Starting out in shipping journalism in the early 1970s and quickly rising to become deputy editor of Containerisation International (CI), David’s big break came when he was the first UK shipping journalist to visit Taiwan. There he struck up a relationship with the fledgling Evergreen, later handling the company’s PR account for nearly 30 years after he moved over from journalism into press and public relations.
Singapore-based editor of Seatrade Global, Marcus Hand, remembers how David liked to tell a tale from back in the mid-1970's days with CI of interviewing a bright young man called Goh Chok Tong, then ceo of Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), who later went on to be Singapore's Prime Minister, and today holds the post of Senior Minister of the city state.
David was a consummate PR professional, skilfully leading the team of Dunelm account managers. His deep love of shipping was formed from an early age in his native north-east of England, and in later years he continued writing articles - for Seatrade among others - on his specialist topic of containers, where he became an impassioned advocate of the mandatory weighing of containers. In 2004, together with Gavin Roser, he founded the Coastlink Network to promote shortsea and feeder container shipping.
David’s other passions included Porsche cars, motor racing and his farm in Northumberland, where in later years he developed a keen affinity with nature.
David is survived by his partner, Margaret, and son, Aidan. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
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