THE GRASSHOPPER PENSIONERS’ CLUB

Website: www.martinsbank.co.uk © gut informiert! SECRETARY: David Baldwin, Lower Windle, Windle Royd Lane, Warley, HX2 7LY. 'Phone: 01422 832734. email: [email protected] CHAIRMAN: Bernard Lovewell TREASURER: Robert Bunn WELFARE OFFICER: Susan Sutcliffe

DESPITE COVID-19 (AND RECENT THE COVID SITUATION WHEN THE ‘NEW UNIVERSITY BRANCH CLOSURES) YEAR’ NEWSLETTER WAS PUBLISHED: THERE ARE STILL

No need to say any more other than ‘long may it be’

and, although we have lost some members, we hope HOLD THE FRONT PAGE! that most of us will be able to meet again at least once Although we knew that our ‘Remembrance in 2021. At the time of writing (2nd February Lunches’ would eventually be covered in 2021), the current situation relating to our ‘Connection’, being ‘front page news’ came as a lunches is as follows, BUT PLEASE BE complete surprise. You never know, but it could REASSURED THAT WE WILL NEVER lead to more former ‘Martians’ becoming EXPOSE ANY MEMBER TO ANY RISK OF members. We can but live in hope …… INFECTION KEIGHLEY: POSTPONED : POSTPONED : POSTPONED We appreciate your continued support for our lunch programme despite having to postpone those for which we have already published reservation slips. Please check the revised arrangements on Page 10. Keighley: WE REGRET THAT ALL LUNCHES Liverpool: HAVE BEEN POSTPONED TO LATER IN THE YEAR FOR London: OBVIOUS REASONS WE WERE BACKING BRITAIN THEN AND NEED TO DO IT AGAIN TODAY Jonathan Snowden is always on the look-out for any Martins memorabilia that becomes available for his archive and just after the New Year issue had been sent to our printer he emailed this advert from The Architectural Review of 60 years ago. We know that we have members who worked at our ‘Drive-in’ branch in Leicester so perhaps they might be happy to share their memories branches in this 40 mile stretch, including Settle with everyone? Branch. I joined Martins at Settle Branch in THE LONDON DISTRICT 1959 where amongst my duties was attending WAR MEMORIAL the part-time sub-branches in Hellifield (previous column) on two mornings each week and Long Preston (below left) on Friday mornings. It truly was primitive, and its hours of business had to fit in with the hourly bus service for the clerk to get there and back. From memory, it was only open on a Friday morning between 10.00 am and 1.00 p.m. (to fit in with the buses) and was merely a table and a chair in the local Conservative Club, which had no facilities. I sat there alone without even a guard, having arrived on the bus with cash in a Gladstone bag. Evidence that it was a Martins branch was a simple sign on the side of the door and, as usual with our sub-branches it was used Is now housed at 1 Churchill Place, London. only by local residents. DEATH NOTICES The parent branch in It is with sadness that we report the deaths of Settle was itself very our former members rural and somewhat primitive. The heating was Constable, Brian of Upton-by-Chester on a coke stove 27th December 2020 in the centre st Hellewell, Geoffrey of Guiseley on 31 of the office. December 2020, aged 89 Coke was Hunt, Jean of Bramblefield on 30th December 2020 aged 91 delivered in Nichols, Graham of St Albans on January bulk into the 2021 aged 84 open back yard and, as MORE MEMORIES OF THE FORMER junior clerk, I CRAVEN BANK BRANCHES was tasked with making sure the boiler was kept Pictures of Long Preston sub-branch in the last going. In order to get to the coke, I would open a edition brought this response from Richard sash window in the Manager's Office, climb out Mashiter who worked for many years in (using a stool Martins, then before finishing his purchased for career as an executive at Skipton Building the purpose) Society Head-office and ultimately regional and bring in a manager for Yorkshire and the North East for hod of coke The Co-operative Bank. whenever Richard writes: Such was the domination of the required. Of old Craven Bank branches merged into The course, in wet (in 1906) that they had weather the absolute blanket coverage, so much so that, on coke was the stretch of damp and, if the boiler was filled with the damp 40 miles of the coke, the whole bank would be full of obnoxious A65 Skipton to fumes. My career seemed to revolve around this Kendal main blanket coverage of sub-branches because, road, every having done Hellifield and Long Preston at centre of Settle. Following my transfer to Keighley branch population had as sub-branch clerk, my duties were undertaken a branch, at: (Editor: ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ photographs follow) totalling eight Denholme: Following my transfer to Ilkley I continued my

