IIMS CEO, Mike Schwarz, was invited and honoured to give one of two eulogies at John's funeral covering his professional life. This is a transcript of what he said:
"Good afternoon. I first met John Excell soon after my appointment as CEO of the International Institute of Marine Surveying, in January 2014. It is fair to say that we did not quite hit it off immediately - two individuals from divergent backgrounds with entirely different skills sets being the main reason. But we developed a healthy respect for one another and an enduring friendship that only deepened over time. I was proud to call John a friend as well as a colleague.
John was one of the good guys and a competent marine surveyor. The word competent is bandied around far too loosely in the surveying profession, but John was right at the top of his game.
Looking back over John’s early career, it seems he was destined to become a marine surveyor. He worked as a sailmaker and shipwright’s assistant, before going to study at the Southampton Institute of Higher Education. He was awarded an HND in engineering, specialising in yacht manufacturing technology and marine industry management. Many of the modules he passed with merit.
On completion of his studies, John spent time working in various boatyards as he developed the experience and technical skills that would stand him in good stead in later years.
John in February 2016
Additionally, John developed the Tonnage Training Manual. He liked delivering this popular theoretical training face to face, followed by tutoring delegates on the practical aspects of calculating the tonnage of a boat.
It is fair to say that he took his role as director of yacht and small craft marine surveying seriously.
John in May 2018
As news of John’s passing reached members of the Institute, his clients, and the wider marine world, I was astonished to see so many people keen to pay their respects. I have lodged these messages of sympathy with Hilary for safe keeping. It seems that not only those who knew him well, but others who knew of his professional reputation had something to say. John was a popular, respected and much-loved man.
John and I spent a good amount of time in each other’s company as we travelled to various locations to deliver training. I shall miss his presence and his humour. He has left us far too early. May he rest in peace."
Mike Schwarz
In January 2002, John established John Excell Marine Services and his career as a marine surveyor began in earnest. That May, he was accepted as an associate member of the Institute, before successfully upgrading in December 2004 to full membership. His close friend and mentor, John Heath, recently told me, that John was as keen as mustard when he joined the organisation, and it was a pleasure to take him under his wing and mentor him. In 2014 he was appointed as a Fellow member, recognition from his peers of his significant contribution to the Institute.
John held high office with the Institute, having worked his way up from the ground floor. As I looked back through his records, I was astonished at the amount of training courses he had attended. It is clear that John was keen to learn through a process of continuous professional development, but he also enjoyed passing on his knowledge to others. John was always generous with his time too for up-and-coming surveyors.
John’s expertise lay in surveying small craft up to 24 meters, and he always knew when he was in danger of stepping outside his area of competence. Indeed, we discussed it many times.
John was an active and long-standing member of the Institute’s management board. Indeed, fellow board members have asked me to mention their great respect for him and how highly he was regarded by them. He also performed a key role as part of the Institute’s certifying authority committee, and he personally made sure that meetings were rarely dull affairs. But John’s over exuberance just proved how passionate he was about his profession, and how much he cared about it; and he was always happy to argue his point of view. He had built up a sizeable fleet of 50 coded vessels and was rightly proud of his achievements.
38 | The Report • June 2021 • Issue 96
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