RIP Ron Brown
Who was Ron Brown?
I think many of the people who knew him would answer with the sentence, ‘David Abbott’s art director’. That’s how the title to this remembrance piece begins and, if we’re going to be honest, that’s what defined him professionally.
But Ron Brown did not merely exist in the shadow of the greatest ad man this country has ever produced – he was too good at his own job for that to happen. Of course, he had some fantastic words to play with, but he sure knew how to bring them to life. And let’s face it, David could have chosen any art director on Earth to work with, but he chose Ron, and not only as an art director, but also as a business partner and friend. That’s an endorsement that says more than all the awards (and there were many) they won put together.
Here are two of my favourite of his press ads:
Neither has a headline but they work all the better because of it. Was that David’s idea or Ron’s? Whoever it was only one of them had to make the end result work.
If memory serves he continued at AMV for maybe five years after David left, gracing the agency as a charming, friendly connection to a time when the industry was populated with gentlemen. He was a genuinely lovely bloke and always had time to offer advice or chat about the old days.
RIP Ron Brown’s copywriter’s art director.
My favorites of his (that I experienced in real life) were the famous “Mountain of dead dogs” RSPCA ad and Economist ‘Management trainee aged 42’ poster. He had a real sense of drama. He really knew how to arrest your attention. RIP.
Yesh, the ‘Mountain of Dogs’ one is my fave but I couldn’t find it online.
The Economist look is a piece of genius that lasted many years and could be spotted as an Economist ad from a mile away.
This?
http://theericle.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/RSPCAdogs.jpg
Exactly.
Thanks.
Best headline ever, but fantastic art direction, too.
Dear Ben
I am Ron’s daughter, Tara. I came across your blog whilst googling Dad. I just wanted to let you know that your words made me smile. I was only young when Dad did the dead dogs work for rspca but the memory of coming down to the kitchen one morning after he’d been up all night with the Magic markers perfecting the stunning layout for the ad will stay with me forever. Tara Jeromel (nee Brown).
Thanks, Tara.
Your words also made me smile.
I was a production bloke and traffic man at a small agency called George Hynes and Partners. Ron was the creative director. He hired me as copywriter purely on the basis of my constant interest in what he was doing. I worked for a year with Ron, then moved to a couple of insignificant agencies as a copywriter before landing a job at Collett, Dickenson and Pearce. I worked there – at what was considered one of the best agencies in the world for 14 years before going on to work at Lowe. I owe it all, by virtue of the start he gave me, to Ron Brown. May God bless him.
Hello Mike, this is a long shot, but I worked as a secretary at George Hynes and Partners in 1967 – Ludgate Circhus, with the Hoop and Grapes pub next door featuring largely in our social life. I certainly remember Ron Brown as a polite and very pleasant and talented man. I was only 22 years old at the time. I was the secretary to Bob (can’t remember his surname). Did you have a Mexican style moustache? If so, I remember you. I was drafted in for one of their curtain company advertisements at the time and later found myself all over Selfridges – I still have copies of the ad! If I have the wrong person, sorry! I remember Malcolm Robertson too. Seems a lifetime ago. I later went into travel and never looked back. Please reply if you want to. With best wishes, Denise Kennedy (name unchanged)
Denise, if you click on Mike’s name a link will take you to his website. It has contact details.
(Just in case he never returns here.)
Thank you Ben – have just left him a message there
Hi Denise,
I remember you…I was a 15-year-old messenger boy at George Hynes in 1967, I worked with Mike Everette and Alan Noble in the production department – and my boss was Harold Clinch. I think you worked for Bob Murphy. I think the person you are referring to (with the Mexican style moustache) was Mike Gavin, an art director who worked with Mike Holden in the studio under Ron Brown. Mike Gavin was incredibly funny, full of very funny stories and great fun!! I remember Malcolm Robertson and Mr. Gossling – I also remember going into The Hoop everyday to get ice for George Hyne’s drinks!
I hope this helps you.
My name was Dennis Cronk, but I changed my surname to Caxton when I was 17 years-old.
Hi I am Bob Murphy and worked at George Hynes with Ron for many years including making
A film in Spain with Ron what fun’ he and the hoop & grapes bring back many happy memories
Would not know where to start I ended up as a partner leaving a few years after Ron – some
Years later my wife met up with Ron as she was a home economist and worked with him through
The night on a Sainsbury food ad so they phoned me and I said I know what he’s like it must be
Done until it is perfect