PETTIGREW CALLS ALL ABOARD FOR STEAM RIDE
IT was all aboard at Tower Pier last night as City bigwig Jim Pettigrew added an unusual venture to his impressive CV, which includes stints at Marks and Spencer, CMC Markets, Icap and, in his current role, Aberdeen Investment Managers. Pettigrew played host as fellow City figures arrived to experience his latest venture: the relaunch of the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer, The Waverley. Pettigrew had the steamer paddle its way down from Scotland to take up residence in the Thames for its grand opening cruise during which guests admired its fully restored steam engines and supped on canapés. “Hopefully corporates around London will start to use it as an events space for charities,” he told The Capitalist as he readied himself for its glamorous voyage. With the 100-strong guest list including former Treasury select committee head Labour MP John McFall, as well as representatives from the Royal Bank of Canada, Lloyds and Invesco Perpetual, and with the addition of an impromptu bagpipe solo from an enthused Alistair Campbell as the party wound down — the boat could hardly have hoped for a more auspicious launch.
Bon voyage.
STICK IN THE MUD
Over a hundred competitors will brave the mud this weekend at the 100% 10km Run, organised by Steven Tredget. Readers might already know Tredget, who is known variously as the City’s Iron Man, “the Tredge” and Liberum Capital’s head of equity sales. The event is being held in aid of Kids Company, a charity that helps 14,000 kids from deprived backgrounds in the City. The idea is that instead of going through the hassle of getting sponsors, runners will pay £20 each to enter the race, with 100 per cent of profits going to the cause.
“I thought if you just put all the profits to charity, it would avoid the hassle of sponsorship forms and so on,” says Tredget.
The race is set to include runners from Liberum, Barclays Capital and Citigroup, with a fierce rivalry developing between the brokers and rival fund managers from Octopus Investment Managers. But Tredget thinks they might both be outdone by the soldiers taking part: “I love the idea of a few pinstripes up against a few paras,” he says. And he has left no detail ignored: runners will get goodie bags courtesy of Zetar and For Goodness Shakes and can look forwards to being greeted by a band of bagpipers after they slave up the biggest hill.
And with the Surrey course – which is on Ministry of Defence land – having recently hosted a horse trial, muddy runners could well feel they have earned the serenade. Of course, City joggers know that mud is good for you, and Tredget is inviting anyone tempted to take part to show up on Sunday. Look up the logistics at www.race100percent.com
SOLDIER, SAILOR
To deepest Essex, where The Capitalist recently caught up with Simon Moore, intrepid chief executive of the London Gateway port development at the mouth of the Thames. An ex-Navy man, Moore was keen to impress his nautical prowess upon a boatload of hacks during a tour of the still-waterlogged site. “I’ve sailed on ships around the world – and I’ve not once worn a coat on deck,” boasted Moore, who donned nothing but a crisp shirt and appropriate navy blue tie under his life jacket. “I’ve spent 90 per cent of my working life in the sunshine, so Essex is a bit of a challenge – but I don’t intend to start wearing coats now.” Brrr.