David Hughes FCII celebrates 50 years membership to the CII

Biography - David Hughes FCII

Never really liked school and left it with a clutch of O levels which allowed me to start on studies for the ACII.

A form was placed on my desk and I was told to join the Institute to start my exams.

Using day release and postal courses (now called distance learning) I eventually obtained ACII. I intended to rest on my laurels but was told by my manager to carry onto FCII. In those days managers were men to be feared. (Don’t want to sound sexist but the female manager hadn’t been invented).

I was originally a member of the Manchester Institute and then moved to work in Bolton and transferred to the Bolton Institute. I remember Cyril Smith being the speaker at one of the Annual Dinners. He sat in a special large chair to accommodate his enormous bulk. I do remember him saying that the toastmaster had got his letters right as MBE, which he said stood for My Bloody Efforts and not OBE which stood for Other Buggers Efforts.

I then got promotion to Local Manager in Warrington in around 1980. Warrington was a local committee of Liverpool Institute. I transferred my membership to Liverpool and have been a Liverpool member ever since.

Warrington held their lunchtime lectures at the masonic hall that was directly opposite my office so I had to attend. It came up to the second AGM of my time in Warrington and as they usually put on a good lunch I put my name down to attend and sit at the back. As I entered the building I was pounced on. The person down to be Chairman had sent word that he didn’t want the job. The ad hoc gang who accosted me explained that they had all done the job and I was the only suitable candidate. I was then duly elected Chairman of the Warrington Committee. During this time I obtained my FCII. The FCII was by examination and I was having trouble with a subject called Management Accounting and Statistics. There was a night class at the Manchester College of Commerce that I enrolled upon. On the first week the lecturer (a Doctor at the College) dramatically threw the CII course book into the bin stating it was RUBBISH. Under his guidance, I passed the subject.

A couple of years later I transferred to work as Local Manager in Southport. Southport was also a Local Committee of Liverpool Institute. There was a sense of déjà vu when on my second AGM the same thing happened and I was elected Chairman!

After another couple of years I came to work in Liverpool proper. I helped on the Syllabus, Education, Social and other committees. I have also been Secretary.

The pinnacle of my career was to be elected President in 1995.

Nationally, I have served on the Syllabus committee, Examination Committee, been a moderator for examination questions and still am an assessor for the Election to Fellowship.

My wife later followed me to be President. We are the only married Past Presidents of Liverpool Institute.

Involvement with the Institute has always given me pleasure and I believe it has helped me in my career and given me skills to be used in wider aspects of my life.

I have made good friends through membership of the Institute.

This may sound like an end of career script, but I’m not done yet.

Testimonials

I knew David Hughes even before I joined the local Institute.

He was a regular visitor to our office, collecting raffle tickets, occasionally delivering prizes, gently asking about the slow journey to exam qualification.

David was President in 1995 and Honorary Secretary at the Insurance Institute of Liverpool for a number of years and helped with various committees, always with huge enthusiasm.
He was (and still is !) the epitome of the ideal member of the local Institute. Professional, helpful and enthusiastic.

It is no surprise that he has been a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute for 50 years.

David is to be congratulated on his fantastic contribution over such a period. 1965. His team won the League and I was born. What a year !

Tom Harrison - President 2009/10

Hearty congratulations to David on his 50 years as a member! It has been my pleasure to have known David for over 25 years, both professionally and as a friend.

His dedication supporting our industry is an example to us all and to have this in common with his wife, Marguerite, is somewhat unusual, both having served as our local Presidents.

My thanks to David for his unstinting support of our Liverpool Institute.

Charlie Hurst - President, 2007/8