Pembroke: Dead-eye Murphy collects

Much hilarity at a dinner hosted by Inchcape. Mike Murphy, conglomerate analyst at SG Warburg, rolled up a mint- chocolate wrapper and lobbed it across the table into another guest's brandy glass. 'Bet you can't do that again,' taunted Inchcape's press man, John Duncan. A wager was struck at pounds 100, whereupon the analyst promptly repeated the trick. Mr Duncan, I hear, turned rather pale.

Several of the City's most accomplished golfers will be sporting their best plus-fours next Thursday for the annual Securities Institute Challenge Cup. Foxhills, near Weybridge, Surrey is the venue for the hotly contested trophy, carried off last year by Chris Moorsom of Albert E Sharp. Entrants this time include teams from Henderson Crosthwaite, Slaughter & May and Hoare Govett. Credit Lyonnais is sponsoring the tournament this year, so John Holmes, a 12 handicapper, could end up presenting the prize to himself.

The afternoon round will be the usual joke session. A Texan Scramble is planned with the winners getting duff prizes like last year's cuddly pigs.

They like their MBA students in Manchester. For the 23rd year running, Manchester Business School is hanging a 'for hire' sign over its MBA students, touting them for business over the summer holidays. Titter not. Last year more than 70 local companies paid the students (average age, 28) up to pounds 500 a week for a two- or three-month secondment. The young consultants advise on anything from a computer system to a human resources strategy. 'It's a very popular project,' says the school, bristling at the suggestion that the temps might be a bit on the young side. 'Each student has up to five years' work experience.'

Templeton College, Oxford has bagged a nice little earner. Sir John Templeton, the investment consultant who gave the college pounds 4m in 1984, has made a further gift of pounds 3.2m.

But Sir John, 81, who resides in the more agreeable climes of the Bahamas, is a canny one. He offered the cash in 1991 but only on condition the establishment achieved full Oxford college status. He has also put the money into a trust so the college can only get its hands on the interest.

Another elderly institution is gearing up for big celebrations this year. Joining the Bank of England in cracking open champagne on its 300th anniversary is the good old Stamp Office. One of the unsung parts of the Inland Revenue, the Stamp Office has collected duty on everything from newspapers to hats. To mark the occasion it is holding a free exhibition of its wares in London next month.

The Broadgate complex in the City is getting the summer spirit early. A Jazz Week starts on 16 May with appearances by the likes of Kenny Ball and Kenny Baker. The same week will include four days of Sumo wrestling - with a difference. The competition will feature 12 ft tall latex wrestlers sitting on the shoulders of the combatants. The sponsor, BT Global Finance, expects a good turnout from City workers keen to give each other a beating.