Robin Reames: An obituary - updated

Robin, who served 17 years in the British Army and reached the position of officer in the Grenadier Guards, having completed numerous leadership roles in challenging environments at home and overseas, got his first taste of insurance in 2002 with Churchill.

As operations manager there, he ran the business support division handling claims for both Churchill and its affinity partners, before leaving to help set up the UK's first internet-only insurer, Swiftcover, with a number of former colleagues in 2004.

When Swiftcover was acquired by Axa in 2007 he became the chief claims officer, personal lines, helping the integration into a new Axa personal lines direct and partnership business, leaving the insurer at the beginning of 2013.

A regular speaking fixture at events and a keen industry commentator for many years, Robin recently offered his experience to a number of businesses including Tricharge, Auto-Rescue Logistics and Recover Me.

Tina Shortle, who was also a Swiftcover co-founder, told Post: "Robin was an absolute gentleman in everything he did. His combination of charm, passion and kindness was unique to Robin and is very rare to find these days.

"He was wonderful to work with and I am very saddened that I will no longer be able to enjoy his company and humour."

David Williams, technical director, Axa Insurance, added: "My overriding memory of Robin will be just how friendly and approachable he always was, a 'proper gentleman' in his approach to things.

"We were bringing two companies and cultures together effectively and naturally there were stresses and strains in that, but throughout Robin was the one person who always managed to remain clear and calm, even in the most heated of moments, probably due to his military background.

"After he left Axa he was involved in a number of different and interesting initiatives, using well the extensive network that he had developed. He will have come into contact with a wide variety and large number of people across our industry and will be sorely missed."

Robins funeral will be at 2pm on Friday the 9th of December at St Mary's church, Speldhurst, Kent.

Please send cards of condolence to :

The Reames Family
Black Lion House
Fordcombe Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN3 0RD