The sad news that Brian died, at home with his wife Eileen and with his family, on Saturday 29 August 2020 came from his son Bill. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2019.
At our last meeting at his house in Thorpe, Norwich, Brian gave me a written summary of his life so far. Born in Camberwell on 10 November 1935, at the age of five he was buried in a cellar in South London due to enemy bombing. Evacuated to Yorkshire in 1940 – left school in London in HMSO (Drury Lane Press) to take up apprenticeship with HMSO – National Service with RAF in 1954 – became Printing Officer, Atlantic House, in 1961. Moved to Norwich in 1968, back to London as computer systems analyst, then to Manager, Foreign Office Press. In 1974 moved to Production Manager, MOD Hydrographic Press, Taunton, then with further promotion to Senior Principal, MoD, Metropole Building, followed by a term at Feltham. 1988 saw Brian’s return to HMSO as Director of Print Procurement, then early retirement in 1992 to establish Stanmore Consultancy Services until final retirement at the age of 67.
Many of those of us who worked with Brian in those years will remember his very supportive attitude, especially against the odds. He was often to be heard as a rare voice of practical sanity in those meetings where consultant-led impractical ideas were not only expected but encouraged.
Brian was also an enthusiastic participant in the social side of work, and very much enjoyed organising the annual Christmas activity known to many as ‘Singalong-a-Ekers.’ Andy Fisher, Colin Pulford, Dick Smith were among the ‘cabaret stars’ who blossomed under these circumstances, not least at the 1992 trip to Cromer, which also took in the end-of-the-pier show with Roy Hudd – an old school friend of Brian in his Croydon days.
The fact that no fewer than fifteen emails recalling happy days were received a couple of hours after the initial note was emailed to colleagues is a mark of Brian’s impact on people. As Les Birch puts it, he could take a bit of leg-pulling and was invariably good company.
Funeral arrangements can be seen here. Due to current restrictions regarding funeral and cremation attendance, the family regrets that additional mourners cannot be accommodated.
John Barker adds: It was interesting to know that Brian had been buried during the bombing during the last war. I had a similar experience. In my case I was in my cot when the house nearly came down on top of my father and myself. My cot was covered in bricks and dust. By all accounts I wasn’t best pleased, but both of us survived. I was only one then so I don’t remember, but that was what I was told later. Brian was old enough to remember what happened. He had a lucky escape.
Brian had a fantastic career in HMSO and although he got to a very senior position he always got on well with everybody and remained one of the boys. I know that he always enjoyed holidays on the Norfolk Broads. He used to go with Don MacFarlane, Colin (farmer) Pulford and others and they enjoyed visiting all the local hostelries on route. I am informed that Colin got the name farmer from the lads from London who came up on dispersal because of his strong Nolfolk accent.
Brian did leave HMSO for a few years and went to MOD. He used to ring me up from time to time to discuss the problems that he was having with the trade unions there. In those days I was Chairman of the IPCS union in London and we had some interesting discussions. I don’t think that the unions at MOD were anywhere near as bad as those on the industrial side in HMSO, especially those at St. Stephens Parly Press. I was involved with the NGA at their HQ and they thought that the HMSO unions were the most difficult that they had to deal with.
Brian did return to HMSO in the post of Director of Print Procurement and made a success of it. When he retired from there and went back into the industry to work for a few years I contacted him on a few occasions to ask his advice. There were certain rules about dealing with HMSO when you left to go back into industry, especially on the sales side. When I retired from HMSO I took up a position with one of our printers, Colibri Press. Reg Walker did the same thing as me and went to work for Formara. We also met up with Brian on a few occasions when he went to some of the reunions that were held by HMSO staff in London.
Brian was a really nice person and will be sadly missed by all his family and friends.
