Nigel Ackerman is about to sign for lunch when he discovers it has been charged to Josef Ackermann, chairman-elect of Deutsche Bank. He hesitates for a second before telling the waiter of his mistake. Ackerman may not be quite as famous as the German banker, but he does have his own pretty awesome reputation as one of the kings of the old Liffe futures pit.

It is 4pm and the waiters have banished us from the restaurant so they can vacuum. We have moved upstairs to the bar where Ackerman holds court as his trader friends gossip about their open outcry days. The Roederer is being poured and the stories are flowing.