the view from here

Graham Getgood

raham Getgood’s career as a corporate insurance broker running his own business never prevented him from speaking out on a range of topics affecting the regional intermediary.

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It wasn’t just egos from within insurance companies pontificating from their ivory towers that drew his barb - intermediary trade associations; fellow intermediaries employing doubtful methods; governing bodies - long before

the FSA came along; and direct writers were all targeted as soon as any pomposity or blatant self interest reared its head.

It was amusing to note how the occasional high profile industry figure, unaware that the age of deference had ended back in the 1960s, would sometimes throw the toys out of the pram when Graham had the temerity to express a view contrary to their own.

His anecdotal catalogue of

day-to-day dealings in the broking world appeared in print for many years, in a collaboration

with ‘Insurance People’

Consultant Editor Brian Susman. Thus revealed were many of the ills that the FSA later found it had to punish, stemming from simple domestic episodes like bank clerks, electrical retailers, and the like attempting to sell insurance packages totally unsuited to consumer needs.

On his retirement in 2005 Graham Getgood said, “In the days before compulsory statutory regulation arrived, the issues were very emotive, certainly more so than they are today. Looking back it’s easy to see in hindsight how the various factions within our industry were all pulling in different directions. Things may be slightly better now, and the future looks brighter.”

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ife in retirement? It’s good to be away from the demands of business life after so many years. Difficult? No - it’s a breeze. Do I miss work? - don’t’ make me laugh! My wife, Christine, is involved in various charitable pursuits as well as serving as a local councillor. I have my cricket and occasional golfing interests - too rotten at golf to take it seriously. Then there is the football with my beloved Aston Villa who now give me my season ticket at half price! Mind you, regular trips to Wembley this season are proving expensive! Away from the constraints of limited holidays, we have travelled; four months in a motor home in Australia, and a long tour off the beaten track in the southern states of America. This included Tennessee, North and South

Carolina and Georgia pursuing my interest in blue grass music; the American Civil War; and Jack Daniel’s whiskey - not necessarily in that order! My Christine describes it as ‘Gone with the Wind’ country - Oh dear!

A main interest back home is my voluntary work for the

Samaritans. Many readers will know that we seek to listen to, and help people who are in distress or suicidal. 17,000 volunteers throughout the UK is, perhaps, a sad reflection of the need for our service.

After training (pretty tough at my age) I became a fully fledged volunteer. It’s a unique organisation that suits an irascible soul like me! Non religious, non political and, in particular, non judgemental of others.

We do not receive government funding thus preserving our jealously guarded independence particularly as, unlike most other organisations and agencies, we provide complete confidentiality even shredding our notes at the end of each shift.

My own branch has a team of some 70 people helping to provide a 24/7 service 365 days a year. We run our training centre and operations room without a single paid employee. Funds are raised from wherever we can find them, with some valuable help from people like Rotary. Our well- thought-of ‘brand’ also helps. Shift times vary and I must admit that a night shift leaves me a bit ‘shredded’ the following day, but it’s easier for me to do unsociable shifts than colleagues who have to

fit everything in around full time employment. Sometimes it can be tough but, at the risk of sounding sanctimonious, the satisfaction levels can be very high. Volunteering, whether it be for a sports club, a charity or anything else, is good news. For a start, you are not relying on any income from it which is liberating as you can follow your interest, but walk away if you get fed up.

My personal view is; try not to get involved in anything that is remotely connected to insurance, administration or, indeed, anything that you are professionally trained for. In many cases you will meet interesting people and add a new dimension to your life.

And if it doesn’t work out, do the one thing you can’t’ do in your job - try something else!

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