He stayed with them until 1984, when he realised his ambition to start his own Shipbroking Company, Wessex Shipping Ltd, based in the centre of Bristol. With strong links to Portugal, Wessex was involved with shipments of Chipboards together with general cargoes operated under a separate company called Grantimber Line Ltd. The close connection to the Sonae Group in Portugal led to a joint venture between Sonae and Wessex when Sontrade Lines Ltd was formed principally carrying Chipboard from Leixoes and Aveiro to Liverpool. Sontrade Lines later ventured into general cargo to supplement the chipboards. In 2006 Wessex bought out Sonae’s share of Sontrade Line’s and continued to operate the line successfully. 1998 saw the acquisition of Evan Thomas Radcliffe Ltd, a local Agency company to enhance the Wessex profile within the Ports of Avonmouth and Royal Portbury Dock.
Regrettably an underlying health issue came back to the fore during 2008, but despite suffering poor health he still remained active in the shipping industry until a few weeks before his death. During his time in Shipping he was President of the Bristol Steam Ship Owners Association 1996 – 1997 and recently Chairman of the South Wales and West branch of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers 2011 – 2012. Graham was very active in both roles and made a lasting impression on all those who came into contact with him.
Graham was a larger than life character who had a great love of fishing, wildlife and steam trains. He will be missed by family, friends and colleagues and is a loss to the Shipping industry where his wealth of experience and generosity of spirit are gone forever. He is survived by his wife Christine, daughter Jinny and son-in-law Tom.