Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Pembroke: Lime Street blues

Topaz Amoore
Sunday 20 June 1993 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The hurling of empty champagne bottles at the chairman of Lloyd's of London, David Rowland, at the Royal Festival and Queen Elizabeth halls on Tuesday will have to stop smartly at 2pm, due to the intervention of Louis Armstrong and Beethoven, whose twin delights are on offer to a wider audience that same evening.

An annually fraught event, the meeting of Lloyd's underwriting members has become the longest occasion on the daily business calendar as members grill the market's authorities over the state of their losses. Last year's meeting at the Lloyd's market itself finished around sundowner time and ruined a day's business, so this year Lloyd's is holding meetings off- premises or at the close of play.

Concert promoters for that evening might dedicate a number or two to the distressed underwriting members - a rendition of Armstrong's version of 'You're driving me crazy' at his anniversary concert at the QEH, and the prisoners' chorus from Fidelio at the RFH.

Hatfield airfield, it is said, was the final British departure gate of the fugitive Asil Nadir, who allegedly donned a curly wig to expedite his passage to northern Cyprus. If it's true, the airfield has clearly learnt a lesson. A colleague who recently passed through noticed that passport formalities, with picture and number checks, were discreetly but strictly observed on outbound and inbound flights. Alas - too late.

Turning eagerly to the equity market review for June produced by SG Warburg Securities, we flick to the section on hotels and leisure. There, sandwiched between other bits of handy advice ('Compass now looks to be undervalued', 'The outlook for Rank's managed businesses in the US and UK remains promising') is the recommendation that shareholders sell their Queen's Moat shares.

In fact, QM shareholders have little option but to hold on. The shares have been suspended at 471 2 p since the last Wednesday in March.

Separately, they've been supplying wine to the City's company dining rooms, institutions and livery companies, as well as private customers, for more than 200 years. Now they have merged. As of today Russell & McIver (founded 1865 and the City's longest-established wine merchants), becomes part of Mayor Sworder & Co. The chairman will be Sir Christopher Leaver, a former Lord Mayor of London and the new chairman of Thames Water.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in