RIP Nick Carew Hunt

There is a hole in the parish today and equally one in the world of real tennis. Sadly Nick Carew Hunt, the long-time Market Secretary of LIFFE has passed away after a relatively short period of illness.

Nick arrived at the nascent LIFFE as part of the build team and never looked back, moving from his background as a Town Planner. A truly larger than life character, Nick was definitively one of those who acted as a management glue holding together the LIFFE exchange from conception to fruition and through the Royal Exchange floor creation, the Cannon Bridge move and finally to electronic markets, via Euronext ownership then the NYSE interregnum into the ICE age. Along with John Foyle, they forged a magnificently creative team at the heart of the exchange.

RIP, a very good man who has left us utterly prematurely. Nick made an enormous contribution to building the London and European derivatives markets from a standing start. Condolences to Nick’s wife Victoria, the distinguished photographer and family.

Whereas last week Exchange Invest remarked on the sad but scintillating Pearly Gates lineup of Pope Benedict, Pele and Vivienne Westwood, sadly this week we have the stylish contrasts of engagingly stylish in their own ways, Nick and Gina Lollobrigida.

Doubtless, a commemorative parish curry in Brick Lane will be arranged at a later date so we can toast Nick appropriately and recall our favourite anecdotes from his rich and wonderful life.

The Members' stands will not be the same at Lords or the Oval this test season.