Who are Cirencester friendly and what is "Holloway style" income protection?

At the turn of the 19^th century the MP for Bradford Mr W E Forster offered two prizes in a national essay competition the subject of which was to establish a Friendly Society that treated customers equitably, was at once financially sound and which combined the advantages of a sick-club with the provision of pensions or annuities for its customers in their old age.

The adjudicators of the competition, which included His Honour Judge Hughes QC the author of 'Tom Brown's School Days', were drawn from various walks of life but with one underlying theme: they were all experts in Friendly Society dealings and finance. Mr George Holloway of Stroud, Gloucestershire, a leading industrialist and politician who pioneered the manufacture of ready-made clothing in the UK succeeded in winning a prize. 

As a result 'Holloway style' income protection insurance was born which combines the essential elements of income replacement insurance with the opportunity to build up a cash lump sum payable at the maturity of the contract.

Cirencester friendly was established in 1890 in Cirencester which is in the heart of the Cotswolds. Primarily formed for the benefit of agricultural workers based in Gloucestershire, today the Society caters for the income protection needs of tens of thousands of customers from all walks of life from across the UK.