Sir Matthew Pinsent CBE helps Clydesdale Bank celebrate 10th anniversary of Reading centre

22nd May 2014

Scores of business figures from Berkshire and surrounding counties had the opportunity to question sporting legend Sir Matthew Pinsent at a special Clydesdale Bank Business Week Event.

The event, held at Forburys Restaurant in Reading on Thursday 15th May, marked the 10th anniversary of Clydesdale Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Reading.
The dinner attended by John Hooper, chief operating officer of Clydesdale Bank, Rob Wilson, MP for Reading East, customers and local professionals also raised more than £1800 for the Bank’s Help the Hospice campaign. More than £1300 of the total will be donated to the Sue Ryder - Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading.

Rowing champion Sir Matthew is one of the UK’s best known sportsmen, winning four gold medals in four successive Olympics. He was awarded the CBE in the New Year’s Honours List in 2000.

During the Clydesdale Bank event, Sir Matthew reflected on his Olympics success and what it takes to become a top athlete.

Mark Laughlan, Head of Clydesdale Bank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Reading, said:

“Welcoming an Olympic champion like Sir Matthew here has been a pleasure and a memorable occasion. With four Olympic gold medals under his belt he is one of UK sport’s most inspirational figures.

“I’d also like to thank the customers and business figures that attended our 10th anniversary dinner and helped raise funds for the Duchess of Kent Hospice in Reading.

“It’s been an eventful decade, but with the economic recovery now well underway we are keen to support businesses that are investing in growth and to attract new customers.”

Sir Matthew said: “I was delighted to help Clydesdale Bank celebrate the 10th anniversary of its Reading Business and Private Banking Centre and support the Bank’s Business Week.

“As a lifelong advocate of the power of teamwork, it is fantastic to see local businesses coming together to learn from each other and build for the future.”
Business Week, which ran from 12-16 May saw more than 250 customer-focused events staged at the Bank’s UK-wide network of Business and Private Banking Centres, including a number of high profile events in the South East.

Research commissioned by Clydesdale Bank as part of Business Week suggested that South East small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are ready to invest nearly £16bn of their own turnover* into the local economy over the next 12 months.

*Source: Dept BIS.  Annual SME total turnover £227bn