The Hall of Fame

Taking it to the

Davo goes weak at knees

Mortgage Introducer’s new deputy editor Sarah Davidson ended up a little star struck while out for drinks with Pete Leslie, partner at St James’s Place Partnership, last month. No it wasn’t Les- lie’s usual wit and banter that did the trick. Far from it. Hollywood totty Keira Knightley and boyfriend Rupert Friend were spotted at the next table as Davidson enjoyed cocktails and tall tales of all things mortgages and protection with Leslie at London’s trendy Soho House. The HoF however is still unsure which half of

the famous couple she was more excited to see, Knightly or Friend. And as my snap above shows Knightley certainly knows how to look good. But with Davo’s track record of going weak at

the knees when star struck we’re not betting on Knightley.

Country

Those fine folk at Countrywide ensured the great and the good of the mortgage market had a grand day out on the Thames last month aboard the historic Thistle barge. Built in 1906 it’s the largest surviving wooden barge in the world. Despite some

fears to the contrary the barge managed to last the distance, taking all the

assembled back to London City Bridge Pier in once piece. Unlike some on board, who shall remain nameless, who managed to lose not only their feet but several helpings of lunch.

Cleary clinches title for June

Alan Cleary, managing director of Precise Mortgages, enters the Hall of Fame this month. Cleary clinches the title not for being first out of the starting blocks launching a lender that brings new funds to the mortgage market. Oh, no. Cleary bags top spot this month for his valiant efforts in learning to fly. Every three weekends out of four, Cleary takes to the skies in a Tomahawk PA 28, a single engine, two seat light aircraft, which cruises at 90 knots, or around 100mph, and has a top speed of 138 knots, or 160mph.

Cleary has never been one for flying by the seat of his pants so the HoF was concerned to read one website review of the plane which read: “In service the Tomahawk proved to be economical to operate, but the aircraft was dogged by quality control problems.”

No humble pie for the HoF

Despite predicting that Cleggy Boy didn’t stand a chance of making it into Number 10 we never re- ally thought that he’d be able to slide in through the back door either. Still, it goes to prove our point that Clegg

really is more of a charlatan and chancer than Prime Minister – and Deputy PM is not exactly the top spot. Still, 10/10 to Clegg for hanging on in there. As

one mortgage pundit pointed out: “Those har- lots were so desperate to get in they’d have done anything for a whiff of glory. Anyway, Clegg was probably a sleeper planted many moons ago.”

Spot the ball and win £30 of Majestic

Bend it like Beckham

Allen Davies, a Surrey-based IFA, was the lucky broker to win Key Retirement Solutions’ Mini Cooper worth a whopping £16,000. Davies, a broker for 35 years, referred one of his

wife’s friends to KRS, and the application was pulled from a hat by KRS business development director Dean Mirfin.

But kind hearted Davies didn’t drive the car away when he went to claim his prize last month - he handed the keys to his wife Sheila instead, who was overjoyed and had only ever won a raffle in the past. “It only seemed fair that she get the car,” said Davies, who admitted getting the phone call from Mirfin was “completely out of the blue”.

46 MoRTgAge iNTRoDuCeR JUNE 2010

Congratulations to last month’s winner, who will shortly receive £30 of Wine vouchers

Wine vouchers

Just take a look at this photo of the mighty Frank Lampard and work out where the football is. Photocopy the page, put a cross where you think the centre of the ball is, and send it – along with your name & address – to Nia at the address on page 3. Good luck! Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48