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A Brief History of the AMU
Brief history of the Association of Medical Underwriters’ Club (AMU)
The AMU has been in existence for just over 50 years, but started life under the name of the Life Underwriters’ Club (LUC). It was the first group of underwriters to met with purpose of increasing the members’ knowledge and exchanging views on the market.  It was probably the first time that underwriters, as opposed to actuaries, had met together to discuss issues that affected their day-to-day work. Originally it was only the Chief Underwriters who were members although they were allowed to bring guests such as Chief Medical Officers and other senior underwriters.
The meeting were held in London, as at that time, the vast majority of the life offices were still based here. The meeting were held on Wednesday evenings at various local restaurants with a guest speaker followed by a meal. These venues all have the joint distinction of being underground and of being in buildings that have now been demolished and rebuilt e.g. the London Underwriting Centre in Mincing Lane. For a while in the late 70s and early 80s, there was a strong link with the Assurance Medical Society (AMS) and both meetings were held on the same evening with numerous members attending the AMS in Chandos St in the West End before dashing over to the City for the LUC meeting!
In 1993, the LUC decided that the title did not really represent the activities of the club especially with the arrival of critical illness cover and the longer existence of income protection. So it was agreed to change the name to the AMU.
There was one other underwriting club in London until 2002. This was the Benefactors’ Club that had started in 1967 and met on Friday evenings. This was aimed at underwriters who were not the Chief Underwriter in their organisation. In view of the reduced number of life offices now in London, it was agreed the two clubs would merge under the name of the AMU.
For the last few years the AMU has held most of its meetings at the RAF Club in Piccadilly and has tried to change the format on occasions to afternoon meetings in order to have more speakers and increase the number of members attending the meetings.

A Brief History of the Association of Medical Underwriters' Club

The AMU has been in existence for just over 50 years, but started life under the name of the Life Underwriters’ Club (LUC). It was the first group of underwriters to met with purpose of increasing the members’ knowledge and exchanging views on the market.  It was probably the first time that underwriters, as opposed to actuaries, had met together to discuss issues that affected their day-to-day work. Originally it was only the Chief Underwriters who were members although they were allowed to bring guests such as Chief Medical Officers and other senior underwriters.


The meeting were held in London, as at that time, the vast majority of the life offices were still based here. The meeting were held on Wednesday evenings at various local restaurants with a guest speaker followed by a meal. These venues all have the joint distinction of being underground and of being in buildings that have now been demolished and rebuilt e.g. the London Underwriting Centre in Mincing Lane. For a while in the late 70s and early 80s, there was a strong link with the Assurance Medical Society (AMS) and both meetings were held on the same evening with numerous members attending the AMS in Chandos St in the West End before dashing over to the City for the LUC meeting! 


In 1993, the LUC decided that the title did not really represent the activities of the club especially with the arrival of critical illness cover and the longer existence of income protection. So it was agreed to change the name to the AMU.


There was one other underwriting club in London until 2002. This was the Benefactors’ Club that had started in 1967 and met on Friday evenings. This was aimed at underwriters who were not the Chief Underwriter in their organisation. In view of the reduced number of life offices now in London, it was agreed the two clubs would merge under the name of the AMU. 
For the last few years the AMU has held most of its meetings at the RAF Club in Piccadilly and has tried to change the format on occasions to afternoon meetings in order to have more speakers and increase the number of members attending the meetings.