The Editor goes back to skoolMe&theWifeIt's a traditionaljournalistic adage thatEditors should never re-read their work once it'sbeen published.Presumably that'ssomething to do with'crying over spilt milk' - noamount of handwringing isgoing to alter the odd mis-spelling that gets past thespell-checker, or theoccasional grammaticalgoof. However... sometimesa revisit cannot beavoided. A teeth-grindingmoment came about on re-reading the phrase "mywife and me" thatappeared in the Februaryissue of IP. Actually, thatphrase was not "wot Iwrote". My preferredversion - "my wife and I" -got clobbered before itcould hit the page thanksto the intervention of long-term guide, guru, andfounder of the BridgnorthChapter of the SalopPunctuation andApostrophe PreservationSociety Brian Susman.IP's Consultant Editornaturally takes this roleseriously as he lies inambush when donning hisproof reading eyeshadebefore IP goes to press. I was assuredthat in the context used,"my wife and I" isgrammatically incorrect,and that the correct versionshould be "my wife andme", which duly appearedin print. But - and this iswhere the "never re-read"advice proves sound - theaforementioned grimaceon revisit led me to aretrospectivechallenge. I don't knowabout you, but to talkabout "my wife and me"just doesn't sound right.My suggested alternativeof "my wife and myself"was also given the thumbsdown. So let's hear fromthe man himself:- Avoid OTND temptation at this point - Opportunity to NameDrop. Make no reference to exclusive drivedown London's Strand in company withauthor, broadcaster, former MP andGovernment Whip, and after-dinner speakeras related on page33 inlast month's IP, available at all good backnumber magazine specialistsEnglishassheisspokelaw from Chalky, which I now pass on from theApostrophe Police, is that "its" only ever has anapostrophe when it's (yes, there it is) short for "it is".Thus, "The Apostrophe Police has it's reasons .... " -wrong!But " .... has its reasons ..." - right!And "It's theApostrophe Police who decide ... " - right!(short for "itis").That's it. Lesson over. Next month, "Co-ordinateGeometry and Calculus - the truth".Brian SusmanIhave often been called "a pedantic old b......" in mytime. But I reckon there's nothing wrong with pedantry -especially when you know you're right.My dear old English master, Chalky White (now therewas an English teacher for you!), taught me theessentials of English grammar and, as far as I'm aware,they haven't changed since. Thus it is that I know thedifference between "my wife and I" and "my wife andme".It all depends on whether your wife and you are thesubject of the verb, or the object of the verb, you see."My wife and I went to the theatre" - correct!(subject ofthe verb). "After the theatre XYZ Insurance entertainedmy wife and I to dinner" - wrong!(object of the verb). But"..... entertained my wife and me to dinner ... " - correct!(object of the verb).Got it? And is that Chalky I can hear, murmuringassent from the grave?While we're on the subject (shouldn't have got mestarted!), I am asked by Chief Inspector Watchit of theApostrophe Police to let it be known that there is a rightand a wrong way with the word "its". Another immutablein association withMARCH 2012 insurancepeople5

markettalkUnique cricketsponsorship opportunityAsponsored cricket matchwith a difference takesplace at Bedford School onThursday, 12th July 2012. Theaim is to promote theactivities of Chance to Shine,the Cricket Foundation charitythat is bringing youth cricketback to state schools where ithas previously been dormant. Author Bob Cattellhaswritten Bowl like the Deviltobe published in May 2012and will be donating all theroyalties from this, his latestcricket book for children, tothe cause. And he has alsotalked to some of his friendsand former clients in theinsurance industry to lend ahand in marketing the book. I asked Bob how thesponsored cricket matchcame about. "I was talkingover lunch with some oldinsurance friends who arekeen on cricket about how topublicise the book - peoplelike Alan Clarkeand HarveyWetherillof EISL; NeilWilliamsof NVW Solutions;Andy Hawkesof THB; andJames Brightof AROUnderwriting. It was AndyHawkes who came up withthe idea."Andy Hawkes: "Theconcept is a simple one.We've put together a team of'Legends' - men and women,all ex-international players -and we are challengingyoung cricketers - boys andgirls, aged 16-18 - to takethem on in a Twenty20 gameat Bedford School on July 12."So who are the legendarycricketers? The availability ofthe full team is still to beconfirmed, but in the fastbowling category AndyHawkes tells me there'sDevon Malcolm. "Thenthere's Neil Fairbrother, plusoff spinner, Rosalie Birch,who was part of the Englandteam that won the Ashes in2005 and retained them in2008. The batting line-upincludes Phil 'Daffy'DeFreitasand DerekRandall, who is the coach atBedford School and all-rounder, EbonyRainford-Brent." A formidable line-up, buthow do the young players getto challenge them? "We'resetting up a competition forkeen 16-18 year-oldcricketers," explains Andy."They'll apply through anonline form, which will go liveafter Easter. Our selectioncommittee will then pick theteam."We'll be launching theevent to potential sponsorsthis week. But we're fairlyconfident we'll make our targetbecause we've already got sixor seven companies on board,or about to sign up before westart." I gather the interestedparties include, EuropeanInsurance Services, JLT, FWDGroup, THB Risk, AROUnderwriting, InsuranceCompliance Services andCardinus Risk Management.The new MCC president andOval chairman, PhillipHodson, has also confirmedhe'll "help in any way he can". It sounds as if peopleshould act quickly if they wantto take part. Bowl like the devilAndy HawkesHow the sponsorship worksTo reach our target we'll need a dozen sponsors, paying£3,000 each.We're hoping to raise upwards of £20,000 on the day forChance to Shine, through sponsorship and a high-quality auction. For that each sponsor gets a table forten for a three-course lunch in the Grand Hall at BedfordSchool. One of the 'Legends' will join them and theirguests for lunch, and then they can watch the gamefrom the bar in Bedford School's new cricket pavilion's'Long Room'. Bob CattellWe're also inviting 400-500 8-12 year olds from localstate schools to come along to the event and participatein coaching sessions with county-level coaches andcelebrity cricketers. Each child will also get a free pack,including a copy of Bob's book and a branded tee-shirt.So it will be a day to remember for everyone. Andy HawkesContact Andy Hawkes on 07887 726146 or Bob Cattell on 07765 467021.6 insurancepeopleMARCH 2012