Bankole Timothy - 'The Diamond Man'

'The Diamond Man'

Andrew Lamont of De Beers pays tribute to an old friend.

Emanuel Bankole Timothy, who died at the age of 70 on June 20, 1994 after a short illness, was born in Sierra Leone on July 3, 1923.

He attended the Methodist Boys' High School in Freetown where, as senior prefect, he was already establishing himself as a journalist by writing for the Sierra Leone Weekly News. In 1941, he became a clerk in the confidential branch of the Colonial Secretary's Office where, among many other issues, the question of illicit diamond buying was one of the major concerns. Unbeknown to Bankole, the diamond industry would become very much a part of his life when he later joined the Diamond Corporation West Africa Limited (DICORW AF). After school in 1943, he attended the University Tutorial College in London hoping to prepare himself for a career in dentistry, a vocation which his father was keen for him to follow. His guardian then was the famous Methodist minister, the Reverend William Sangster. During this time, Bankole Timothy began freelancing articles and also acted as London correspondent for the Sierra Leone Weekly News, Ashanii Pioneer and some Asian newspapers. In addition, he gave interviews on current affairs for the BBC and broadcast some of his poetry. In 1945, he joined the Daily Express where he was given a trial assignment, before the proprietor at the time, Lord Beaverbrook, thought that such a man would fit in well as a general reporter. The Daily Express gave Bankole a great deal of international experience as his assignments involved travelling to North Africa and Jamaica.

In 1950, the Daily Express appointed Bankole a parliamentary reporter for the paper in London. It was during this period that he was able to secure an exclusive interview with the late Sir Seretse Khama who at that time was in dispute with the British Government. Bankole looked back upon this period working for Lord Beaverbrook as one of the many highlights of his life. His second great journalistic experience was when he was appointed to Ghana's main newspaper, The Daily Graphic, in 1951. The then head of the Mirror Group, Mr. Cecil King, who was responsible for starting this Ghanaian paper, felt that Bankole was ideally suited for this particular post. Bankole's writing and features became well-known and he travelled extensively in Ghana. At this time, not long after Ghana's independence, the situation started to deteriorate for the Government and, as a result of his writing, much of which was critical of the Government, Bankole was deported since it was decided that his presence "was not conducive to the public good". This confirmed Bankole as a commentator who was not prepared to compromise his ideals.

On August 2, 1951, Bankole left Ghana for Freetown. After a short stay there, he returned to London in order to further his journalistic career. He eventually became assistant editor of the Central Office of Information Magazine, Commonwealth Today, and during this time he was invited to attend the famous Tashkent conference of African writers in the Soviet Union. In 1959, Bankole Timothy decided to return to Sierra Leone where he joined the Government's Information Services and was eventually appointed its head. He toured Sierra Leone widely and was in charge of training junior staff. He was responsible for the setting up of the publications department and he also had special responsibility for overseas publicity. His great triumph was the Queen's visit to Sierra Leone in 1961 when he coordinated the press arrangements and he was later awarded the MVO (Member of the Victorian Order) for his work during this important visit. In 1965, Bankole was appointed to the Diamond Corporation West Africa Limited and, after a brief period in the public relations department in Freetown, he was transferred to London. Senior management recognised Bankole's unique communication skills and his understanding of problems and issues relating to developing Africa. His appointment was designed to strengthen DICORWAF's relationship, as part of the Central Selling Organisation (CSO), with the major producers in West Africa and he rapidly took to his role of helping to brief senior management on West African affairs until his retirement in July 1993.

Bankole was well liked by all his colleagues because of his jovial and easy manner which were very much his hallmarks. It was felt that his major contribution whilst working for the London Diamond Companies was the work that he did with the African correspondents of the UK press and the excellent contacts he established in UK and foreign diplomatic circles. This helped to create a more favourable environment for the London Diamond Companies.

Bankole published several books during his lifetime, notably Letters to Youth published in 1949, The Gold Coast & The Constitution, which he co-authored with J H Price, and his major achievement which was the biography of Kwame Nkrumah, first published by AlIen and Unwin in 1954 and later produced in a second edition. Bankole was very much an Africanist. He joined the Anglo Sierra Leone Society in 1962, chaired it from 1979 to 1985, and was appointed its chief patron in 1992. Bankole was a tireless supporter of this Society and was responsible for ensuring that it received a great deal of support from the London Diamond Companies. Bankole's work in the Methodist Church was always central to his life and he was well known in UK Church circles. He worked initially as a local preacher at Methodist Central Hall and then later became secretary of the circuit meeting. Bankole eventually transferred to the Hinde Street Methodist Church where he was appointed circuit steward. He preached throughout the UK and was described as "a great and generous advocate".

Bankole, popularly known as "Tim", will be sadly missed by all his friends and colleagues around the world.