Alan Cowell – passionate and dedicated

Alan Cowell, one of the
doyens of the freight
industry, died on
Wednesday aged 88.
Described by John
Buchel of Heneways
as “an extraordinary
person who dedicated
his time to the benefit
of the industry and, in
particular, to training,” he
held senior positions with
some of the top freight
forwarding companies –
Lep Transport and Miller
Weedon among others.
Widely respected for
his sterling work for the
SA Association of Freight
Forwarders, he held the
position of CEO of the
organisation for many
years. Highly articulate
and with a depth of
industry knowledge,
he co-authored, with
Pat Corbin, the JCCI
Importer’s and Exporter’s
Manual, which became
the gold standard for
the international trade
industry.
Corbin, whose
association with him as
friend and associate dates
back to 1967, described
him as highly principled
and of the highest
integrity. “His work was
his life’s passion – and
it was only his failing
eyesight that forced him
into retirement.”
In 1991 he was made
a Life Member of the
Johannesburg Chamber
of Commerce and
Industry in honour of his
many years of service to organised business and in
particular to the clearing
and forwarding business.
“Alan wrote the
original material for the
Saaff courses and set the
knowledge acquisition
sail for the industry,”
former Saaff executive
Christopher Richards
told FTW. “It was a move
that had the support of
the Commissioner for
Customs and his team at
that time – and eventually
blossomed into the
MITB training initiative,
championed by Charles
Dey, which enabled
a number of industry
employees to obtain Fiata
diplomas.
“Since the Seta system
forced out the Training
Boards, the main mast
holding that sail has
crashed and it would be a
great sadness to Alan if he
knew the wilderness we
are now in,” said Richards.
Alan gave generously
of his talents and time.
For six consecutive years
he lectured without
payment at the Unisa
study school which was
part of the distance
learning programme
run by Richards with
the University of South
Africa.
“He had a good
understanding of the legal
aspects of our business
and he particularly enjoyed
lecturing on liens.”
At FTW he will be
remembered as one of the
industry’s true gentlemen
– authoritative, outspoken,
a great communicator and
always accessible.
His passionate
commitment to the
industry will leave a
lasting legacy.
Alan is survived by his
wife Christine, to whom
he was married for 66
years, and three daughters.