Red carpet is rolled out for charity traders
IT is not everyday on a lunchtime stroll down Broadgate that a shark, cowgirl and giant armadillo can be spotted drinking beers outside Icap’s City offices. However yesterday was no usual trading day, but the firm’s 20th annual charity extravaganza, which has grown into something of a City institution.
Among those hurtling through the revolving doors faster than you can say “Autumn Statement” were actor Sean Bean, Mayor Boris Johnson, actress Goldie Hawn, comedian Jimmy Carr, ballerina Darcey Bussell, athlete Mo Farah and the Prime Minister’s wife Samantha Cameron.
Actress Gillian Anderson really got stuck in, The Capitalist noted, as did Top Gear boys Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. Less active on the phones was Made in Chelsea’s Spencer Matthews. The former Icap trader was busy catching up with old face-painted friends on the Swiss desk.
The charity trading day has raised £89m for over 1200 charities since 1993. This year, with over 100 celebrities manning the phones in the London office, the firm is hoping to break the £1m barrier.
A return to the Commons for 1980s chancellor Lord (Nigel) Lawson (pictured) who was peering down on the next generation yesterday from a vantage point in the gallery during George Osborne’s Statement. The Capitalist hears that Lawson narrowly missed witnessing a game of musical chairs before the speech, as the chancellor’s aides had originally been given tickets that had the Osborne family entourage seated in rather a strange position. They were placed directly facing Ed Balls, rather than the man himself. Good to hear that all was rectified before proceedings began.