Penny Black’s Social Diary: Branko’s bite and Fitch’s potatoes

Howden’s afternoon with the Web Ellis Cup

I was positively green with envy looking at Howden head of claims operations Victoria Sutton’s LinkedIn post about the charity event she recently attended at Twickenham.

Imagine being in the same room as the illustrious Webb Ellis Cup yet having the restraint not to touch it!

She did have my sympathies for being a Wales fan hearing the discouraging insights she got into the Six Nations, but I’m sure the whopping £80,000 the event managed to raise for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was a true comfort.

I’m sure Victoria and her fellow attendees enjoyed a splendid afternoon of networking and charitable giving. Though I do wish they’d sent me an invite… I simply must get my hands on that trophy, if only for a moment!

Penny’s Lunch Box

Fitch Ratings certainly knows how to offer a proper spread. At their Insurance Insights 2025 event, they abandoned the usual nibbles and canapés in favour of hearty servings of roasted potatoes.

The only downside was having to balance my plate while standing and networking. As someone who takes the “lunch” in “Penny’s Lunch Box” quite seriously, I do prefer to have a table at which to properly enjoy my meal.

Four stars as it was an excellent meal, but one star deducted for instilling me with the anxiety of dropping my plate in front of all those intelligent analysts.