The week that was the 26th October

Activities – Week 44 ( 26th Oct to 1st Nov 2021 )

So folks …, Christmas has predictably come early this year with the premature launch of the 2021 John Lewis advert ( which is once again the same old, same old formulaic schmalz costing several million pounds with the usual spin-off merchandise ! )

You can probably tell I’m not too impressed – it’s not like the good old Woollies ads eh !

Talking of celebrating, last week was also Diwali and I hope you enjoyed any celebrations which you were party to ( alas it wasn't a good week for Ajay with his beloved India making an embarrassing early exit from the T20 world Cup !! ) :)

This , along with Bonfire night and the Mortgage Force Midlands Conference was a busy week for all, not least the gaffer who was no doubt beside himself with the launch of the new Abba Album on Friday ! < Gaffer ; Too right ; they are amazing .... >

And finally….. a landmark day for the travel industry yesterday as the States finally opened up for UK travellers with BA and Virgin aircraft organising synchronised take-offs from Heathrow to cross the Atlantic ! ( Their PR spats of the 1990's are now clearly behind them !!! )

And so ; to our own high-flyers in Week 44 where the business saw 89 cases completed for £28,390,959. Not bad for a half term week in many provinces.

Top of the charts was Super-Trouper , Ron Walton who completed £3,046,411 across 4 cases, followed by Will Avrili with £2,894,999 across 2 cases, one of which wins him the “ Winner Takes It All '' accolade this week for his £2,436,000 deal with Kent Reliance / OSB. Chris Taylor then followed with £2,130,320 of lending across 3 cases.

Then the following dancing kings and queens all made an impact in terms of high case volume or values this week – Sandy Mcilvenna, Simon Holdsworth, James Newton, Ajay Sharma, Colette Hall, Steve Hankins, Tom Sibley, Ben Hancox, Zak Abdul-Karim and Warren Middleton.

On the lender side you completed the greatest number of deals this week with NatWest totalling 14 for £3,580,321 of lending.

Protection – Week 44

Another decent week on the Protection side of the business with 35 deals completed this week of which Nick Price completed 18 ( mamma mia !!) and Sophie Evans, 7.

Pete Chappell secured the highest policy amount of £275,000 with Zurich Assurance and on the lender side you completed the greatest number of policies with Royal London totalling 9.

Management Notices

1. Talking of Dancing Queens and all things Abba ( as well as The Beatles ) , our thanks go to all who attended the Midlands Conference on Friday , and especially to Kerry , Russ , Becky & Rachel for their efforts. 24 local clients & introducers also attended and saw what a charismatic business we are in Derby ( amid some very dull competitors ! ) . Duff has also promised to give folk a minimum 12 month rest from his drumming and pub singing , not to mention the dad-dancing ....

A shout-out also to Rhys and William who came all the way down from Scotland . Those guys are a class act.

( And congrats also to Michelle Barraclough & Bob Tiley for their respectively sassy and hideous xmas jumper selections !)

2. P I Cover / FCA plans for 2022.

As ever , Bob Sinclair and Martin Reynolds joined us and shared some valuable snippets .

Foremost among which was that P.I. costs may irritatingly have further to rise next year , though they are then scheduled to fall back in 2023 ( these costs generally work 1 year in arrears ).

It is critical therefore that we all keep customer complaints to an absolute minimum.

3. Marbella Conference ;

A final note will follow from Kerry on this shortly ( don't forget to bring your masks ... Spain still has strict rules on this ).

4. And finally , it's been an auspicious week on Completions which as ever is the real Name of The Game ... ( had enough of Abba yet ?? :) :) ) , such that the race for 2nd in the YTD charts is now really hotting up.

Nick Harris ( pictured above in full title-winning badminton regalia ! ) has closed out some monster cases , as has Ron and Sarj .

It 's shaping up to be a climactic finish to see who follows the mighty Simon Holdsworth over the line.

Have a great week all , and Come On England tomorrow at the cricket !

The Management Team.