Backchat likes nothing more than his fish and chips wrapped in an old newspaper, so he wonders if his chums at Lloyd's broker Thompson Heath & Bond (THB) and insurer Ace Global Markets will be using a copy of Insurance Times for their metaphorical fish and chips.

The chips were certainly down for the pair when they received a £1,000 prize indemnity claim for a fly fishing competition they had insured.

The £1,000 cash prize was awarded in a charity fishing event staged for Macmillan Cancer Relief. Punter Norman Proudfoot outsmarted 240 other anglers to win the prize after landing the only trout in the water tagged with an exclusive microchip that bleeped under a special scanner.

It seemed to observers (and underwriters) that Proudfoot stood only a slim chance of catching the prize fish from the deep waters of a massive Scottish loch.

But Backchat's chums are always good sports and THB and underwriter Michael Rudd at Ace Global Markets are this week sending a cheque to cover the prize indemnity claim to Macmillan Cancer Relief. The fishing event raised more than £25,000 for the nursing angels.


The 2025 Insurance Times Awards took place on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December in the iconic Great Room of London’s Grosvenor House.

Hosted by comedian and actor Tom Allen, 34 Gold, 23 Silver and 22 Bronze awards were handed out across an amazing 34 categories recognising brilliance and innovation right across the breadth of UK general insurance.
Many congratulations to all the worthy winners and as always, huge thanks to our sponsors for their support and our judges for their expertise.

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