On Thursday 14 July, the Worshipful Company of Actuaries Installation Dinner took place at Haberdashers Hall.
On Thursday 14 July, the Worshipful Company of Actuaries' Installation Dinner took place at Haberdashers' Hall. Prior to this, the new Master, Sally Bridgeland; senior warden, Nick Dumbreck; and junior warden, Nick Salter, (all shown above) were installed. Badges and robes of office were presented, and thanks made to the immediate past Master, Peter Thompson, and to his wife.
Pre-dinner drinks were enjoyed in the courtyard, to the accompaniment of harp music played by Lisa Evans.
As is normal, grace was said before dinner by our honorary chaplain, Rev Canon David Parrott. During the dinner, two new members of the livery and six new liverymen were acknowledged, all having been through the 'formalities' at a Court meeting earlier that day. Our continuing success in the inter-livery bridge tournament was also recognised, Graham Clay, John Simon and Peter Bennet being presented with their trophy. Liveryman Robert Ross was awarded the Phiatus Cup, which is awarded annually for charitable endeavours. Robert was awarded this for his fundraising and other work in the aftermath of the Nepal earthquake, when, having cancelled his own attempt to climb Everest owing to said earthquake, he threw himself into assisting the local community.
The three after-dinner speeches were in turn witty, inspirational and personal. First up was Nick Salter, followed by Dame Stephanie Shirley. The Master, Sally Bridgeland,
then responded. Sally is our first female Master, and it was clear from her speech that this means a lot to her. She told of her life to date, praised and thanked her parents (both of whom were in attendance, which could be a first for the Livery) as well as her husband, to be known as Master's consort. It was both personal and entertaining. During her speech, she presented the Company's Award of Honour to past Master Jeremy Goford, for his work for the profession (both as a past president of the IFoA and the author of a seminal paper on the control cycle), the Livery movement and the City of London, where he founded the Financial Services Group of Livery Companies.
Sally's theme for her year in office is 'Resilience in Flexibility'. With such a great start from her installation dinner, her success in delivering on this theme can only be enhanced.