Haworth: duties as sub-branch clerk at both Addingham and Burley-in-Wharfedale (opposite column) during which Addingham moved out of its own site (the property was condemned and demolished for road widening) into the village hall and I can remember an ornate pole and sign being erected on the main road which, and Oxenhope: now retired and living in Addingham, I pass daily (left). The only difference being that the Martins grasshopper sign has long been replaced by the village hall sign, but the pole erected by Martins Bank remains (above left). After completing my morning sub- branch duties, it was the sub-branch clerk’s duty to list the ‘remittances’ at Keighley. Many of the household wool manufacturers were based in the Keighley branch: town and in the heyday of home knitting they were pioneers in mail order, whereby knitters could post a cheque to the mill and receive a parcel of wool and a pattern by return. This meant that Keighley branch had a substantial number of cheques banked, usually all for the same value, and so remittances rarely balanced after a whole afternoon of me listing them on a Addingham: manual adding machine. It was a task that I hated and the female staff were far better than the male clerks at listing ‘rems’. When the girl cashiers had balanced their till, they would readily come and help me balance the remittances. Indeed, they made it a flirtatious challenge to see which girl would rescue the struggling male ‘rems’ clerk. I still remember that you then put the remittances in a green Burley-in-Wharfedale: Martins Bank zip bag and add a security tag before they were posted to London. Keighley Branch had so many remittances that several of these bags were despatched each night to our London Office and then to the Clearing House.

MORE MEMORIES AND CONTACTS! On 2nd January, following receipt of the New Year Newsletter, the following email arrived in my ‘Inbox’ from Margaret Warburton, nee Editor: The original Craven Bank branch Vaughan, who joined Martins at Hanley branch: was in the same building as the ‘Burley Unionist Club’ (left), before moving across Main Street to its final location (above). I have been reading my husband's copy of the Club newsletter and in response to your request for information for the database, I was employed at Martins Bank, Hanley, from October 1952, I believe was joining as a junior typist, for seven years during demolished which time I met my future husband, James and replaced Warburton, who joined in October by the ‘new’ 1954. I had to leave when we Martins Bank became engaged in the spring of in the same 1959 as engaged location. couples were not Despite being allowed to work described as a together in the bank photograph of at that time. The Managers ‘The King’s during my time at Hanley were Head’ on the Bexley Archives’ Webpage, our John Bell Hall (known as JB - former branch is clearly visible. left), and E. Rodney Carr (right). I very much In fact, in case you might be enjoyed my time in the bank, interested, there are several especially when I worked in the archived documents relating to machine room as an NCR ‘Martins Bank’ in the ‘Bexley operator, having attended a Archives’ including a Planning training course at Head Application in 1936 for: Office. My name at that time was ‘Lavatory Accommodation .. for Margaret Vaughan, and this year my husband Martins Bank Limited’. One of and I will celebrate our diamond wedding our branches without a anniversary. (Editor: Do you remember Miss M M lavatory? It certainly makes you Dunlop also Margaret?) wonder how the members of

HOW MANY MEMBERS WATCHED THE staff managed before the application was ‘DAD’S ARMY’ FILM ON 2ND JANUARY? granted! Counting pennies as opposed to Although it was great to be acknowledged by ‘spending a penny’ must have been interesting this film with an (almost) authentic sign by the in those days. More on this subject later ……… door, ‘our’ branch was actually a pub in Chalfont DARTFORD BRANCH St. Giles, although it did come close to our style. Although annotated as ‘Barclays Bank’ this actually is a photograph of Martins (Private) Bank, Dartford branch

