Does anyone recall the facility for Bank Line sea staff to utilise Andrew Weir Insurance Company, based then at Bevis Marks I think, to get motor, buildings, contents and travel cover?
As I recall a sizeable discount was offered which persuaded me to use them for all my insurances during the 1970s and early 1980s. I wonder if the insurance business still exists?
I remember having to go to the Baltic Exchange to make a statement after a fire on one of the ships. The solicitor, an Bank Line employee whoese name escapes me and myself were entertained to lunch in "the golden trough." There were a few hydraulic sandwiches had. I commented to a superintendent on the next trip that perchance one of my fellow diners in the G.T. (not at our table) was a tad liberal in pouring his tipple. "Ah, that would be one of the blokes from the insurance department" was the reply. Must have been a tough job!!!
I was looking for an entry on companies house and came across this page - it seems that all that is left now are some forests in the US which are helping to keep the pension fund going - see filing history item dated 15 Sept 2017 pdf file
Did Andrew Weir not own Spink and Son - the coin dealers at one time - there appear links to Christies and Andrew Weir on Companies House. IIRC there used to be a yearly report sent round the ships about how the various areas of the Weir Empire were doing.
Don't know who actually owned Spinks,it was still a private company in my days in London.But yes Christies did buy it and later they were bought out by an US/Franco conglomerate called Artemis...one of those we buy any brand companies,they also own Chateau Latour and Converse shoes....
geoff
Ah! The penny has dropped. Yes I do remember insuring my P.E.s but that was where it stopped. Slightly off topic my old mate Duncan is correct about Spinks, they were mentioned frquently in the Bank Line magizine. I also remember a brilliant article in it where a member of the insurance staff was interviewed and she was able to tell about all the wierd and wonderful requests for insurance they got, such as someone wanting insurance against a person winning some manner of competition!
Speaking of unusual insurance requests. I was told some years ago after the Lottery was made legal in the UK that a number of companies were looking at 'Jackpot Insurance' to cover them in the event that a works(s) syndicate won big money and resigned en masse. I wonder whether it was true?
MMA ..I believe it was true....one plant on Teesside had a syndicate of about 40 people who reckoned they could cover most permutations....they gave up when they found out how much it was costing on weeks they didn't win.
Andrew Weir's accounts department was a bit dodgy. When I paid off the Vives, (a MacAndrew boat) after one voyage as AB, my payslip, headed Andrew Weir & Co, had me down as Donkey Greaser, and paid me accordingly.
I never complained, it was significantly more than I expected, and I never heard from them since.
Remember a guy coming aboard the Olivebank at London selling insurance.I gave it a look and after realising you only got ten bob for the loss of a little finger declined the offer.
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