Noel W. Deeks
03 Mar 2022
It is difficult to remember exactly when I first met Noel, but it was in those now far off days when the NAJ – held its annual Conference. Noel, and his wife Irene, were regular attendees at those events together with his colleagues from James Walker – now the late “Jimmy” Sanders, Michael Prince and Tony Metherell.
However, our friendship really strengthened when he became actively involved with the Gem-A.
Sooner than anticipated, I was elected GA chairman in 1981 and I asked Noel if he would be my Vice-Chairman to which he agreed. Nigel Israel as Treasurer very ably supported us. Our team were together for fourteen years.
Noel was born on Christmas Day in 1929 – hence his Christian name – and trained originally as an engineer. His father was a watchmaker which resulted in Noel working repairing clocks and watches and he qualified as a CMBHI in 1953. Having joined the renowned firm of James Walker he soon “graduated” into the sales area of the company and the rest is history – as the saying goes. He became joint managing director in 1977 alongside Michael Prince – also born on a Christmas Day incidentally.
His experience behind the counter had fostered an interest in gemstones and that led him to study for his FGA which he obtained in 1969 and he then went on to earn his DGA the following year. Noel was a fervent supporter of education and training – he had created a training department at James Walker which employed over 2,000 staff – and this led him to teach the Diamond grading course at Sir John Cass College throughout the 1970s.
Noel was a highly skilled negotiator and without his expertise and tenacity as a Trustee of the Gem. Lab. Pension scheme, the Gem. Trade Laboratory staff would not have the pension they enjoy today.
But what of Noel as a personality? Quietly spoken, always business-like, he was utterly dependable. He had a profound sense of the ridiculous which coincided with my wife Mary’s and my sense of humour. Generous with his time, his engineering background led him to devise several gemmological instruments which are in use throughout the world of gemmology today.
I am one of the lucky ones to have enjoyed Noel’s friendship and unswerving loyalty as a colleague in our various voluntary roles in the trade. I treasure the memory of those days and consider myself fortunate to have known a special man. Noel had born a lengthy illness with courage and his customary tenacity and died five days short of his 92nd birthday.
Source: The Jeweller