Skip to main content
The Actuary: The magazine of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries - return to the homepage Logo of The Actuary website
  • Search
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Logo of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Main navigation

  • News
  • Features
    • General Features
    • Interviews
    • Students
    • Opinion
  • Topics
  • Knowledge
    • Business Skills
    • Careers
    • Events
    • Predictions by The Actuary
    • Whitepapers
    • Moody's - Climate Risk Insurers series
    • Webinars
    • Podcasts
  • Jobs
  • IFoA
    • CEO Comment
    • IFoA News
    • People & Social News
    • President Comment
  • Archive
Quick links:
  • Home
  • The Actuary Issues
  • March 2016
03
People & Social News

Club classics

Open-access content Friday 26th February 2016 — updated 5.50pm, Wednesday 29th April 2020

The Argonauts dining club is for actuaries working outside traditional areas and was established in 1955.

2
The Argonauts dining club is for actuaries working outside traditional areas and was established in 1955. It has a rich heritage going back to the time of Frank Redington and George Ross-Goobey, and the varied membership of today is made up of investment management professionals, independent trustees, academics and others.

On 19 November, the club celebrated its 60th anniversary with a splendid dinner in Staple Inn, with over 60 members and guests in attendance. In his opening speech, this year's chairman, Bill Smith, paid tribute to the members of the club. Bill noted that, in 1955, the vast bulk of long-term savings assets in the UK were managed in departments within life insurance companies and corporate pension funds. Today, investment management in the UK is a world leading stand-alone industry managing over £6trn. Many members have, over the years since the club's foundation, contributed to this achievement.

Following a dinner, an actuarial and non-actuarial speaker each gave an excellent talk: Martin Clark, the government actuary, generated a lot of interest from the audience with his outline of the history of the Government Actuary's Department and the scope of its activities. Jane Platt, chief executive of National Savings & Investments, provided a fascinating insight into the challenges and achievements of a business that today has 28 million customers and is a cornerstone of savings in this country.

The Argonauts meet three times a year, starting with drinks at 6.30pm, dinner at 7pm and two speakers at 9pm - one actuarial, one non-actuarial, for around 20 minutes each.
Our dinners are mostly held in Livery halls and members are therefore assured an interesting venue and a high-quality dinner.

On 5 May, our annual gala dinner will take place at the newly refurbished Ivy Restaurant, and the speakers will be Adrian Waddingham (co-founder of Barnett Waddingham) and Helen Pitcher (chairman, Advance Boardroom Excellence). New members are always welcome.  Contact [email protected] or request to join the Argonauts group on LinkedIn. 
This article appeared in our March 2016 issue of The Actuary .
Click here to view this issue

You may also be interested in...

2

Red carpet glamour

SIAS held its 2015 Annual Dinner, themed ‘A night at the awards’, at the Roundhouse in Camden on 20 November.
Friday 26th February 2016
Open-access content
2

A fantastic mixer

The Society of Actuaries in Ireland student committee held a cocktail-making master class for students and recent qualifiers in The Grafton Lounge on Thursday 26 November.
Friday 26th February 2016
Open-access content
2

Obituaries: Peter Douglas Johnson MA FIA FSS

Peter Johnson was an eminent and respected General Insurance actuary whose charisma and innovative thinking made a significant impact on our profession.
Friday 26th February 2016
Open-access content
2

A natural winner

SIAS was delighted to award its ‘Best Contribution to Programme prize’ for the SIAS year ending June 2015 to Sacha Dhamani.
Friday 26th February 2016
Open-access content
2

Globally recognised risk management credential celebrates 3,000th award

The CERA Global Association (CGA) is pleased to announce that Chu Lee has become the 3,000th person to earn the prestigious Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary (CERA) credential. Chu is a member of the Society of Actuaries (SOA) in the US and assistant actuary in the corporate actuarial department of Munich Re (Life).
Friday 26th February 2016
Open-access content
2

Actuary of the future: Bronagh Traynor

Actuary of the future: Bronagh Traynor
Wednesday 2nd March 2016
Open-access content

Latest from March 2016

IFoA funds three actuarial research programmes

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) has today announced three leading research programmes to address issues in pensions and insurance such as longevity and health.
Thursday 31st March 2016
Open-access content
ta filler

