Porter, James Kenneth

Lieutenant Colonel James Kenneth Porter OBE (known as Ken)

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Porter was born at 17 Upper Garville Avenue, Rathgar, Dublin on 16th September 1918 to James Porter, School Teacher and Jessie Porter nee Shaw. 

Following his education at Methodist College, Porter joined the bank at Head Office on 26th April 1937 and later worked as a junior in the Paste Room (c. 1938).

A photograph of him with colleagues, T K Adair, C F R Anderson and Norman Atkinson appears on page 219 of the book, 'The Ulster Bank Story' by Lyn Gallagher. Adair and Atkinson also served during the war.

In 1940, Porter volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Artillery serving in India, Burma and Malaya.. He was promoted through to Lieutenant Colonel by 1945 and had been 'Mentioned in Despatches'.

After demobilisation, Porter returned to the bank in 1946 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Knock, Enniskillen (Teller then Pro-Manager, 1961).

In 1949, Porter married Mis Isobel Hamilton of Dromara, a former official and they had a daughter, Rosemary.

Porter was made an Officer in the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work with the Army Cadet Force in the Counties of Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh. He had been the County Commander of the Force since 1956.

Further appointments in the bank followed with Castlederg (1965 - Manager), Lurgan (1967 - Manager) and Area Director, Northern Region S (1969).

Ken Porter is also mentioned on page 273 of the above book in the chapter 'Progress Inevitably Means Change (1969 to 1982)'. This person is described as the North West Area Director.

Porter retired on 31st December 1980.

Lt Col Ken Porter OBE died on 14th May 1991 leaving his widow, Isobel and daughter, Rosemary.