Throwback Thursday: Female first; Co-op’s woe

19 August 1971: First woman member

A scientist at the Fire Research Station, Borehamwood, became the first female member of the Institute of Fire Engineers.

Margaret Law’s major field of research was in the growth and spread of fires in buildings, involving the study of ways of protecting structures from collapse.

She was already technical adviser to the European Convention of Steelworks Association and was set to present a report at an international conference on tall buildings in the US in 1972, which was the year the World Trade Centre’s North Tower in New York City was completed and became the world’s tallest building.

In 2001, two commercial airliners hijacked by al-Qaeda members were deliberately flown into the World Trade Centre’s North and South Twin Towers.

The collision resulted in a total progressive collapse of both skyscrapers, which at the time the fourth and fifth tallest buildings in the world.

Co-operative Insurance’s annus horribilis

Co-operative Insurance’s 103rd set of results showed 1970 “was not an easy year for the society”, chairman HA Toogood shared.

The society made a £741,000 loss on motor underwriting and Toogood blamed inflation and an eight-week strike by the society’s full-time agents for the less than stellar results.

Co-op Insurance’s underwriting business was sold to Markerstudy Group in December 2020, and the two companies entered a 13-year partnership to provide home and motor insurance under the Co-op brand.

The sale allowed the Co-operative Group to focus on its distribution arm, Co-op Insurance Services, while Markerstudy now underwrites the products offered to Co-op’s members.