"Ye Olde Pensions"

2 May 2014

60s

A right Royal history lesson

This is one of the funniest ads we've seen in a long time. Who knew insurance could be this much fun? A walk through the ages - in the company of the superb Gethin Alderman - introduces us to the different types of insurance required by the times, and reminds us that Royal Insurance still holds the traditional values of days gone by.

Thus we discover they're supportive of Screaming Pauline's business, and are there to help protect against the theft of cheese. There's life insurance for the syphilitic and leprous, and also pensions for prematurely-aged chimney sweeps. Having dealt with all that in the past, of course they're going to take in their stride anything we can throw at them today.

The performances are terrific and Park Pictures's Nathan Price provides so much lovely detail that you notice things the second and third time around which you don't necessarily see on first viewing.

UK

Insurance