Obituary: John Cook (Ian), banker

Published on 29/10/2012 00:00

Born: 6 June, 1938, in Hamilton. Died: 19 July, 2012, aged 74.

Ian Cook was a retired general manager of Clydesdale Bank, Corporate and International Banking. He was born in Hamilton and brought up in Cambuslang, where he attended primary school before attending Rutherglen Academy.

While at school, he joined the 207th Company of the Boys’ Brigade. He became a very active member of his company and the discipline learned there gave him a sound basis for the future. At school, he developed a keen interest in athletics representing Cambuslang Harriers and Scottish Schools as a hurdler.

On leaving school, he entered the service of Clydesdale & North of Scotland Bank – later to become Clydesdale Bank – on 27 September, 1955, which co-incidentally was the same day his future wife Maureen joined, albeit at different locations. His early career was interrupted by National Service in 1957, most of which was spent in Germany.

Returning to the bank, Ian worked in a number of branches before being transferred to St James’s Street in London in 1962. Thereafter, he returned to Glasgow to the superintendents’ department at the head office, where he met Maureen.

He and Maureen were married in Paisley Abbey in 1967. This was a very musical affair as Maureen was in the choir and the full choir attended. Their first son Alan was born in 1969 and Colin, their second son was born two years later.

Ian’s first appointed position was as accountant at the St Enoch Square branch in Glasgow. There then followed a number of appointments, including a return to London as manager at the Victoria branch.

Most of his positions were in the bank’s head office in Glasgow and in 1988 he was appointed general manager. His responsibilities covered corporate and international banking and the bank’s treasury operations, which included sterling funds management and liquidity, asset and liability management, foreign exchange dealing and treasury corporate services.

He was a member of the bank’s credit committee and asset and liability management committee.

Ian was a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

He retired in 1992 having served the bank with great distinction for 37 years, an old-fashioned Scottish banker of immense all round ability.

Ian was a committed member of the Church of Scotland. He served Broom Church in Newton Mearns as an elder, covenant treasurer and finance convener. For a short time he was deputy session clerk.

On the 125th anniversary of the Boys’ Brigade, Ian and two other elders, both former BB members, conducted the Morning Service, proud to be part of the anniversary.

Following his retirement from the bank, he served the wider church at its headquarters at 121 George Street, Edinburgh, holding positions on the board of stewardship and finance and the finance budget and allocations committee.

In his final four years there, he helped set up and convened internal audit within the Church of Scotland. Furthermore, he a founder member and chairman of the Clydesdale Bank Pensioners’ Association and was also invited to lecture on international banking to students of finance at Strathclyde University.

Throughout his working life and in retirement, Ian prioritised his family, in whom he took great pleasure and pride. Maureen and he loved to travel. They visited many parts of Europe, the Far East, Australia and the Holy Land. Trips with the Glasgow Phoenix Choir, of which Maureen is a long-time member and Ian was an associate, also featured strongly.

Ian’s funeral services at Linn Crematorium and Broom Church were very well attended, reflecting appreciation of his many personal qualities, which included integrity, industry, loyalty, sense of humour and a genuine interest in people.

The Clydesdale Bank was represented very well at the funeraland those who were fortunate enough to work with Ian were influenced very positively by the experience.

Maureen referred to Ian as her “treasure” – Ian said he was her “treasurer”. She survives him along with their sons Alan and Colin, Alan’s wife Lesley and their two children, Daniel and Rachel, and also Ian’s brother David. The world is a poorer place for the passing of Ian Cook.