About Jack Walsh
Jack Wreford Walsh was born in November 1937. His parents aptly named him Jack, which must have been short for “Jack of all trades.” If only they had known! He was schooled at Western Province Preparatory, Cape Town, and St Andrew’s College, Grahamstown
Three generations (On both sides of the family!) of insurance industry executives determined unequivocally his future. However even this could not keep him from the sea. Still wet behind the ears, he inherited one of the first true country insurance brokerages,(as opposed to agencies), which due to his father having suffered a long and debilitating illness was bankrupt. However, together with the business, came the fathers instilled principle to the extreme of “honesty is the best policy.” The business soon flourished accordingly, leading, he says, to his first big of many mistakes when he sold an excellent business, for which he was never paid, to concentrate on the sea.
Fifty six years later, as an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute, with a Dale Carnegie management and accountancy diploma, a fishing masters ticket, a pilot’s licence, a flirtation with politics, a rocky personal history, the formation some thirty or so companies in some fifteen or so different industries and vocations, and, last but not least, four wonderful and successful children, he retired at 76. May be?
Associated at various times with six of South Africa’s largest corporations, and having taken two companies to JSE listing, his overriding personal belief is in “integrity with excellence.” However his great disappointment is the first hand knowledge of the cliché “power corrupts” in regard to big business in South Africa. He has in fact been told by one of SA’s best known sons, entrepreneur and philanthropist, that to further business the “end” always justifies “the means” irrespective, and was taken for a second ride by SA’s biggest corporation.! He believes that small and medium business’ only defence to this attitude, is to run a highly efficient unit, cutting no corners, and practicing honesty of purpose, commitment, and delivery. Your word should be your bond! Was he naïve at times? Undoubtedly!
In addition, with his interest initially fired up by a living sciences academic, who would become his best friend, he became an avid layman researcher in the field of marine resources, their sustainability, and management. This hobby, calling, continues till today, as he continually tries to redirect the calamitous influence our present rulers are having on these most valuable resources‼
He loves the English language and aspires to be an amateur “wordsmith.” Although he has written and has had published many articles for magazines, he has only written two non-fiction books, which can be found on this site. One of his remaining ambitions is to write a novel with the background of his experiences. Although started, his efforts are continually diverted by the alarming political situation, and how it affects those Marine Resources!
