Meet The Team

I am based in the Yarmouth, Isle of Wight branch, and love that the office is only a minutes walk from the sea. I have been in insurance for almost 20 years. Originally, as I grew up on a farm, my dream was to become a sheep farmer. I helped manage a flock of 500 breeding ewes, before moving to the Isle of Wight with my parents when I was 21. I still have a small flock of 8 sheep which are pets now. Like most people I fell into insurance. My father was in Lloyds of London for most of his life, before buying a farm in the 1980's. He retired to the Isle of Wight, but then started advising a local insurance broker and ended up buying the company. Dad taught me all he knows and after 15 years working together he retired again. Sadly he passed away in May 2021. I put all the training to good use and now run the company, assisted by my brother Andrew, and my staff Darren and Ann. I enjoy the day to day challenges of helping clients whether it is helping them with a claim or just simply getting the best cover for the best price. I am always willing to give advice or discuss any queries. Outside of work I enjoy wildlife photography (you can often find me walking around Yarmouth on my lunch break with my trusty camera), going for long walks with my dog and also card making. I am also a 4th degree Taekwondo black belt.

I started out in Lloyds of London in the 1980’s as a reinsurance broker. I left after 4 years to follow my passion and became a motor mechanic, then onto repairing farm vehicles. Later on I started buying and selling eggs and had my own business for 16 years, which I sold in 2007. Following that I worked as a rep for Autoglym for just over a year and finally joined the family business, Black Rock Insurance Services in 2009. I am based in the Battle, East Sussex branch, although I mainly deal with the accounts side of the business, I also provide all classes of insurance cover, my speciality is Commercial insurance, Home Insurance and Car Insurance. My hobbies include Cars, F1, and Skiing. Director's comments: "I was so happy when my Brother Andrew joined the firm in 2009. He is the perfect person to run the Battle Office. Our offices are linked by Skype and we talk each day and we always bounce ideas off of one and other. Over the past 10 years the Battle side of the business has grown, and Black Rock Insurance Services and Andrew are now a well known name in the town of Battle"

I’ve worked at Black Rock Insurance Services, in the Yarmouth, Isle of Wight office, for over 10 years looking after personal lines clients and specialising in motor and high net worth insurance. I enjoy interaction with clients especially face to face as I value the personal touch. My hobbies include cycling, hiking, art & design and film. Directors comment:- "Darren is a highly valued member of the team, he is my 'go to guy' for High Net Worth insurance, he also has a very good knowledge of Motor and general Home Insurance, and he is starting to learn the ropes on other classes of insurance"

I’ve worked at the Yarmouth branch of Black Rock Insurance Services for over 18 years, I am a part of the furniture! I look after the Marine Insurance side of the business and also process Travel Insurance and general Household Insurance. My hobbies include arts and crafts, and walking my dog. Director's comments:- "Ann is our longest serving staff member and is another valued member of the team. For the past couple of years she has reduced her hours and now only works part-time. She is our Marine Specialist, and has a very cast knowledge of Small Craft Insurance. She also specialises in Travel Insurance and has a good knowledge of Home Insurance"

I joined Black Rock Insurance on the 1st June 2021 and I have enjoyed every second of it. I am training to be a fully fledged member of the company and I am learning new things everyday. I have had quite a varied work background. I have done every thing from working in a museum to selling lawn mowers to modelling and also some acting work thrown in. I am from a mainly customer service background so my main priority is to make the customers happy and match them up with the best product for them. My hobbies are about a varied as my resume, I love to ski, photograph and I have a passion for watching the latest films and chatting up a storm about them. I feel joining Black Rock Insurance was the natural progression in my professional life following in my Grandad's, my Dad's (Andrew) and my Aunt's (Alexandra) footsteps. I work out of the Battle office with Andrew and I am looking forward to the many years to come in the company. Director's comments: Emma is learning quickly and becoming a valuable member of the team. Her bubbly personality makes her popular with the clients and her thirst for knowledge and willingness to grow is great to see. It's lovely having another member of the family wanting to carry on the legacy of our father John.