THE COVID LOCKDOWN DOES HAVE

SOME BENEFITS AND STILL THEY COME …. Unable to visit our son I read down the newsletter with fond memories and daughter and our of Sophie Bondi. I moved to London in 1967 grandchildren, I had from Nelson branch to assist with computerising some time on my hands Martin's branches. We were allowed to use the and, apart from Oxford Circus canteen and Mrs Bondi used to fill discovering our original our plates, she called us her lovely computer Craven Bank branch in boys and she said 'my food is just the same as Burley-in- any other but I have a secret ingredient, I cook Wharfedale, I also mine with Love'. Happy Memories, Michael found the above Wilkinson (Computer Team 1967-1972). (Michael photograph of the continues) I joined at Burnley in August 1959 Martins (Private) from school then I moved to Colne and enjoyed Bank branch in working in their sub-branches, Barnoldswick Bexleyheath which , and Earby and then a transfer to Nelson branch and I operated their sub-branch at Trawden; asked if I would return and help with merger happy days! I liked getting in a taxi with a bag work - part-time! Then full time and retired of cash, the messenger and having my own small when I was 57, as a secretary in Chester. select band of customers. (Editor: I emailed Brenda my original photograph which I then volunteered for Branch Computerisation was used by ‘Connection’ and provided the publisher’s email address as well as that of Willis Towers Watson so in London and the same in Liverpool. It was that Brenda can register to receive her own copy of initially for three months, but I got the chance to ‘Connection’ in future.) stay (and no, the streets were not paved with THE GRASSHOPPERS CONTINUE THE gold but I grew to enjoy all London had to offer). MARTINS ETHOS (OF BEING FIRST) In 1970 I was posted to Barclays Clearing What a coincidence! Department in Walbrook but left to join We discover an Mitsubishi Bank and go into International original Post Card of Banking in 1972. our former Aigburth I completely forgot I was posted to Settle branch branch a few months between Colne & Nelson, I don't know how far ago and here it is back you go but in those we had a Director called again on the front of Ian Buchanan, ex-army and as they had just the ‘Liverpool and done away with conscription he believed that South West Lancashire young lads should make a break from home, find Family History Society’, their feet and promoted away from home of which we have a postings; in my case within the Craven District mutual member. If which stretched up into Cumberland so I was you are interested in sent to the lovely Yorkshire Market town of becoming a member of Settle where I lived in digs. the Society, they can be reached at: At the 2019 London Lunch I met up with www. lswlfhs.org.uk) Michael Widdup and we had worked together at Settle and then Nelson, nearly 60 years before, HISTORIC LIVERPOOL where has it all gone? I am in e-mail contact A few years ago, I discovered the ‘Historic with Michael but unfortunately Covid has Liverpool’ website: prevented us meeting up for a lunch and catch www.historic-liverpool.co.uk up. which you also might find interesting. In early Ray Hopwood was at Colne with me, I knew of January this year, I received an email from Deryk Ingham, we all used to meet up at the ‘Historic Liverpool’ which contained an article Bank Dinner at the Craiglands in titled: ‘The Witches of Castle Street’, and that I Ilkley. Buchanan was a very nice man, no thought could be interesting; it certainly was. messing about but he was well briefed and knew Not only were the historical facts extremely your name, very impressive. interesting, but it also contained two very Michael told me that Frank Laycock had died, I detailed maps. The second (following page) was worked with him at Nelson. dated 1848 in which: ‘‘Heywood, Sons & Co.’ Do you remember the Sunshine Club at 4 Water Bank’, was clearly marked. Whilst the first map, Street for the Pensioners? They produced articles for the Bank magazine and when a pensioner made it to his 80s or better still his 90s before dropping off the twig, we used to give them a round of applause in branch for getting such good value from the Pension Fund.

Brenda Wood (né Aked) also wrote: Our friends from Devon, David & Sheila Winckles, sent me a photo copy of the last Pensioners Magazine - is there any chance of sending me a copy ….. I am the second lady up, in the middle, in the grey/blue polo necked sweater, standing next to Ken Quirk. ‘Goad’s Insurance Plan of 1888’, by which time I joined Martins, Head Office, at 17 in the Heywood, Sons & Co had been purchased by The horseshoe and got married in 1957, when I had Bank of Liverpool (in 1883) and is marked as to ask permission to carry on working!!! I left ‘Heywood’s Branch’ (above) in ‘Goad’s Insurance when pregnant and our son was born 1961 and Plan of 1888’. Its eventual close neighbour at 38 daughter 1963. When they were 8 & 6, I was the Liverpool Relief team. 1958 saw Brian being transferred to Prenton, Birkenhead, Meols in 1961 before his final Martins transfer to Chester in 1965, until the takeover. Brian played 162 times for Chester RUFC 1st XV between 1962 and 1970, having joined from Old Caldeans. Brian was a

