Harry Speed

Axbridge Pageant: More from the programme of August’s no show due to Covid-19 – in this article Queen Henrietta Maria called in to raise cash for the King in the Civil Wars This is an extract from the programme written by Harry Mottram for the Axbridge Pageant due we hope in 2021. It was originally due to be performed this August but has been put back 12 months due to Covid-19 with even a question mark over that date due to the ongoing problems of social distancing. The pageant is directed by John Bailey. Breaking 17th century news: “By Royal Proclamation I King Charles this day of 1642 who by the grace of God, King of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, FRANCE and IRELAND, Defender of the Faith, beseech support from my loving Subjects to rally to our Godly cause and defeat those most rebellious and diverse lords and Members of the Commons and their treasonous leader Cromwel.” Yes – Civil War had broken out and Axbridge did its best to stay out of the fighting. Except for a punch up outside King Jo…

With apologies to Raquel Welch in the movie One Million Years BC Survival of the fittest in the economically chilling aftermath of the Covid-19 Crisis
2020 has seen the worst economic downturn since the 1930s according to economists - but there are reasons to be positive about 2021
Hello and welcome to our monthly newsletter,

Let's face it, so far 2020 sucks. But on the positive side the worst may be behind us as the economy begins its climb out of the mess left by the Covid-19 shut-down. 

In the positive Darwinian sense if your business can survive a recession then it will only thrive as things improve. A bit like when mammals replaced dinosaurs after a meteor wiped them out 65 million years ago. Or in popular cinematic culture when Loana (Raquel Welch) and the Sea Tribe survive the volcano to emerge into a desolate landscape in the 1966 movie One Million Years BC to rebuild their lives. 

At ICSM Credit we monitor failing businesses that may go bust leaving a trail of unpaid invoices …

Pic: FT Creditors beware: newspaper industry in freefall during Covid-19 as sales plunge 39% as publisher Archant seeks to dump their pension fund and leave shareholders with nothingThe Guardianhas reported thatThe Financial Timesand thei newspapersaw declines in circulation of 39% and 38%, respectively. They said: “The decline of circulation ofthe iwas exacerbated by the cessation of the distribution of bulks, free copies, to locations including airports, gyms and railway stations.” Ian Carrotte of ICSM Credit said Covid-19 have brought forward the demise of several industries and speeded up social changes due to the lock-down. “Newspapers and magazines have seen a steady declines for years due to two factors,” he said. “The flight of advertising to the internet and the rise in the use of mobile phones, tablets and laptops to read long form articles and news stories. Now with Covid-19 it's worse as it's difficult to pop to the local shop without having to queue and put on a m…

The demise of the once mighty department store chain Debenhams took another agonising turn for the worse as their parent company has entered administration. The Times reported that owners Celine Group Holdings have hired Philip Watkins and Philip Armstrong from FRP Advisory as advisers. And perhaps more to the point the move means the firm does not have to pay overdue interest payments on £200 million of bonds due July 15.

Light touch administration
The 242-year-old firm has closed 16 of its 140 stores is currently under a so-called ‘light touch’ administration with managers still in control. ICSM Credit reported this month how the department store had called in advisers to prepare for a sale, restructure or liquidation. Ian Carrotte of ICSM Credit said a company like Debenhams will have a huge number of creditors considering the scope of their operation. “The warning signs are there for suppliers,” he said, “it would be a mistake to grant credit to a company that is openly admitti…