Philanthropy, fellowship and recognition to the fore at Winter Lunch

Our Winter Lunch at Draper's Hall was a wonderful occasion with 200 members and guests attending.

There was a special moment when Past Master Rosemary Beaver was presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Women in Insurance Awards which she was unable to collect at the awards presentation ceremony.

Master Nick Dunlop read out the citation for the award which highlighted Rosemary’s contribution to the WCI: “Her work with the industry’s own livery company, the Worshipful Company of Insurers, has been ground-breaking. In 2019 she became the first female Master of the Company, having led a huge growth in female participation in the Company at all levels.

“She was at the helm when Covid struck and it was through her leadership that the Company came out of the pandemic stronger than it went in.”

Rosemary responded with her hallmark modesty, saying it is “an incredible privilege to be part of the WCI and play a part in promoting this great industry of ours”.

It was also an opportunity for Master Nick Dunlop to introduce Glass Door London, his charity for the year which works with homeless people in London, and Alicia Feetham from the charity spoke about the vital work it does. Members responded with donations of over £3200.

The Master said philanthropy was one of the cornerstones of the Livery movement, with the WCI contributing a six figure sum every year to a wide range of good causes.

He also spoke about the growth of the Company and what that means for the future of the whole insurance industry:

“We need to work hard to be accessible for all in our industry. Today we celebrate our associates and five new clothed livery men and women. We are making great progress in building a diverse modern livery.

“But insurance continues to be undervalued with too little visibility in City and beyond. As part of the drive to address that we will be clothing and presenting the Freedom to Dan Glaser, one of the global giants of the industry at our Mansion House Banquet on 17 May. With Lord Mayor Nick Lyons present, a member of our company, this will be an opportunity to recognise the huge role of Insurance.”

• Photographs by Edward Thompson