The first time I visited England was some 10 years ago to help run an insurance symposium in London’s financial district. Much of the event was held at Lloyd’s, the venerable insurance marketplace, and the birthplace of the modern insurance industry, some 350 years ago. One need only spend a few moments in the presence of the Lutine Bell, and Lloyd’s loss book to get a sense that despite the towering modern glass architecture, there remains a deep reverence for the history of the organization, and the industry it embodies.
My second visit to England is this week, when I attend an internal company conference held in Chesham, just to the northwest of London. When I caught my cab out of Heathrow airport and told my driver where I was going, he wanted me to make sure I was aware of what I was requesting. After all it was a good 30 miles away.
