Obituary: John Henry Young Marshall 1929 – 2010

March 14th, 2011 by JCB
Posted in Obituaries | 1 Comment »

Friends and former colleagues gathered at the “Pilots’ Church” – St. Stephen’s in South Shields – to say farewell to John (Jack) Marshall. Jack was born and raised amongst the river community on the “Lawe”  in South Shields into a long-established Tyne pilot family, and was destined to become at least the sixth generation of Marshalls to pilot on the Tyne. Leaving school, he began a five-year apprenticeship with the Tyne Pilotage Authority in 1945 as a Pilots’ Assistant, serving on the Tyne’s last cruising cutter Helm.

In 1950, he joined Walvis Bay as third mate to get his required sea-time; which took him to Australia and to Vietnam with munitions for the French Indochina war.  After four years ‘foreign’, Jack moved into coastal trading on east coast colliers, then with Tyne Tees Shipping on their near-continent run and the ‘tattie’ run to Jersey, where he had family.  He returned to the Tyne and was licensed as a 3^rd Class Pilot in 1959 progressing to 1^st Class in 1963 and retired in September 1988.

Jack married Margaret in 1955 and they had two children, John and Denise.  Family life was very important, and every opportunity was taken to get away with their caravan.

Margaret and Jack enjoyed many overseas holidays, although initially, Jack could not see the point of going abroad as he had ‘Been everywhere’!  A proud family man, he would regale his grandchildren and great grandchildren with stories from his time at sea, especially, ‘Rolling up the pavements in Wallaroo’!

Declining health did not dampen his optimism and sense of humour but in 2009, Jack suffered a double tragedy when both his wife of 55 years and his son died within one month.

His sudden death upon returning home from an enjoyable holiday in Spain with his daughter and son-in-law has been a great loss to his family, to whom we extend our condolences; and to his friends and colleagues by whom he will be sadly missed.

JD Marshall: Tyne (Retired)