THE chairman of an international insurance company with an office in York has been confirmed as one of the people whose bodies have been brought to shore after the sinking of a luxury yacht in a tornado off the coast of Sicily. Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy Bloomer were lost when the Bayesian was hit by a storm and sank at around 5am on Monday (August 19). Mr Bloomer was chairman of insurance company Hiscox, which has a purpose-built office in Peasholme Green in York, and chairman of Morgan Stanley International and property business SDL, and was chief executive of global financial group Prudential between 2000 and 2005.
In a statement confirming their parents’ deaths, the Bloomer family described the couple as ‘incredible people and an inspiration to many’. They said: “We are grieving for our loved ones and all of those affected by the tragedy. “Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren.
“Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now. “This is an unimaginable grief to shoulder.” Chief executive of Hiscox Aki Hussain said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by Jonathan and Judy’s tragic deaths.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to their family and friends at this devastating time. “It was a privilege to have known Jonathan and to have benefited from his generosity and wisdom over th.