Postbox: Are the dog days over?

Forty to 50 years ago, the London insurance market claimed it would offer cover for any legitimate risk and, as a young broker, I never imagined I would one day be frustrated by the failure to quote for a simple risk.

In retirement, I am administrator to a small charity training dogs to guide blind and partially sighted people.

This small, valued charity — the only alternative to the otherwise monopoly competitor —