Sponsored by
Business Diary June 30
The incredible vanishing politicians
WHERE have all the MPs gone?
Before the expenses scandal broke, they were only too willing to hog the limelight, squeeze flesh and unveil plaques. Now, like hunted game, they are elusive creatures.
Last week, we received a plaintive request from bosses at a major Yorkshire manufacturer, who wanted to find an MP to officially open an extension to their factory.
Sadly, they reported that no local MPs were answering the
phone.
The exasperated manufacturing firm blamed the row over expenses.
They asked the Yorkshire Post business desk to help them
track down an MP who was still willing to show their face in public. The times they are truly a-changing!
Thriller role
IT could be a pub quiz question to tax the finest minds. Which Yorkshire-based intellectual property lawyer features in the pages of a novel about greed and top-level boardroom intrigue?
The answer is Louise Handley, an intellectual property partner at Lee & Priestley in Leeds. She advised the Leeds-based author, OC Heaton about the publication of his debut novel, The Human Race. To her surprise, she was listed in the book's acknowledgments.The Human Race is the first instalment in a trilogy that charts the battle between two businessmen; Ethan Rae, Britain's richest man and Samuel Reynolds, the playboy CEO of what was once the largest company in America.
A recent reviewer has compared it to the work of Jurassic Park's Michael Crichton, which suggests we will see more page-turners from the pen of Mr Heaton.
Loyalty test
THE question of who is Yorkshire Bank's most loyal customer has sparked a debate.
There is a challenger to Peggy Lambert's claim for the title from Thomas Duell, who also lives in Ilkley.
A friend of Mr Duell called the Yorkshire Post to say that the 90-year-old has been a customer with the bank since 1921, joining three years before Mrs Lambert.
Mrs Lambert wrote to the Yorkshire Bank in response to a request to track down their most steadfast customer and shared her memories at the bank's 150th anniversary.
Also worthy of mention is Ellen Hicks, from East Yorkshire, who has been a customer since December 1922, when her grandparents gave her 10 to open her account.
She wrote to tell the Yorkshire Post: "The original blue book is in my loft somewhere. All this time I have been with Yorkshire Bank. A few weeks ago I sent 100 to New Zealand from my account to my newly-wed grand-daughter. International service, ah!"
A Yorkshire Bank spokesman said: "It's been a wonderful revelation to see the number of customers the bank has, that have been loyal for so many years. We've had so many we're beginning to wonder if being a Yorkshire Bank customer is, in fact, the secret to a long life!"
Head for the hills
WALKERS in the Yorkshire Dales must have been surprised to encounter dozens of senior executives who are in the front line of the battle against the credit crunch.
The bankers and credit professionals from across the North of England were striding out in the name of charity.
A team of 54 people organised by Leeds-based credit reference agency Callcredit completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge in less than 12 hours.
The walkers included 18 Callcredit staff and Yorkshire Post deputy business editor Greg Wright. They had to climb the equivalent of 5,000 feet as they tackled Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent. So far, they've raised more than 7,000 for cancer charity Macmillan.
Mike Davies, business development director at Callcredit and group leader of the challenge, said: "What a great day – and fantastic to have all of the walkers back within the 12 hours. The personal challenge was immense, and the money raised for Macmillan makes it a truly rewarding experience."
To support the Callcredit Charity Challenge visit: www.justgiving.coms /callcredit_yorkshire_3peaks
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Yorkshire
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