Hello John, Thank you for your thoughtful reminiscence of Brian, which sums up the opinions of the many colleagues and friends (38 have made contact so far!) who have written in with their condolences and brief memories. Included among them are Les Birch, who met Brian in pursuit of European business on the ferry to France one sociable evening; Pat Kennedy, who had to have the words to ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht’at’ whispered to him by Brian (humiliating for a Yorkshireman!) at a Singalong in the 1970s; Gavin Turner remembering Brian’s lone support at a high-powered meeting; George Rokahr and Louise Owens reminiscing as regards what an approachable and effective Director he was when they worked in Manchester Print; various Departmental Reprographic Managers and Contractors – Gordon McSweeney, Phil Wilce, Roger Pudner, Bernard Johnson, Mike Rust, Dave Stoten, John Magowan, Bob Rice – all saying how they liked to deal with Brian. And a whole list of HMSO staff with similar comments. Plus of course ‘the singers’ including Roy Plackett, Pat Tate, Cecil Hughes, Rod Durkin and last but not least Colin Keatley, owner of the Fat Cat, on whose premises much of the singing in latter years took place.
Best wishes, John – and we’ll meet again in 2021.
David Berwick adds: Like so many of his former colleagues I was both saddened and shocked to read of Brian’s passing on 29th August. Brian was my TO in PP in 4S Sovereign House and he was a really fine person to work for. He had the rare personality mix of being your boss and your mate at the same time. We all enjoyed working for Brian in our team and I think one of the most appealing aspects of Brian’s management was his boundless sense of humour.
Outside the office his pub-crawls were quite special and I got encouraged to attend quite a few. One I particularly recall was staged at the Leopard on Bull Close Road. I know I was there – but can’t now recall how I got home! For a couple of seasons I kept goal for the HMSO football team at week-ends where ‘Captain’ Ekers led the way in fine style. Although often breathless he still regularly called encouragement to me when the defence were under duress – which was pretty often. I remember we had a penalty awarded against us on one occasion and Brian sidled up to me and said “save it if you can Dave, but don’t worry if you can’t”.
Anyone reading this next memory of Brian will doubtless recall it still with some delight. We started one game one player short and the game had been underway for at least twenty minutes when a plot was hatched on the sideline to slip on a non-registered playing chum of one of our team members. Of course this was a shady move to say the least and for it to work the ‘mystery’ player had be slipped onto the field of play without raising suspicion. The covering plan was to make out that this substitute individual was the absent registered player who had now at last turned up late for the match! So, said player was brought to the sideline all kitted out and ready to be called onto the pitch. It needed Brian to approach the Ref at some convenient point to get his permission for the player to join the match late. We were already losing and Brian was as ever busily involved with the game and didn’t notice our man waiting to enter the fray. In desperation to attract Brian’s attention one of the supporters on the touchline put his hands to his mouth and bellowed “Brian, Brian, it’s alright, Ollie is here now!” Brian, totally confused by this unexpected intervention and standing near the centre circle by the Ref at the time, very unhelpfully shouted back “Ollie! Ollie who?” At which point the plan should have been well and truly scuppered, but the Ref, not suspecting any subterfuge waved Ollie onto the pitch. And what a great move this was for Ollie was a real talent and had the ball in the opponent’s net in short order and another not long after too. We actually won that game and there was much laughter in the dressing room at full time.
My sincere condolences to Brian’s wife Eileen, and his family, on their sad loss.
David Berwick
Hello David, Thank you for that thoughtful reminiscence which I will pass on to Bill Ekers, Brian’s son. Can you remember the final score, or the names of any of the other PP players? If so, I will pass on to them if possible, as we all like a jump back into the (relatively happy) past these days.
Speaking of the past, you may be able to get 100% in the game of ‘Spot the Printer’ with regard to this photo, taken at Ken Pink’s retirement in 1993. Best wishes, Reg
David Berwick replies: Photo: Messrs. Hosgood, Pink, Ekers, Newcombe and Skiggs. Looks like Peter Bradbury lurking between Ken and Brian, and Margaret Baker between Charlie and Peter. I think we won the match 5-2 with ‘Ollie’ getting at least three! Names? I’ll have to ponder on that! Don’t be over optimistic either! Best, David.