Being asked to participate on the Accountancy Age Awards judging panel ensures you are recognised as one of the top names in the profession. It doesn’t, however, automatically instil in you all the social airs and graces necessary for the part.

During the presentation speech for outstanding achievement by our esteemed editor, a mere passing mention of last year’s inaugural winner, Sir David Tweedie, led one member of the judging panel to partake in some booing!

We also hear there was a severe amount of buck passing between the judges over who had uttered the clichéd phrase ‘thought outside of the box’, when describing Accounting Technician winner Catherine Thompson. No-one owned up.