PPI 'the most complained-about product', says FCA

Payment protection insurance (PPI) has the highest number of complaints among financial products and services, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found.
Thursday 31st March 2016
Open-access content
Pancakes and blueberries © Shutterstock

Risky portfolios do not match investors' appetites

The majority of the UK's ISA portfolios are in sectors with top risk ratings, but investors do not have the same requirements, a firm has warned.
Thursday 31st March 2016
Open-access content

Latest from small_opening_image

2

COVID-19 forum for actuaries launched

A forum for actuaries has been launched to help the profession come together and learn how best to respond to the deadly coronavirus sweeping the world.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Travel insurers expect record payouts this year

UK travel insurers expect to pay a record £275m to customers this year as coronavirus grounds flights across the world, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Grim economic forecasts made as countries lockdown

A sharp recession is imminent in the vast majority of developed and emerging economies as the deadly coronavirus forces businesses to shut down across the world.
Tuesday 24th March 2020
Open-access content

Latest from inline_local_link

2

COVID-19 forum for actuaries launched

A forum for actuaries has been launched to help the profession come together and learn how best to respond to the deadly coronavirus sweeping the world.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Travel insurers expect record payouts this year

UK travel insurers expect to pay a record £275m to customers this year as coronavirus grounds flights across the world, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has revealed.
Wednesday 25th March 2020
Open-access content
2

Grim economic forecasts made as countries lockdown

A sharp recession is imminent in the vast majority of developed and emerging economies as the deadly coronavirus forces businesses to shut down across the world.
Tuesday 24th March 2020
Open-access content

Latest from 03

IFoA funds three actuarial research programmes

The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) has today announced three leading research programmes to address issues in pensions and insurance such as longevity and health.
Thursday 31st March 2016
Open-access content
ta filler

PPI 'the most complained-about product', says FCA

Payment protection insurance (PPI) has the highest number of complaints among financial products and services, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found.
Thursday 31st March 2016
Open-access content
Pancakes and blueberries © Shutterstock

Risky portfolios do not match investors' appetites

The majority of the UK's ISA portfolios are in sectors with top risk ratings, but investors do not have the same requirements, a firm has warned.
Thursday 31st March 2016
Open-access content

Latest from People & Social News

ui

People & Society news: March 23

Around the globe Reaching new heights in Nepal
Wednesday 1st March 2023
Open-access content
rseh

Pensions sub-committee seeks new recruit

Are you an experienced pensions actuary who is keen to be involved in responding to pensions industry consultations? Do you have technical expertise in UK defined benefit and/or defined contribution occupational pensions, and an interest in broader social and regulatory policy? If so, the Pensions Consultations Sub-committee of the Pensions Board is looking to appoint a new member.
Tuesday 28th February 2023
Open-access content
web_p47_Inside-Story_Mohamed Aly Soliman.png

Inside story: Mohamed Aly Soliman

Where are you based?
Wednesday 1st February 2023
Open-access content
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

BPA Transition Manager

London, England / Edinburgh, Scotland
£45000 - £65000 per annum + market leading bonus and benefits
Reference
148878

London Market Pricing Contracts - Inside & Outside IR35

London (Central)
£1000 - £1300 per day
Reference
148877

SME Pricing Director

London (Central), London (Greater)
£225K + bonus + benefits
Reference
148872
See all jobs »
 
 
 
 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to The Actuary

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
Spread-iPad-slantB-june.png

Topics

  • Data Science
  • Investment
  • Risk & ERM
  • Pensions
  • Environment
  • Soft skills
  • General Insurance
  • Regulation Standards
  • Health care
  • Technology
  • Reinsurance
  • Global
  • Life insurance
​
FOLLOW US
The Actuary on LinkedIn
@TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Facebook: The Actuary Magazine
CONTACT US
The Actuary
Tel: (+44) 020 7880 6200
​

IFoA

About IFoA
Become an actuary
IFoA Events
About membership

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to The Actuary Magazine
Contribute

The Actuary Jobs

Actuarial job search
Pensions jobs
General insurance jobs
Solvency II jobs

© 2023 The Actuary. The Actuary is published on behalf of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries by Redactive Publishing Limited. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any part is not allowed without written permission.

Redactive Media Group Ltd, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