Peter Thompson becomes Master of WCA
At the Worshipful Company of Actuaries (WCA) Installation Dinner at Vintners' Hall on 16 July, Peter Thompson (below) became the 37th Master of the Company. Sally Bridgeland was installed as senior warden and Nick Dumbreck as junior warden.
Peter, who takes over from Martin Miles, is a successful pensions actuary and previously chair of the National Association of Pension Funds and a Member of Council for the Pensions Policy Institute.
Each year, the WCA presents the Phiatus Award to an actuary who has made an impressive contribution to charity. This year's winner is Michael Thomas. Mike retired five years ago from an actuarial career as a pensions manager. Conscious of being a 'debtor to his profession', he welcomed the opportunity to do more for those less fortunate. Readers may know about Mike's work for the Swindon Restore Centre - to which the Company of Actuaries Charitable Trust (CACT) has provided financial support over recent years - and the Swindon Foodbank. He also participated in the Annual Inter-Livery Swimathon, helping to raise significant funds for successive Lord Mayor's Appeals, CACT and other charities.
Few people will be aware of Mike's extensive work with Sightsavers and The Leprosy Mission. He is an area representative and ambassador for the charities, giving talks at schools and churches, and represents them at fundraising events by other organisations, such as Rotary International.
One of the difficulties for the awarding committee is that people who do a lot of charitable work are often very modest, and Mike is one of those people. It took some digging to discover that Mike is also involved with the Uffington White Horse Show and was on the organising committee for 25 years, during which time it raised over £300,000 for local charities and community groups. Mike is also on the Amnesty International Urgent Action rota, and regularly appeals on behalf of prisoners facing execution or at risk of torture. Congratulations to Mike.