Brian (Ben) E. Bennett

26th July 1936 - July 2022

Brian Ernest Bennett, Ben to his friends, was born on 26th July 1936 in St Thomas Hospital Lambeth, the first child of Ernest and Nellie Bennett. Ben inherited his father’s thirst for knowledge, and he won a scholarship at St Dunstan’s College. His school reports show he was a bright, hard-working boy. He excelled particularly in the Arts and Languages and his hard work paid off with success in the entrance exam to Cambridge University where he was awarded an exhibition to read History and Law at Queens’ College. His love of History continued throughout his life; he had a wealth of knowledge and would know the answer to most questions, and he always enjoyed lecturing his children when given the chance. Before he went to Cambridge, Ben completed his National Service and he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Signals based in Catterick, Yorkshire. After two years he returned to Cambridge to undertake his degree. Here he met his lifelong friend Arnie Mills with whom he shared a room. He loved Cambridge, the social life, the sport (rowing and rugby) and the debating and intellectual stimulation. Like many of his counterparts, he would frequent the tea dances, and this is where he met Dawn whom he would later marry on 7 July 1962. After graduating and marrying, the couple started their newly married life in London in a very small flat and later moved into a house in Sidcup. In 1964 they welcomed their son Nicholas and two years later Suzanne. Nancy was born in 1970 and Sally in 1974. A move to Petts Wood was then followed by the realisation of Ben’s dream of a house in the country and the Good Life. Rosemullion, in Sandhurst Kent, was a beautiful family home. Here he loved to be in his garden, growing his vegetables and fruit and caring for many different animals, including chickens and geese.

Ben’s working career started after Cambridge and included several years with Locafrance, a finance leasing business, where he spent a lot of time in France. But it was in 1974 when Ben joined what was a relatively young company, Sea Containers. He worked at the company until his retirement in 2001. He loved his job and his commercialism, common sense, and ability to get on with colleagues allowed him to rise to a senior leadership role in what became one of the largest container leasing companies in the world. Ben loved containers and travelling around the world and his ability to remember historical and geographic facts was revered. During the 27 years that he gave to Sea Containers he was able to see many countries, not all of them safe. The family remember his calls from Iran during the Revolution, with gunshots in the background. He had a few hair-raising experiences in other parts of the world too, but he always kept his cool.

Ben was devoted to Dawn; their marriage was a long and loving one. He was incredibly proud of his four children and eight grandchildren. He was a real family man and was the rock on which the whole family depended, always there to support his children throughout their lives. He was one of the brightest but caring men you could ever meet and devoted to his family.

Ben lived a full, rich, and active 85 years. Although finally taken by melanoma and having had a few earlier health scares he was very healthy throughout his life. He said himself that he had been lucky to have had a fulfilling and happy life surrounded by his devoted family. He is forever in their hearts and will never be forgotten for the wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and brother that he will always be.

Nick Bennett

September 2022