About us
Ron Ellis
My early working years were spent at the London office of the Swedish Lloyd Shipping Company which then ran services from Millwall Dock to Gothenburg. A clerical job entailing Customs clearance of goods – visits to the Port of London Authority, Custom House and (an occasional high spot) a trip to our Dock Office in Millwall Dock and a chance to go on board one of the Swedish Lloyd passenger ships.
National Service in the RAF followed, 2 years from 1950 to 1952.
I joined HM Customs & Excise in 1954, a natural extension of my interest in ships and the sea. I was based at Southampton in the last of the golden years of the ocean liners.
Later travels and promotions took me to Heathrow and Gatwick airports, Dover and Grangemouth in Scotland until finally at Tilbury I took early retirement.
Since then I have worked for a variety of voluntary organisations, mainly the World Development Movement and the Fairtrade Foundation – a fascinating change from the ways of a government department.
I am Vice President of Billericay Striders Running Club and have run marathons in London, Paris and New York. I like food and classical music (the food of love).