OBITUARY
Kathleen Ellen Myers (née Gow)
By Richard Myers
Kathleen Gow (1924–2023), the eighth woman to qualify as an actuary of the Institute, started training in 1941 at the age of 17. By the time of her passing in February, there had been five actuarial qualifications in her family over three generations.
Born in Doncaster, Kathleen was the daughter and granddaughter of Methodist ministers. She had four siblings, and her early years were spent in several locations before the family settled in York.
During the Second World War she joined the Yorkshire Insurance Company and commenced her studies; it was there that she met a new student, George. Both qualified shortly after, and married in 1951.
By 1960 the couple shared six children and had three actuarial qualifications – FIA, FFA and FIA – between them. During the following years, George rose to the position of general manager at the Yorkshire Insurance Company and group actuary at General Accident. Kathleen was kept busy with the family and her interests in supporting Oxfam, the Deaf Children’s Society and her local church, West Thorpe Methodist.
In her late 70s, with her children grown and flown and her grandmotherly duties diminishing, Kathleen decided to take a degree in mathematics, which she achieved at 81. As a young woman, she had passed up the opportunity to go to university so that her brother could pursue his own career in the nuclear industry. Indeed, she always put others first... quiet and determined, the breadth of her achievements were known by few.
Kathleen was my mother, my guide and my mentor. Despite the fact that she had formally ‘retired’ from her professional duties before she had children (as was the norm in those days), my father saw her as the one person who was capable of properly challenging and reviewing his work. In parallel, she guided me to make my own choices in life, always with love, care and support. I owe her my ability to question, to make decisions and to be firm yet pragmatic in my professional and personal choices.
Kathleen is now at peace with the Lord she loved. She is survived by two siblings, six children and 22 grandchildren and leaves behind an enduring memory of kindness, duty and quiet achievement.
WCA
Raising money for those sleeping rough
On 16 March 2023, on a damp and dismal night, three members of the Worshipful Company of Actuaries – Rodney Jagelman, Peter Tompkins and Lyndon Jones – slept out at Guildhall Yard in the City of London.
Along with some 120 others, they joined the Lady Mayoress’s Sleep Out to highlight the rising number of homeless people in London and raise vital funds for The Lord Mayor’s Appeal and The Pret Foundation. Participants ditched their warm beds to get a taste of what it is like for the thousands of Londoners sleeping rough every night. Sleeping wasn’t easy, with traffic noise and traffic lights constantly changing!
The Worshipful Company of Actuaries’ charity agreed to match donations raised from actuaries, and the trio raised more than £8,000. It is hoped that the whole event will raise in excess of £250,000. Not a pleasant experience but a very worthwhile cause.
Deaths
It is with great regret that we announce the death of the following members. We offer our condolences to their families, friends and colleagues.
Stuart Thompson, a Fellow who joined in 1977
Vineet David, a student who joined in 2012
Jacques de Villiers, a Fellow who joined in 1968
Winston St Elmo Whyte, a Fellow who joined in 1974
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