Ombudsmen show they know frets as well as figures

By Kate Youde on September 5, 2007 12:00 AM

IN A LIST of likely rockers, financial ombudsmen probably don't rank too highly.
But nearly 100 staff from the Financial Ombudsman Service let their hair down on Friday (August 31) at their very own music festival in Docklands.
Six acts - each featuring at least one employee from the South Quay Plaza organisation - took to the stage at The Space, Westferry Road, for the first Ombudsfest.

Service administrator Tom Moss, 22, organised the mini festival after finding the company's sports and social club did not cater for musicians.
"It's not the kind of thing you'd expect from financial ombudsmen," admitted Tom, of New Cross. "I thought we'd show them what we can do. We are not just computer monkeys.
"People have said they didn't know there was that type of talent in the building. You sit next to these people every day but don't know anything about them."
The drummer closed the party with his indie pop band Impossible Things.
"It went swimmingly," said Tom. "Everyone really enjoyed it. I seem to have got a few new fans, which is good."
Colleagues at the company, which solves disputes between financial service providers and their customers, had earlier enjoyed the opening solo performance by Rock & Roll Andy - known as employee Andrew Hodgson by day. Also on the bill were The Smaller Brothers, the Financial Ombudsman Service band No Jurisdiction, OpenMind and The Rock & Roll Andy Band.
Tom will donate any profits, after costs, from the event to charity.
And he has already started planning an Omboatsfest for next year, involving a floating music festival for colleagues on The Thames.
He said: "Once they're on, they can't get off!" For more details on two of the acts, visit www.myspace.com/openmindtheband and www.myspace.com/impossiblethingsband
--------