STA Blog

On one of my rare trips into town since lockdown version one, masked, I ventured onto the tube to the Embankment and popped round the corner to the majestic building of the National Liberal Club. The setting of many STA grand dinners, this was to be an informal affair to celebrate the new-found freedoms us Brits were at last able to enjoy.

On Thursday the 23rd September at 18:30 prompt I arrived to be greeted by Katie Abberton (ticking off her guest-list), Eddie Tofpik and his son Nicholas (a nice easy name for me to remember). Eddie noted: ‘’I think it’s wonderful we’re here to celebrate freedom; it’s so valuable’’. Adding that he thought the lack of in-person meetings has seen the society grow in a particular way, its ability to do so a credit to the society.

Moving into the reception room itself, it was the perfect venue. Unbelievably high ceilings, huge sash windows open onto a balmy evening overlooking the Thames, and plenty of space to accommodate the guests. I hear that some had been reluctant to come, something I sympathise with as so many aspects of our lives have been turned over and the stuffing pulled out.

Chatting to Ben Tyler as we picked up glasses of white wine, he admitted that he had really ‘’missed all of you (STA members); what’s good is meeting people afterwards [at the monthly meetings]’’. I also caught up with Tom Pelc, now CFO at Fortu Wealth Private Banking (based in Canary Wharf), which he describes as a ‘’posh Revolut’’ – ethical investing with a social conscience.

STA newcomer Ben Nimo joined during lockdown, has completed the Diploma Part 1 and 2 courses, but as yet hasn’t sat the exam. ‘’I’ve started so I’ll finish’’ the course, which was not part of a career move but for personal interest. Similarly Andrew Kirkwood who’s been dabbling ‘’on and off’ with technical analysis for 20 years, has done Diploma Part 1 and describes himself as self-taught, while looking at his charts every day.

Eddie, Committee member of the STA and Head of Marketing, gave a brief presentation extolling the speed and efficiency of the society’s move into the digital world, emphasising our library’s move to the virtual (while keeping its 1000 or so books at the Barbican Library).

Finally I got the chance to speak to Loo Siew Lan where, at the financial company she was a student at, the head of the desk paid so she could go to a STA technical analysis course in the 1980s. ‘’The Society means a lot to me – for professional and for personal reasons’’.