Left school, wanted a job, a job was money. I was very lucky that I got two interviews on the same day in the City. A very different world to today, where it is very hard to get interviews, let alone be offered a job.
Job offer 1.
Bank of London and South America – “we only work every other Saturday morning, and you can wear casual clothes”.
Job offer 2.
Edward Lumley and Sons (A broker) – “we work a 5 day week”
Career Decision made ! – A broker.
2 weeks later summoned to see a Mr Harvey.
Total interview. “Walk up and down, turn round, welcome to Reinsurance”!
The week before, the young man who I was replacing (Rhythm Guitarist – Pretty Things) was given an ultimatum Haircut and a Reinsurance Career – No Haircut = No job.
All my new Boss cared about was the length of my hair!
So I have a continuing great career in Reinsurance because I was lazy (that day) and had had a haircut. 🙂
My first job was at Edward Lumley’s. I knew John Harvey well. He was a friend of my father who became a significant Reinsurance Underwriter in his own right. I became a trainee marine broker under a Mr Elliot and Paul Harris. We must have been contemporaries. I do remember one Reinsurance broker called Tony from then. He would have been around 23 years old. The free black tie ball biannually around Christmas was memorable. I remember the cargo broker junior,Charlie F. and I got suitably inebriated for the first time in our lives. Very quiet the next day at work. I later moved to Sedgwick Collins and the rest they say is history. Michael P.
Hope this gets back to you. Am just starting to re-edit the website etc etc and not sure what is working, as a bit rusty. The Black Tie Ball at Grosvenor House Hotel – definitely memorable – you had to be Married or engaged to go to that with your partner – I got engaged 🙂 Glad you obviously had a good career and some fond memories – i certainly did and do. Peter C