Ewen Balfour

John Crompton writes: The last time I saw Ewen Balfour (obituary, Dec 15) was some 15 years ago when we chanced upon each other in Balham High Road returning home from our respective new year celebrations. At his party there had been some sort of game involving making up new words to fill in gaps in the English language. The idea had clearly tickled him and we made up a few more as we walked along. Characteristically, he roared with laughter at my efforts despite the fact that they came from a lower level of erudition than his — and on a greater degree of insobriety and giggliness (which I think was one of the words we came up with). Unfortunately, I cannot recall any other examples which are printable. Although we lost touch, for me he was the epitome of good company and I will always remember his good natured leg-pulling and his sharp but never cruel sense of humour.

Julius Neave

John Faulder writes: I would add to your interesting obituary (Nov 17) of Julius Neave: he took full control of M&G in 1966 as the chosen successor of Charles Calburn, who was at the helm of M&G as General Manager for 21 years from 1945. Before that, and five years’ absence on war service, mainly at Bletchley Park, Calburn spent 15 years in reinsurance, almost half of which was spent as a manager at the Swiss Re headquarters in Zurich. During his time Calburn effectively put the company on the map and handed it over to his successor with subsidiaries in Australia and South Africa. He left a management team renowned for its linguistic ability appropriate to a world reinsurance company (Calburn himself was fluent in German, Italian, French and Spanish). He also left a beautiful newly built head office with an executive dining room that was the mecca of the reinsurance world. This period made a significant contribution to the 30-fold increase in M&G’s income you mention between 1946 and 1982.