A factor in my choice of university was the gender balance or, in ’70s-speak, the percentage of girls as Exeter was, at the time, closest to 50/50. When I came to choose my profession, I must have been less needy. The number of female advisers has scarcely moved into double percentage figures in the 30+ years I’ve been in the business. I’d guess there are more blokes at knitting classes than there are ladies at financial services conferences. Why? Beats me, as it’s such fun. Honest.
Making a difference?
The ’70s were for my coming-of-age time, as they were for Stuart Maconie, author of ‘The Nanny State Made Me’. It’s when I took my 0 and A Levels, went to uni and started my first job. My view of the decade will always be rose-tinted, I’ll remember the music, discos, student grants (wouldn’t have known what a tuition fee was) and monthly inflationary pay rises negotiated by unions of which I was not a member. The strikes, high taxes and IRA bombs were background noise to me and, yes, I was the first in my family to go to university and, yes, despite everything, felt more secure with a nanny state in charge than at any time since. I’d happily pay more tax to give my kids and grandkids the same.
