The roar of the broker and the smell of the crowd

The build up to Biba's annual conference and exhibition is always intense.

Wednesay night's opening reception marks the culmination of a year’s worth of preparations when our hard work finally pays off. We get to meet our members in a relaxed, but stimulating atmosphere and see them enjoy themselves.

Well, that’s the plan any way. What’s even more exciting is that this year the conference is being staged in my home town of Glasgow.

“It is hard to remain dignified when you are squashed into a violently gyrating giant teacup or perched at the top of the roller coaster, petrified at the forthcoming drop.

We have a wide range of serious world and insurance sector issues on the programme to discuss. The social side of things has not been forgotten either and this year includes an indoor fun fair. Fun fairs are great levellers. Whether you’re a top City boss or a post room operative – it’s hard to remain dignified when you’re squashed into a violently gyrating giant teacup or perched at the top of the roller coaster, petrified at the forthcoming drop. The child that remains hidden inside us all comes bubbling to the surface.

When I was a child, the funfair that came to Glasgow always travelled with a circus. I can remember looking at the sideshows, but always being keen to hold onto my cash. Not for me a goldfish in a bag that died a few days later or a stuffed panda that was impossible to win no matter how many pot shots you took at targets. Even at that young age I think I could recognise the precarious existence of the fairground workers behind the colourful artifice (plus the smell of the elephants was a little off-putting).

Given my track record with fun fairs it is unlikely that I’ll be going on any of the rides, but that will not stop me enjoying the spectacle of the great and the good of the broking community lining up to do battle on the dodgems. That leaves me to say a big thank you to everyone who makes the journey north to conference, and to Biba staff in particular without whom none of this would have been possible.