Collecting CVs

While collecting CVs for the Professional Broking supplement with this issue, some interesting details emerged about the pasts of the attendees.

PB is sure it is not first with the fact that Mark Boon, managing director of La Playa, once enjoyed fame in a 1980s pop band, but hopes this mention may help to prise out of him the band's identity. However, he has made it known that an evening's worth of beer should do the trick.

More bizarrely, Danielle Bennett, group human resources manager of Alec Finch, once starred as a mouse in an ice show in Beirut. She also was once part of an illusion involving a glass casket; a witch driving a car; and a mouse pulling Cinderella's carriage. "Sadly, not skating" she said, adding: "I had spikes on my feet." Danielle also worked for the Chinese State Circus - a logical career path into HR then.

Other peculiar routes emerged when interviewee Oliver Laughton-Scott clambered onto the 'unofficial roof terrace' of his city office for this month's cover shot in order to get the 'erotic gherkin' behind him.

More mischief and mayhem was witnessed at last month's Association of British Insurers' awards. Overheard witnessed a fight over champagne between two rival health magazines. One broker was having a great time surrounded by a harem of young women. He later invited the bevy of beauties back to his hotel room. However, the lothario made it clear a certain male journalist was not invited to the party.

Finally, after a gruelling but enjoyable series of PB Roadshows in October, PB came back with various tales about the event. One worth mentioning, in the hope that those who know them will tease them mercilessly, was the two brokers who missed the entire event in Birmingham but popped in just for the free lunch!