A gaggle of current and former journalists gathered at a Cornish fishing village to mark a former editor’s 70th birthday.
John Marquis, variously dubbed as a “ruthless bastard” and a “firebrand campaigning journalist,” celebrated the milestone with a party in the legendary smuggling village of Mevagissey.
Friends and colleagues from from half a century in journalism were at The Sharksfin restaurant to help the former Falmouth Packet editor mark his big day.
They included Tom Arms, a former Packet trainee who went to become diplomatic correspondent of Thomson Regional Newspapers and launch Future Events News Service (FENS).
Tom, who first met John at the now defunct Evening Echo at Hemel Hempstead in the early 1970s, described John as “a first-class investigative, campaigning firebrand journalist.”
He added: “He was also considered a ruthless bastard, but only by the low-life he exposed.”
Guest of honour at the party was Ken Thompson, 86, who gave John his first break in journalism in 1960 by recommending him to John Barrons, then managing editor of the Northampton Chronicle and Echo.
Ken, who was editor of the Coalville Times at the time, later went on to edit the Packet, run his own freelance agency and become Cornwall’s tourist officer.
Music was provided by Devon-based rock band Steam Rocket, with former Cornish and Devon Post editor Derek Garrett on drums.
Said John: “It was a memorable occasion because it brought my family and newspaper friends together for the first time.”
John also worked on the Nottingham Evening Post and Guardian Journal before moving to the Bahamas in the mid-1960s as a political reporter on the then colony’s two principal dailies.
He returned to the islands as managing editor of Nassau daily The Tribune in 1999.
During his ten-year ‘reign’ he repeatedly fell foul of politicians who sought to deport him and was credited with bringing down the government in 2007 after exposing a sex scandal.
Since retiring in 2009, John has been writing books and running his publishing website, First Edition Press.
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Retired? Is that a set of new wheels John? If so, mind the bends.
Good to see you’re still alive and kicking. Richard Meredith, ex Ev Echo, N’pton and all the rest.
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Happy birthday John. So there is someone older than me out there!!!!
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A glittering journalistic career was just not glamorous enough for thrusting John Marquis – he had to top it all at his big birthday bash by taking up the tambourine to become, for a few heady minutes, the (just about) eldest member of Steam Rocket, the Saga-esque rock band from Devon which had the honour of providing allegedly musical entertainment at the fabulous event. What a night!
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Actually, Derek does himself an injustice. Steam Rocket, a combo of ageing rockers, is the best band in the West. So good are they, in fact, that a bunch of Mevagissey fishermen were twisting and rocking on the quayside outside the wonderful Sharksfin restaurant, where my party was held. They were so hilarious that I invited them all in for a drink. Derek, a fine reporter and editor in his day, was a revelation on drums – and his bandmates were breathtakingly good, particularly Jerry the singer. The band made so much noise that the tide went out and hasn’t been seen since. Roll on my 80th!
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I also described John as a “great journalist” and a “great friend.” It was a great honour to be asked to give the keynote speech and everyone had a great time; helped enormously by the wonderful spread prepared by the Sharksfin Restaurant.
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It was indeed a great party. Steam Rocket said it was one of their best gigs. What’s more, it boosted Mevagissey’s economy at a time of the year when the beautiful fishing village most needs it. Everyone benefited from this great ‘do’ – can’t wait for Marquis’s next big celebration.
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Nice one, John. Truly one of the old school. I look forward to seeing your newspaper memoir, Hard Pressed. Do I get a mention?
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