The 'bard of Salford' appointed by Hiscox as its first '(Under)Writer in Residence'

Punk poet John Cooper Clarke releases new poetry series, inspired by insurance claims

• John Cooper Clarke tackles his most challenging role yet as '(Under)Writer in Residence' for insurance company Hiscox
• From thieving baboons and a pilfering poltergeist to a claim over a prize bull's semen, Cooper Clarke shares five new poems¹ inspired by extraordinary insurance claims
• New data commissioned by Hiscox reveals that almost one in four (23%) small business owners have made an insurance claim for something they could never have predicted
• To hear and see John Cooper Clarke (aka the bard of Salford) with his poetic take on the world of insurance, please visit: http://www.hiscox.co.uk/JCC 

LONDON, March 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate World Poetry Day today, the original punk poet John Cooper Clarke has released his most unexpected body of work yet; a series of poems inspired by unusual insurance claims.

In a move that sees two very different writing worlds collide, the 'bard of Salford' has been appointed by Hiscox as its first '(Under)Writer in Residence'. In his new role, Cooper Clarke has composed five original poems, inspired by some of the most colourful claims handled by the insurer – from a wildlife photographer who had his equipment stolen by baboons to a thieving poltergeist and a farmer who claimed for the loss of his prize bull's semen.

The appointment of the wordsmith follows new data² revealing that almost one in four (23%) small business owners have made claims for events or mishaps that they would never have expected.

Commenting on his new role as Hiscox's (Under)Writer in Residence, John Cooper Clarke said: "Just as nobody would have predicted that I'd end up in the insurance bracket, it turns out there's not much that you can safely predict in running a small business. Insurance may seem like a mundane realm, but as the poems show, it's a rich tapestry of human chaos, from tragedy to comedy and beyond."

Fiona Mayo, Chief Marketing Officer at Hiscox UK, added: "We're delighted to welcome John Cooper Clarke to the Hiscox family as our (Under)Writer in Residence. His passion for understanding people and their stories really resonates with us, and it's been fascinating to observe his creative take on our customer claims. His new poems are there to be enjoyed but are also a great reminder of how important it is to be ready for life's unexpected challenges."