About 2000 people, including many from the insurance industry, gathered in Sydney yesterday to celebrate the life of Tim Wedlock, who died in a road accident while in the US.

“A hush came over the insurance broking community and the insurance industry on the first of August,” AEI Insurance Broking Group chairman Stephen Bennett told the funeral service at Knox Grammar School’s Great Hall in Wahroonga.

Mr Bennett paid tribute to Mr Wedlock’s 39 years of service to AEI – where he was executive chairman – his personal qualities, his love of family, rugby, volunteering and the Knox school, and his many achievements.

“Many were amazed by his pace of life and what he fitted into a normal day,” he said.

Mr Bennett said Tim was born into an insurance family. “Upon leaving school in 1985 he looked to insurance – not surprising given he had a brother, uncle, aunty and three cousins as insurance brokers or underwriters.

“He started as a junior clerk and ended as executive chairman. It takes many years of genuine performance to build a reputation such as Tim’s – it would have soon been 40 years with AEI.”

Mr Bennett also listed some of Mr Wedlock’s many awards, including Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance insurance leader of the year and the National Insurance Brokers Association award for exceptional service.

The service, which can be viewed here, also heard from Mr Wedlock’s widow Prue, son Matt and daughter Ash.