THE KNIVES ARE OUT AS THE CITY VIEWS GRAND MILITARY GOLD CUP
THE Capitalist travelled in style to Sandown Park racecourse for the Grand Military Gold Cup, where the City types in attendance were busy whetting their appetite for this week’s Cheltenham festivities.
As the military’s most accomplished horsemen and women battled it out around the track, it was off to a private suite for guests of stockbroker Charles Stanley, fresh from boosting its horsey credentials last week by sponsoring the British Masters Showjumping.
In the absence of finance director Peter Hurst – who I’m told is usually the one to follow when it comes to racing tips – it turned to the rest of the team and their happy clients to dig deep into their pockets for the charity raffle, which included country delights such as a fetching tweed ladies’ suit with matching boots, and luxurious holiday packages including a week’s skiing in Verbier.
Perhaps the most bizarre lot, though, was a “khukuri” – a weighty and fearsome-looking knife traditionally carried by the Gurkhas – which was positively snapped up by Charles Stanley’s PLC director Michael Clark. A novel adornment for the wall of a City office, I’m sure.
BACK FOR ENCORE
IT’S not every day you see bankers getting a round of applause, but Deutsche Bank’s UK chief Executive Colin Grassie found himself being clapped enthusiastically by a new young generation of fans at Shakespeare’s Globe last Thursday.
Deutsche sponsored a two-week run of Macbeth – a play with more plotting and skulduggery than even the City can regularly supply – so 14,000 schoolchildren could see it free.
Continuing with the Scottish theme of the play, it was Scotsman Grassie who was there to thank the Globe’s cast. He was only surprised to be receiving one of the largest rounds of applause himself, after Globe patron and former Play School presenter Floella Benjamin chimed in: “You see – not all bankers are bad. This is one bonus I’m thrilled about!”
With praise like that, it’s no wonder Deutsche Bank is going back for an encore next year.
FAUNTLEROY’S FATE
BANKERS: take heed. If you thought a stiff fine was the worst you could face for misdeeds spare a thought for the infamous banker, forger and womaniser Henry Fauntleroy (1785 – 1824).
At the BADA Antiques and Fine Art Fair, which runs for a week from Wednesday, one exhibit is a fine and rare engraved cartwheel penny from 1824.
It is engraved with the words “Fauntleroy the Robber of Widows and Orphans Executed at Newgate”, and continues “Such be the Fate of all Insolvent Bilking Bankers and Agents” Now that really does make the Financial Services Authority look harmless.