The Insurance Institute of Southampton was formed in 1913. Today the Institute has 2723 members including PFS, and 20 Council Members. We are the 10th largest local Institute by member size.
On the 4th April 1913 a meeting was held in Ocean Chambers, Above Bar, chaired by Mr E W Blew at which 12 others were present. The object of that meeting was to consider the desirability of forming an `Insurance Institute of Southampton. Mr Blew of Ocean Accident was proposed to be the first president.
The first general meeting was held in Lowman’s Café, Above Bar on the 18th April 1913, at which 50 gentlemen attended. The Institute held its golden jubilee celebrations in 1963 with a banquet in the Guildhall. Pat Farley became the first female president in 1985, interestingly today 11 of the 20 council members are female.
The Institute celebrated its 100th year in 2013, Mike Hillier had the honor of being the centenary president, and celebrations included a lunch on a cruise ship docked in Southampton. Southampton institute now incorporates the former institutes of Portsmouth, Salisbury and Andover. A full history of the Southampton Institute was updated by Mike Hillier and Ian Ritchie for the centenary celebration; copies are available upon request.