Direct Line shares crash as winter cold snap and inflation leave its results ‘as ugly as they can be’ March 13, 2023 Direct Line today posted a £45m loss for the year 2022 as the insurer suffered a hit from soaring inflation, extreme weather, and market volatility, in what analysts described as one of the “worst years” in the Bromley firm’s history. Shares in Direct Line fell by 5.79 per cent on the news, as the insurer [...]
No10 Russell can win Six Nations Triple Crown for Scotland March 10, 2023 Mercurial talent Finn Russell can drive Scotland to their first ever Triple Crown in the Six Nations era on Sunday when his side host Ireland. I would go as far as saying the fly-half is a genius, while his opposite number at Murrayfield – Johnny Sexton – is world class in his own ways. Scotland [...]
Rowing a very long way: meet the two entrepreneurs who crossed the Atlantic for charity February 5, 2022 Among all the noble ways to raise money for a charitable cause, Guy Rigby and David Murray chose an unconventional one – to say the least. The two businessmen rowed across the Atlantic for seven weeks, breaking the world record as the oldest couple to ever row across any ocean. Indeed Guy is 68 and [...]
Mother’s Day 2023: things to do in London March 7, 2023 Mother’s Day rolls around on Sunday 19 March and plenty of London’s restaurants and bars are running special events to celebrate. Whether you’re keeping it casual or making big plans, it’s worth planning ahead as restaurants often book up ahead of time. Here are the best things to do in London this Mother’s Day, whatever [...]
The Square Mile and Me with Rowland Thomas on the energy of the City and its changes over time July 20, 2023 Each week we ask a City figure to take a trip down memory lane. Today, it’s Rowland Thomas, Close Brothers property finance managing director What was your first job? At the local greyhound kennels spreading sawdust on the training runs. I was accidentally paid double rates – £1 instead of 50p per hour – which [...]
Long-haul delights: Golf holidays it’s worth going the distance for April 24, 2024 These exotic destinations make even the longest of flights worth it.
Trevor Steven: One-off Erling Haaland is my Premier League player of the year May 30, 2023 Erling Haaland is ungainly but has to be my Premier League player of the year and could score 60 next season, says Trevor Steven. We saw brilliant performers at many clubs in the Premier League season that just finished and, before getting onto my player of the season, I’d like to give honourable mentions to [...]
Ed Warner: Richard Thompson must continue bold start at helm of English cricket November 10, 2022 No deckchair shuffling for Richard Thompson. English cricket’s new leader has pretty much cleared the deck of the governing body’s directors. His kind words about departing colleagues he has barely overlapped with suggests this is a diplomat with admirable stiletto-wielding skills. Now he must hire replacements capable of backing the reset that the sport so [...]
The Square Mile and Me with HowdenCAP’s Mary O’Connor May 25, 2023 Each week we ask the Square Mile’s great and good to take a trip down memory lane. This week, it’s HowdenCAP’s Mary O’Connor on her time as a regulator, the insurance industry, and a well-hidden bar What was your first job? Filling jam doughnuts at the local bakery. I started at 5am! What was your [...]
Aston Martin poaches top boss of luxury car rival Bentley March 22, 2024 The chairman and chief executive of luxury car maker Bentley has left to take over at rival Aston Martin.