Castle Street is included but has yet to be scrum half, described as quick and courageous purchased by The Adelphi Bank to act as its and formed a formidable half back partnership Head Office. with Ray O'Brien. The same area in 1848 still shows Heywood’s More memories of Brian, from one of his friends branch as ‘Heywood, Sons & Co. Bank’. For and a former colleague, during their time at those members who have access to the internet Eastgate Street, Chester follow: I first met Brian in the mid-sixties when he arrived at Chester branch from Meols on the Wirral and immediately became a popular member of staff with his infectious good humour and wide repertoire of pranks and japes. He was an accomplished sportsman and having played rugby at Caldy RUFC soon integrated into Chester RUFC 1st XV. Injuries were frequently evident on Monday mornings. He took every opportunity to play in Liverpool District rugby and cricket teams whilst his other sports were soccer, squash and golf. By 1968 he had purchased a new yellow Mini Cooper ‘S’ which he Heywood’s Branch maintained meticulously and sold handsomely a I would again recommend that they visit the short while ago. ‘Historic Liverpool’ website so that they can read In 1968 The BBC launched the highly successful the article for themselves. comedy programme ‘Dad’s Army and the More interesting history of Heywood’s branch morning after the first episode, those of us who can be accessed on our website, including the had watched it immediately asked each other as date when construction of the existing building to whom we were reminded by the lead character was commenced (1798). Another rare document ‘Mainwaring’. All fingers pointed towards the which has been added by Jonathan Snowden is Manager’s room, where the occupant at the time a letter from Admiral Lord Nelson, written on bore an uncanny resemblance in headgear, looks HMS Victory outside Lisbon in 1805. and mannerisms to the Captain. We all looked forward with glee to each of the following OBITUARIES episodes and were never disappointed. Brian Constable: Although I As an example of the likeness, a lady came into never met Brian, I did speak with the branch one day as she knew I worked there him on a couple of occasions and know that he was Martins through and through. Despite being determined to attend our Liverpool Remembrance Lunch, his illness was just too much for him and, reluctantly, less than an hour before he was due to leave, sadly, he finally had to admit defeat. Brian joined the Bank at Canning Place (next column) Liverpool in the late summer of 1954 before his transfer to Heswall the following year where he worked until 1957 when he joined through her brother, who was a friend of my to me in exactly the father. She had been clearing the house of her same condition as deceased brother and presented to me, as a when I had last seen it. memento of him, a framed print dated 1898 of St This framed print of St Werburgh Street, Chester and showing at its Werburgh Street and junction with Eastgate Street the imposing the Chester branch of branch of The Bank of Liverpool, with that title The Bank of Liverpool clearly etched into the four large panes of the now hangs in the hall glass window fronting Eastgate Street. A carved of our house in Chester wooden Bank of Liverpool Ltd crest with Liver as a visible reminder Bird is visible below the first-floor bay window to me every day of very (intact and still there in 2021). happy times in After she had gone Brian and I were admiring Martins Bank and the print when the ‘Captain’ appeared (in typical especially those with Mainwaring style) and, despite my humble my dear friend Brian Constable. protestations, seized the framed print, declared Geoffrey Hellewell: Geoffrey was that it must hang in the Manager’s room and born in Otley into a family of walked off with it. I leave you to imagine the grocers; his father, grandfather scene; Brian and I witnessed it. A year or so and great grandfather were later I was transferred to Ellesmere Port branch successive proprietors of JW and never saw the print again until … (more Hellewell’s, grocers and bakers, later). and attended the local Grammar school: Prince …. After 1969 Brian was instrumental in Henry’s Otley. forming a small group of Martins Chester and After leaving Price Henry’s ‘Geoff’ joined Wirral colleagues as a ‘Grasshopper Club’ for Martins at our monthly evenings of snooker at either Upton Guiseley branch Chester Golf Club or Neston Cricket Club, at (left) in the Spring which we had some hilarious evenings and of 1947, before occasional dinners with wives. being summoned At his house in Chester, he accumulated a for his National number of Martins memorabilia and which are Service a year later on display around the bar in his conservatory. In and becoming a his collection is the Chester branch Visitors lance-corporal in Book which contains only one signature – that of the Military Police Sir Gerald Nabarro, former Member of where he was drafted to war-torn Berlin. The Parliament for Kidderminster and Chester experience that he gained in the divided city businessman. Even the ‘Captain’ was perturbed stayed with him for the rest of his life. at the prospect of taking Sir Gerald out to lunch! Completing his National Service in 1950 Geoff The latter was a champion of cherished car was transferred to Tyrrel Street, Bradford, in number plates and campaigned to overturn, 1950 following a stint at successfully, his own Conservative government Harrogate (where the plans to ban transfer of plates between vehicles. Martins Bank Magazine His personal collection comprised NAB 1 to NAB staff caught up with him 10 inclusive. and wrote): G. H. In retirement Brian used the Visitors Book to Hellewell, recently back record minutes of our local Grasshopper from National Service, meetings and his widow, Wendy, has indicated spent part of his time on that she will let me have the book in due course Military Police duty in for the archives. Lance Corporal M.P. Berlin and gave us some Now back to the framed print: Barclays Chester and proud ‘Martian’ very interesting Geoffrey Hellewell. Eastgate St. branch closed finally in the year impressions of life there and of the Russians he 2001. Brian by then had retired but still had a encountered. A short time working at another of contact at the branch who, at the point of our ‘self-accounting sub-branches’; South Cliff, closure, at the insistence of Brian, persuaded the Scarborough, was followed by his return to powers that be that the framed print, still in the Tyrrel Street, Bradford*. A move to Leeds Manager’s room, rightfully belonged to me. So, District Office in 1956 followed … after some thirty years, he was able to return it (Continued on Page 14)

ALTERNATIVE VIEWS OF DARWEN, 8 CHURCH STREET ELLAND BRANCH Alan Blackburn (Elland’s manager from 1985 to

We must thank Robert Wade (aka ‘Wadey’) for taking the photographs of our Darwen branch and uploading them to his ‘Flickr’ pages, as did Hebden Bridge in an earlier Newsletter. The fact that our name is still evident, takes us back over 51 years where the outline of the original letters 1992) had a painting produced for him, of Elland used as signage of ‘Martins Bank Limited’. The branch as it was in Martins' days, although it Post Card which also features the branch in can be seen that ‘artistic licence’ is evident (the Martins Coat of Arms), the painting is an excellent representation of our former Manchester District branch (below).

