Ian Brock

Died: 24 November, 2001, in Edinburgh, aged 87

IAN Brock was educated at Acton Collegiate School and Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith. He then matriculated at the University of London but chose to take up a career in banking, entering the London office of the then Union Bank of Scotland in 1932.

He married Fiona in July 1939 but, as a Territorial, he was called up just a month later. During the war, he served, with distinction, as a Captain in the Royal Artillery and he returned to the bank in 1946.

In 1950, he was transferred north of the Border and promoted to accountant at the Union Bank’s Edinburgh head office at 64 George Street. Recently, he was somewhat amazed and a little saddened to find that the public had invaded his old office and were now actually tucking into their pies and beer in the very section of the ornate banking hall where he had functioned for 13 years. "The Standing Order" has indeed taken on a new meaning and character!

But his career was to take a dramatic change in direction in 1963 when he was transferred to the Mound and appointed the Bank of Scotland’s very first public relations officer (the Bank of Scotland and Union Bank amalgamated in 1955). To mention that he was a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers in Scotland, an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, president of Quill Toastmasters and UK governor of Toastmasters International, will point to some of the reasons why he was selected for this new post.

Apart from professional qualifications, Ian’s personal attributes were tailor-made for PR - a good communicator, a keen understanding of people, and sincere interest in them, broad shoulders and, most importantly, a sense of humour. Ian Brock had all these qualities "in spades".

In those days, spinning was strictly for anglers - the modern usage of the term has, perhaps, debased the function of quality PR in which truth, accuracy and diplomacy remain mandatory watchwords.

Those were exciting, expansive and challenging times. Computerised banking - which the Bank of Scotland pioneered - North Sea Oil development, bank amalgamations, offices opening abroad and much more. Ian Brock built up an efficient, specialist department to meet the increasing demands placed upon it.

Overseas duties took him to Belgium, Finland, Canada and the United States. His visits to the US were in connection with OTC - the world’s largest oil conference and exhibition - where the bank’s oil professionals and senior executive would meet their counterparts from around the globe. On conclusion of his duties in Houston, lan was appointed an honorary Texan.

From a long list of other appointments, he held terms in office as president of the Publicity Club of Edinburgh and president of the Edinburgh Cine Society. He was also a member of the British Kinematograph, Sound and Television Society. In addition he was past treasurer of St Paul’s and St George’s Church and was also involved with a number of charities.

It is widely known that Ian was a prize-winning filmmaker and his first production for the bank was Money to Burn, showing, for the first time, how old or mutilated banknotes are destroyed. This short documentary won no fewer than 13 awards, including a Gold in the National Film Theatre "Ten Best", the Documentary Award in the Australian International Gold Cup and a Silver Medal at the Cannes Amateur International Festival. Extracts have also been screened by BBC and Channel 4. Some years ago, London Press reported that, when the film was shown in Wandsworth Prison, the inmates couldn’t stand the sight of 750,000 going up in smoke and, when the lights came on, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house!

Other productions include Capital Garden - the story of the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh - and Capital at Work, depicting the history and explaining, in layman’s terms, the functions of the Scottish Stock Exchange.

After retiring in 1974, Ian formed his professional company, Grange Film Productions. Further films followed for a variety of clients, including Howard Doris and Phillips Petroleum.

Apart from the prestigious awards already mentioned, perhaps the greatest accolade was the request by the National Film Archive for a master copy of a film on a most unusual subject - that of the design and manufacture of Sealing Wax and Wafers in various applications, but mainly for use by the legal profession. This documentary records for posterity the fascinating and little known work carried on for many years at St John’s Hill in the Pleasance area of Edinburgh, within premises now demolished.

In what spare time he had, Ian enjoyed the relaxation of oil painting, including portraits and still life. His 1994 picture based on the style of Cezanne’s Picture & Basket of Fruit - but incorporating Ian’s favourite objects - had pride of place in the Brocks’ lounge.

Although he had played tennis in his younger days, Ian was not - in the truest sense - an all-round sportsman. That is perhaps not surprising, since a PR career frequently involves evenings and weekends. However, he did take a keen interest in most forms of sport. This was borne out most poignantly when his health took a sudden downturn and, having been admitted to the Royal Infirmary, he was at a very low ebb. He insisted on watching the recent Scotland v All Blacks match on television, when sheer willpower and determination kept him going right up to the final whistle which, sadly, was also his.

Ian Brock was a very competent banker, an outstanding public relations officer and documentary filmmaker. Many will miss him.

He is survived by his wife, Fiona - they celebrated their diamond wedding in 1999 - and their son, David, and daughter, Ann, as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.