Talking of sailing, the St Paul's boys had an eclipse party of 34 brokers on The Solent last Wednesday.

Led by deputy general manager David Bevan, the crowd on four powerboats got a spectacular view. But they found it a little spooky, too. Said Bevan: “The water went black and still; seagulls went quiet. It was all pretty eerie.”

Lunch later on the Isle of Wight quickly restored a sense of normality – pity the darkness hanging over the industry can't disappear so quickly.

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