Martins days (centre of the card above) is also from ‘Wadey’s Flickr page. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, GALLOWGATE

‘FLICKR’ The photo-sharing website ‘Flickr’ continues to be a proven source of historical photographs of our branches, some of which follow: DEANSGATE, MANCHESTER in its (LANCASHIRE & YORKSHIRE BANK DAYS)

The original image (above left) is from Newcastle Libraries collection whilst the ‘technicolour’ version is, once again, from ‘Street View’ which illustrates just how little, if The ‘Penny Farthing’ and horse-drawn carts are anything, has changed in over 90 years but gives clues to the date when this photograph was an excellent impression of what the magnificent taken. copper-coated dome adds to the architecturally HARGREAVES STREET, BURNLEY impressive building.

MANCHESTER DISTRICT MEMORIES As I was completing the last Newsletter, a letter from Raymond Prior arrived with which he enclosed his memories of working at Huddersfield and Skelmanthorpe branches just after World War II: I started at 27 Market Place, Huddersfield on 12th September 1949 which had been a branch of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank with its Head Office being at 43, Spring Gardens, Manchester. There was a room in the cellar of the branch which was used, on a daily basis, for ‘Local Clearing’ where a member of staff from each of CLITHEROE (IN ITS CRAVEN BANK DAYS) the ten local banks brought their batches of cheques to exchange and ‘settle’ with their counterparts. This meant that ‘local’ cheques were drawn on the customers’ accounts on the following day as opposed to three days later had they been exchanged in London. (to be continued)

I SOMEHOW CONTINUE TO STUMBLE (on old images of our former branches) CLECKHEATON RAWTENSTALL In its West Riding Union Banking Company Limited days found on the: ‘Yorkshire Nostalgia, Then and Now West Riding’ website.

BRIERFIELD

Across in the ‘Red Rose County’, whilst checking if there were any photographs of branches for which Jonathan didn’t already have any (although he could in his unpublished items), I came across this website: Red Rose Collections from Lancashire County Council which was literally a treasure trove of photographs of ‘Everything Lancashire’ where I discovered these photographs (on the previous page and these: above) of our former branches. 38 FISHERGATE, PRESTON originally from Manchester and Liverpool Although most of the respectively. (More in the Easter Newsletter) photographs are from 2021 LUNCHES – CURRENT Martins days, I was surprised to discover the SITUATIONS AND INFORMATION Craven Bank photograph LONDON: As a result of being advised by The of Clitheroe branch and Union Jack Club that: …the Gascoigne Room will the Bank of Liverpool only sit a maximum of 24 people. Unfortunately, it means that we will not be allowed to host sit-down photograph of our dinners at all; this, coupled with the current travel Morecambe Euston restrictions, we have had to postpone our Spring Road, branch, which is Lunch yet again and have provisionally reserved featured below: Thursday 9th September for what will then be the ‘Autumn Lunch’. MORECAMBE (IN ITS. BANK OF LIVERPOOL DAYS} LIVERPOOL: With the same situation applying to The Racquet Club, the Liverpool Lunch has also had to be postponed and will, hopefully, now take place on Tuesday29th June. KEIGHLEY: The lunch has now been rearranged for Wednesday 2nd June or any subsequent date that might need to be arranged. MANCHESTER: George Hamilton’s annual Manchester District Lunch will take place at the Pinewood, Wilmslow Hotel, Handforth at on Wednesday 1st December 2021 George can be contacted at [email protected] Further updates will be included in future editions of our Newsletter.

RETURNED NEWSLETTER THE MARTINS BANK WAR MEMORIAL Does any member know the new address for: (HEAD OFFICE BUILDING) Mr M Sly of Walsall, which was returned by the Royal Mail with no reason stated.

