The magnificent Mansion House, home to the Lord Mayor of London, was the setting for the Worshipful Company of Actuaries 2014 annual banquet on 24 April. Nearly 200 members and their family and friends, enjoyed the historic surroundings of one of the most iconic buildings in the city. It was a fitting venue to celebrate both individual excellence and the company's charitable successes, of which there have been many.
Master of the company, Charles Cowling, announced: "My priority as master has been our charitable efforts, and so I am proud to confirm that, with the support of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and The Actuary magazine, the company's £1m charitable target has been reached ahead of schedule".
The company's charitable activities have included awarding bursaries and funding research into mathematical education. So fittingly a further £2,000 was donated to the Lord Mayor's appeal, and £500 to the Mansion House Scholarship Fund on the night. In addition, three prizes for academic excellence in the profession's specialist technical exams were presented to Heng Wen Kho, Darcelle Salkey and Oliver Gingell. On receiving the prize, Oliver said: "The opulent surroundings together with livery dinner rituals has made the evening truly memorable."
Principal guest Jonny Ball also spoke about his experience representing the actuarial profession in the recent Lord Mayor's show.