Pictures: City’s bigwigs flock to Chelsea Flower Show warm-up bash
There was nearly more power than flower last night as City grandees and business heavies strolled up the lilac carpet of the Chelsea Flower Show for this year’s preview evening.
Insurance heavies Tidjane Thiam of Prudential and Standard Life’s David Nish both rolled up, perhaps giving them a chance to talk risk over the rhododendrons.
Lord Myners was there with his wife Alison, presumably keen to take his mind off the Co-operative Group and its woes. Centrica boss Sam Laidlaw arrived shortly after ex-BP boss Lord Browne.
Lucky Barclays boss Antony Jenkins missed the 7pm scrum at the gates (and believe us, there was much grumbling about the queue), strolling in at around 7.30pm. Almost fashionably late…
Here are some of the snaps from the night…
Barclays boss Antony Jenkins (Source: Laura Lean)
Lakshmi Mittal and his wife Usha (Source: Laura Lean)
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and wife Susan (Source: Laura Lean)
Centrica boss Sam Laidlaw (Source: Laura Lean)
Prudential chief exec Tidjane Thiam (Source: Laura Lean)
Ex-BO boss Lord Browne (Source: Laura Lean)
Hotel magnate Sir Rocco Forte (Source: Laura Lean)
Headhunter Virginia Bottomley (Source: Laura Lean)
City-spinner Andrew Grant, Tulchan founder (Source: Laura Lean)
Simon Mackenzie Smith – UK chairman corporate and investment banking Bank of America Merrill (Source: Laura Lean)