MOBILE BANKING (In memory of Graham Nichols) In his own words, Graham wrote: “Prior to my joining in early 1964 we had 3 mobile branches on the road during the show season which also attended other events, such as the International Air Fair at Biggin Hill and various golf tournaments like the Open Golf and the Ryder Cup. We had at that time No. 2 Mobile Branch as a reserve unit and ‘No. 4’ Articulated Branch (below) in 1960, a Prize- winner at the Liverpool Show which was laid up

in Watsons Garage in Birkenhead being used to With the exceptions of the tablets at Head Office and Canary Wharf do any members know of the whereabouts of any other of our War Memorial tablets, which used to be fixed to the walls of our former branches? Should you be aware then please don’t hesitate to contact me as, not only would we like to know but also would the Imperial War Museum for their Memorials database. NEW MEMBERS We welcome another two new members: John Raymond Phillips and Peter Whitehead attend site No 1 in Kirkby and another site on (prince of Wales Own) at Herford, near Dusseldorf, Germany, as a the outskirts of Liverpool. Messenger John bandsman. Holywell drove and looked after this Branch, but BURNSIDE J.W. Loftus; R.A.F. Ceylon; Now Leading the need largely disappeared when permanent Aircraftsman. DUNNING, E Manchester City Office; R.A.F., premises were built. Each of the travelling Barnwood. Typist with the rank of mobiles had a staff of three - a Clerk in Charge, S.A.C. GILKES, T.G. Victoria Street, Liverpool; 6th Royal who also shared the driving and towing, a Tank Regiment, Mjuster, Germany. Cashier, and a Messenger/Driver. All the Trained as a signaller/gunnerbut is clerical staff did a one season stint but one of the acting as a clerk in the Officers’ Mess. His Regiment is moving to Akaba in Clerks in Charge was invited to stay on at the Transjordan later this year. end of their season to prepare the next seasons HUXLEY, L.G.F., 68, Lombard Street; Royal Navy, Lee programme assisted by Miss Joan Hall who was on Solent. SCORAH, T Elland; R.A.F. Joined at Cardington, the secretary of the Mobile Branches since transferred. programme. Bearing in mind there were no THOMAS, D.G.H. Victoria Street, Liverpool; R.A.F., Tern Hill, Salop, Now A.C.I. Plays for mobile phones, no texting and no computers, the Station football team. this was a mammoth task involving literally YOUNGMAN, A.B. 68, Lombard Street; R.E.M.E., hundreds of hotel bookings, site bookings, floral B.A.O.R. Has completed his technical training and is now attached to a displays extra staff most of which required the Royal Artillery unit and is engaged on use of snail mail. repairing radar sets. In addition to organising the programme, I also had to arrange to take each of the Mobile Branches down to the manufacturer, Coventry BANK LIFE IN THE 1950s Steel Caravans at Newport Pagnell, for an Wasn’t life so simple then, when things like the annual overhaul and making good of any minor General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) did damage which had occurred during the season. not exist? Once again, from pages of the Spring They were then taken on from there to a factory 1956 edition of the Martins Bank Magazine, we in Hayes where the electric braking system was were (almost) treated to the full details of ‘BIRTHS’ to staff members including: overhauled. Since this involved a four day trip for delivery and recovery of the Mobile Branch, Mrs Gwynfor Evans. August X 195X. A son. (Mrs it involved me and one of the messengers. Evans, as Miss Thomas, was formerly in H.O. Naturally a trip to London was quite an Trustee Dept. She is Mr. A Dan Thomas’ daughter attraction! After completing my second year on and this is her seventh child. Mobiles the Bank decided to buy a new moveable Too much information? Possibly.

Show Pavilion which was commissioned from REPURPOSED SILK SCARVES Beck and Pollitzer who were exhibition Good quality ‘seconds’ but only contractors. They designed and built it, because of the twisted Coat of Arms transported and erected it at four or five of the printing. Ideal for fashionable larger shows. At this point I made noises about COVID face masks. A mere £5 each my extra responsibilities and it was agreed that including postage. I have a limited I would be given Pro Manager status and signing stock so it must be first come, first authority. From then on I signed my own served. Let me know if you would like one. expenses! Graham Nichols (Editor: Links to our Mobile Branches follow) *TYRREL STREET, BRADFORD (From Page 7) www.martinsbank.co.uk/Mobile Branches.htm Why the asterisk? You might ask for this www.martinsbank.co.uk/11-35-40 Great Yorkshire branch. Because of the members of staff who Show.htm ‘ON HER MAJESTY’S SERVICE’ (from our Spring 1956 Magazine) During the days when ‘National Service’ was mandatory, staff called to ‘Serve’ were remembered and you might remember some of your former colleagues listed in that edition of which a selection follows: BODDY, A.F.R. Keighley; R.A.P.C., Devises; Within a week of his arrival was appointed Camp Organist, having been organist at St. Mark’s Utley before joining the Forces. have worked there, some of whom you will have BINNS, M.O. North Eastern District Office; Has possibly known elsewhere during their Barclays now been posted to 12th Royal Lancers days: Keighley branch and, following the exchange of a ‘Branch Exchange Voucher’ we were off again over the tops (moors) back to Keighley after jokingly discussing what we could do with £52,000 (almost 50 times Lindasay’s salary and 100 times mine at the time). We thought that it

