The Company commissioned Tim Noad, Herald Painter at HM College of Arms in London and a Scribe to the Crown Office at the House of Lords, to design a special logo for our 40th anniversary year.
Tim has produced several very distinguished items for the Company in recent years and his designs for the anniversary logo are an eye-catching blend of the traditional and the modern.
These will be used for all of the events and publications associated with the anniversary.
Mansion House Banquet: One of the Highlights of the WCI Year
The Company’s Mansion House Banquet is always one of the highlights of the WCI’s year and this year it will be held on Thursday 4 April 2019.
Our guest of honour will be the Rt Hon, the Lord Mayor, Alderman Peter Estlin who will be accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, Lindy Estlin.
This Banquet is a superb opportunity to entertain family, friends and colleagues. However, do not feel shy about attending on your own, you will receive a very warm welcome and will quickly find yourself among Livery and industry friends.
It is always a popular event so do not delay booking. The booking form is now open online. The booking page link can be found here but if you have any difficulty booking please contact Victoria at assistant@wci.org.uk.
Record Turnout for Forum on Board Effectiveness
A record number of attendees for an iNED event heard Simon Hearn, Judy Delaforce and Annette Court speak on Board Effectiveness on Monday 11 February in the Old Library at Lloyd’s.
Simon talked about the “ingredients” that make for a good board, the right mix of skills and experience, a genuinely good gender and diversity balance. He stressed how important it is that there is no group-think or grandstanding. This means that prospective NEDs should in future expect greater use of psychometric testing.
Judy covered the pillars on which effective boards and committees are built, including culture and ethics, board dynamics and strategic direction and shared the findings of her firm’s NED survey, with a particular focus on disruptors.
Annette shared her perspective as Chair of Admiral, a large public company with millions of customers and a highly effective board . She listed the NED characteristics she sought which included independence of thought, the exercise of good judgement and experience of crisis and disruption. She strongly supported continuous board valuation for checking progress and as a mandate for change. Relentless board focus on the customer was one of Annette’s key messages.
The next Insurance Non-Executive Directors Forum is on Addressing Uncertainty in Board Decision Making on 1 April in The Old Library at Lloyd's. Further details available on the iNED website.
Successful Start to The Year for iWIN
The first iWIN (Independent Women in Insurance) event of the year was voted a huge success by everyone who attended, said iWIN chair Karen Graves: “It was great to see the level of interest at the latest iWIN forum focusing on financial planning for women and learning more about pension planning and the importance of understanding how we need to be fully engaged in our future financial needs.
"The popularity of the forum supported iWIN’s view, along with that of the CII, that this is a topic of interest to women and hopefully we can be a positive force in engaging with women to promote the message that this is a topic we need to continue conversations about."
The Breakfast Forum, entitled Empowering Informed Financial Decisions to Change, was led by Vanessa Barnes, Fellow of the Personal Finance Society and owner of Hannay Investments. Among other topics she explored the the reasons why pension planning goes wrong, whether they represent good value for money, and what does a “good” pension look like.
Out of the Frying Pan … and into the Fun
The WCI will have a full team in the 15th Inter-Livery Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race, organised by the Poulters’ Company, on Tuesday 5 March. The race will take place in Guildhall Yard with events starting at 11.30am.
The team will be led by the Master, Terry Masters, and will include iENGAGE convener, Josh Brekenfeld in the Novelty Race as Lord Nelson.
The Clerk, Sarah Clark, said the WCI was delighted to be taking part in all the races this year:
"2019 will be a very special year for the Insurers. We shall be celebrating the 40th year of our Foundation. The Pancake Race will give us the opportunity to enter a superb team of insurer athletes, all match fit and especially gifted at tossing pancakes, while running on the perilously slippery stones of Guildhall Yard!"
We are delighted to confirm the names of our team members:
• Terry Masters – Masters Race
• Oliver Mackie – Liveryman Race
• Kimberly Foster-Powell – Ladies Race
• Josh Brekenfeld (dressed as Lord Nelson) - Novelty Race
The Poulters bring the eggs, the Fruiterers the lemons and the Cutlers the plastic forks and it is all whipped up with a traditional atmosphere of pomp and ceremony, as competitors dress in their Livery regalia as well as fancy dress. The winning team of four gets a commemorative frying pan. Money raised from the event is donated to the Lord Mayor’s Charity.
Sir David Rowland RIP
It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of Sir David Rowland, former Lloyd’s Chairman, who passed away peacefully at home on 18 February.
Sir David was a Founder member of our Company, joining WCI in June 1979 and was Clothed in the Livery in April 1980. He became a distinguished member of the Court. We were honoured to welcome Sir David and Lady Rowland to our Royal Charter Banquet in Guildhall.
In a charming thank-you letter he wrote.
"I am sure that Bill Harris with whom I worked closely in founding the Company would have been overjoyed to see its glorious progress".
Members wishing to write to Lady Rowland should address letters c/o Peter Spires, General Council, Lloyd's, One Lime Street, London, EC3M 7HA, UK
The Chairman of Lloyd’s, Bruce Carnegie-Brown, said the market owed him a "debt of gratitude".
"It is certain that those of us who continue to take pride in what Lloyd’s has achieved owe much to Sir David. It is no exaggeration to say that it is only because of the efforts of Sir David and his team that Lloyd’s has continued not only to survive but to thrive".
You can read Mr Carnegie-Brown’s full tribute on the Lloyd’s website
We will write to members when the funeral arrangements have been announced. In the meantime, members may wish to read a short personal reflection of Sir David by our Liveryman David Worsfold.
Future Events – Make a Date
There is a packed programme of events for WCI members, their friends and business colleagues over the next few months. Check the website regularly for full details of all the events. Here are a few of the highlights in addition to those events mentioned above:
City Livery Monthly Lunch (Hosted by the Livery Committee)
Friday 1 March
City University Club (inc The Lloyds Club), 42 Crutched Friars, EC3N 2AP
Inter-Livery Pancake Race
Tuesday 5 March
Guildhall Yard Contact the Clerk’s Office for details
March Winter Lunch
Wednesday 6 March
Vintners’ Hall Some late places may still be available: contact the Clerk’s Office
Fish and Chips Lunch
Friday 15 March
City Livery Club at Little Ship Club Sold Out
United Guilds Service & Court Lunch
Friday 29 March
St Paul's Cathedral followed by lunch at Barbers' Hall Booking Form - Click here
iNED Forum: Addressing Uncertainty in Board Decision Making
Monday 1 April - 15:30
The Old Library, Lloyd's, One Lime Street, EC3M 7HA Cost £50. Booking Form - Click here
WCI MANSION HOUSE BANQUET - A WCI GREAT EVENT
Thursday 4 April, 6.45pm for 7.30pm
Mansion House Cost £140. Booking Form -Click here
City Livery Monthly Lunch (Hosted by the Livery Committee)
Friday 5 April
City University Club (inc The Lloyds Club), 42 Crutched Friars, EC3N 2AP
Breakfast Forum
Thursday 11 April
JLT Specialty, The St Botolph Building, 138 Houndsditch,EC3A 7AG By invitation only from the Master – Contact the Clerk for further details
WCI Summer City Walk
Wednesday 12 June
WCI Event for New Members
Monday 17 June
JLT
The Worshipful Company of Insurers (incorporated by Royal Charter)
T: 020 7600 4006 | W: wci.org.uk
First Floor, 21 Lombard Street, London, EC3V 9AH
