Taking Stock - Kidsons puts the wind up the Royal Bank in battle of

In the long tradition of accountants putting on their leathers and shaking their collective thangs, HLB Kidsons prepared to light up the world with its own special brand of jazz. But those crazy kids were not doing it for any old party – witness the first accountants involved in a battle of the bands which took place earlier this week in front of 500 people at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Midland Hotel in Manchester. Helping to raise money for the Manchester Professionals Forum were Manchester and North region managing partner Nick Robinson leading the band on sax and clarinet (TS hears that he has played with some of the finest musicians in the business including Acker Bilk), backed by North-West client business strategy consultant Nick Montague on keyboards and forensic accountant Ian White on drums. Corporate finance partner Steff Oates caressed the mike with her dulcet tones while colleague Gary Houghton made the lead guitar sing. But it wasn’t all fun, you know. Kidsons was waving the accountancy flag against the stiff competition provided by two other bands drawn from the likes of Manchester’s finest – The Royal Bank of Scotland and Rowlands solicitors. HLB Kidsons played two spots, one during the meal for about an hour, and one afterwards to outdo the others in raising the most sponsorship. TS is sure that they rocked – especially since the accountants involved the services of a local Altrincham Catholic priest on bass guitar and some vocals (for Mustang Sally)!