Mr F M Walker Mr R N Mr P M Lister was a lot and had to sit on the suit case to get it Joined the Bank Weightman Assistant all in but it was all paid out the following day. Here On the Staff Manager Just imagine how many HVPs we would have 1943 to 1945 1948 to 1952 1955 to 1958 needed and the time that would have been taken for them to be delivered. *According to the Bank of ’s Inflation Calculator)

SCARBOROUGH - WESTBOROUGH

Mr Ben Trewhitt Mr B G Pearse Mr P J Hole Assistant Assistant Assistant Manager Manager Manager 1961 to 1967 1967 to 1968 1968 onwards

Please DON’T FORGET … This is YOUR Newsletter Please let me know if you have any amusing anecdotes and/or memories of your time in the bank that you would like to share with your Jonathan spotted this photograph, dating from former colleagues. I have many, so you must. No 1935, on ebay and was fortunate enough to names mentioned (unless you would like them to purchase it. be). 49, OLD CHRISTCRCH ROAD, MORE ‘NEW’ PHOTOGRAPHS OF OUR BOURNEMOUTH. FORMER BRANCHES Can any of our As previously mentioned, ‘Lockdown’ has given Dorset members us all a little extra time which we all use in remember our Old different ways. One of which could be writing Christchurch Road down your memories of ‘real banking’. branch in COLNE BRANCH Bournemouth? (In its Craven Bank Days) This partial Although slightly photograph of our out of the centre of branch is the only the east-Lancashire one that we have town the branch been able to find to was still in an date but there imposing position. must surely be In the summer of others in existence. Can you help us to find one? 1967, as Keighley branch was short of cash to pay our customers’ ANOTHER CROPPED IMAGE OF OUR REUILT BEXLEYHEATH BRANCH holiday wages Lindsay Mason and I set off to Then and collect £52,000* now. In what (£965,000 today) must be its We arrived, but being third unknown to anyone in reincarnation ther branch and, with in less than it being mid-summer, 100 years. we were both in our How times shirts with our sleeves have changed and will continue to change. Isn’t rolled-up, and must it amazing that there are still 60 of our branches have looked like a couple of ‘Likely Lads’. The open after 51 years after the takeover? only way to identify us was via a ‘phone call to Notice of the 2021 Steele for auditing the accounts. Finally, Colin Annual General Meeting confirmed that nineteen new members had been of the recruited during the year. Grasshopper Pensioners’ Club WELFARE OFFICER’S REPORT: Sue Sutcliffe at 12.15 P.M. on 9th September 2021 at reported that there had been no welfare issues The Union Jack Club during the year and that she had therefore (and any subsequent venue and date) nothing to report. AGENDA ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Following Colin 1. Welcome (Bernard Lovewell Redshaw’s decision to stand down from the role 2. Apologies for Absence of Treasurer (which he had taken on a 3. Minutes of 2019 AGM temporary basis) Robert Bunn offered to become 4. Matters Arising our Treasurer. As the remaining Officers had 5. Chairman's Report agreed to remain in their roles their 6. Treasurer's Report appointment was agreed unanimously. 7. Welfare Officer's Report ELECTION OF AUDITOR: As Robert Bunn 8. Election of Officers lives in north London, it was agreed that it 9. Election of Auditor would be left to Robert to find a suitable person 10. Any Other Business to act as auditor in his local area. MINUTES of the ANY OTHER BUSINESS: A general discussion 2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING followed about the problems experienced by the The 2019 Annual General Meeting was held at widows of former Martins staff as, in certain 11.30 am on Thursday 16th May at Barnsgate instances, Willis Towers Watson’s staff Manor and Vineyard. continued to fail to understand the benefits Summarised Minutes follow: provided by our Widows & Orphans Fund. Our The 2019 AGM was attended by the Chairman, secretary was asked to highlight this matter in Treasurer, Secretary and Welfare Officer plus the forthcoming Newsletter and ask everyone, 18 other members and guests with ‘Apologies (and our widows in particular) to be made aware for Absence’ being received from seven of this problem. members. Comment was also made that little did Robert The Secretary confirmed that, following contact Bunn realise that his new role would become with the secretaries of every Barclays permanent, just as Colin Redshaw had failed to Pensioners’ Club, 163 former Martins staff had realise when he offered to become our Treasurer registered their interest in attending the on a ‘temporary basis’, and thereby enable the Liverpool Lunch and 109 the London Lunch, for Club to continue in existence. which final reservation requests will accompany The meeting closed at 12.30 just leaving time for the late summer Newsletter. refreshments before lunch at 1.00 p.m. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: Bernard Lovewell 2019/20 Update (following the 2019 AGM): thanked his fellow committee colleagues for their efforts during the past 12 months; Arthur REMEMBRANCE LUNCHES Rowe for his suggestion of the Union Jack Club To remember our takeover by Barclays, we for the December lunch, and especially for supported ‘Remembrance Lunches’ in; obtaining a discounted rate for this year’s event: Birmingham, Ilkley, Manchester, London and Alistair and Janet McIntosh for organising the Liverpool which were supported by an Spring Lunch and finally Ken Quirk for additional grant of £2,500, to support the organising last year’s December Lunch and this anticipated additional costs which would be year’s London and Liverpool Lunches. Bernard incurred, by Barclays. These regional lunches continued by paying tribute to Colin Redshaw’s enabled us to ensure that as many members as time as our Treasurer when he stood-in on a possible were able to meet their former temporary basis to ensure that Club continued colleagues than was previously possible. to function. David Baldwin, Secretary

