Captain John Drummond died in mid-2011 in Cape Town, South Africa.


John Drummond left the NCP and joined Union-Castle shipping line. After war service with the company, he eventually moved to the East African and later the South African harbour services as a pilot. According to an article in the Cape Times in July, 2011, "when he stepped on to the pilot launch for the last time, he could reflect with considerable satisfaction on about 16,000 safe pilotages. His swansong...remains the only occasion when a retiring pilot has been given a water-spray send-off by all four harbour tugs in Cape Town."

John came from a seafaring family. His uncle won the Victoria Cross in World War One. His brother won the DSC during the invasion of Italy in World War Two. His cousin Victoria was an engineer with Blue Funnel Line and British India Steamship Navigation and won the MBE for bravery at sea in World War Two.

For further details on John Drummond's life contact Brian Ingpen at brian@capeports.co.za