[LETTERHEAD OF TRENWICK]


For Immediate Release


                               Trenwick Group Ltd.
                CEO to Take a Leave of Absence for Health Reasons


Hamilton, Bermuda, August 27, 2002 . . .

Trenwick Group Ltd. ("Trenwick") reported today that James F. Billett, Jr., its
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer would be taking a leave of
absence from his positions at Trenwick for health reasons.

W. Marston Becker, the current Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and a
member of Trenwick's Board of Directors since 1997, will assume the position of
Acting Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Becker is currently the
Chairman of Hales & Company, an insurance industry merchant and investment bank.
Mr. Becker was formerly Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
Orion Capital Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange listed specialty insurance
company.

Background Information

Trenwick is a Bermuda-based  specialty  insurance and  reinsurance  underwriting
organization with three principal  businesses operating through its subsidiaries
located in the  United  States,  the  United  Kingdom  and  Bermuda.  Trenwick's
reinsurance  business  provides  treaty  reinsurance to insurers of property and
casualty  risks  from  offices  in the United  States  and  Bermuda.  Trenwick's
international  operations  underwrite  specialty insurance as well as treaty and
facultative  reinsurance on a worldwide  basis through its London insurer and at
Lloyd's.  Trenwick's U.S. specialty program insurance business  underwrites U.S.
property and casualty insurance through specialty program administrators.