TREASURER’S REPORT: Colin Redshaw Should any member have any queries about any reported that our account balance was better by aspect of the operation and/or administration of over £2.000 as a result of not having to subsidise the Club, or wish to add an item for discussion the Thames Cruise and that the subsidy at the AGM under ‘Any Other Business’ they obtained by our secretary for the forthcoming should not hesitate to contact me and the matter December Lunches was also a welcome boost. will be added to the Agenda for discussion at the Colin mentioned that the combination of these AGM or in the next Newsletter. two factors had resulted in our balances being at their highest level for years and thanked Bill GEOFFREY HELLEWELL (continued from Page 7) was then after gaining a ‘Distinction’ in ‘The Practice of demolished and Banking’ of Part II of his Institute Examination replaced with a during the previous year. Geoff’s first 60's, modernist appointment office block. came in 1961, Although our after five Coat of Arms years in will last for ever (with a bit of luck) despite the District fate of the branch Office, as and the retail outlet Manager of (aka ‘shop’).The Great Horton photograph (right) branch (left). was taken by John Geoff and Pettit in 2013. Fast Marjorie moved closer to the branch in 1963 into forward to 2021 and their new home at Horton Bank Top, where they what do we see? stayed for 11 years as, on the fateful day (Friday ‘Internacionale’ is no longer occupying the site 12th December 1969) Martins, Great Horton and it is on the market closed and now, right, again through ‘Trevor and little changed in Dawson – Commercial more than 50 years, Property Consultants’ (thanks to ‘Street for either ‘Sale’ (contact View’) looking in far for price) or ‘Leaseback’ better condition than described as: it used to be. Geoff Substantial two storey retail moved across the road property providing well planned sales accommodation within the to become the new manager of Barclays Great ground floor. Rear storage and loading facilities with further useful stores within the basement. The first floor provides staff th Horton branch on Monday 15 December 1969. room, office and w.c. facilities. On completion a lease back to Throughout his banking career, Geoff provided Genus UK Limited T/As Select Limited the perfect example of doing the job properly by (Company No. 05896509) for a term of inputting the maximum effort to five years on full repairing and succeed whilst observing the highest insuring terms at a rental figure of and standards of professionalism and £35,000 per annum The property has a current rateable value of adhering to the rules. Geoff held true £42,000 we are verbally informed by the Local Authority. Is it to the Martins ethos of any wonder that the High Street is in decline dependability, correctness and with such costs even before you turn the lights service to the customer first and on? foremost. Despite banking changed My own memory of the following the takeover, Geoff missed branch is from a day in the what life was like in the Martins early summer of 1967 when years as he began to be given ‘Targets’ to we were running short of ‘Market’ and ‘Sell’ which became distractions silver at Keighley branch with which he had to live. His aim was always to and, as the branch junior, I succeed by careful control, customer care by was told to go to take a minibus* to Burnley maintaining a happy and secure staff. (‘Burnley, Colne & Nelson Joint Transport Company’) and (with our thanks to his family for their permission to allow these photographs to be shared and their input into this obituary) Skipton branches (‘Chatsworth Estate’) to collect their silver. ‘Security considerations’ wouldn’t HARGREAVES STREET, BURNLEY allow me (an unknown) into the branch, so we (continued) Our Craven District branch was located on the parked in the yard and loaded the silver. Then corner of Hargreaves Street and St. James' Row. onto Skipton where we parked on the cobbles Originally built in 1884 to house the Craven outside the branch on the High Street to load Bank, becoming part of The Bank of Liverpool in more (all in £20 paper silver bags) before 1906. The branch closed its doors for the final returning to Keighley fully loaded with the time on the 30th May 1963 and moved to new wheels scraping on the arches. Great times! *from ‘East Parade Taxis’ – who supplied our transport from Oxenhope sub- premises at 8 Manchester Road. This building branch and also for our sub-branch cash runs. They ran a fleet of black VW 1500 Beetles and a split-screen ‘bus also.