11-14-90 Welling

Prepare for a shock…

It doesn’t take long for the Bank of Liverpool and Martins to expand, and to consolidate in areas where it is already represented. A number of Kentish Branch are acquired through the merger of the two banks in 1918, but these are mostly close to London. Martins will continue adding branches in the rest of Kent right up to the mid 1960s. Welling is a full branch with no sub branches, and does make it through the 1969 merger with Barclays. Before this can happen, the 1960s arrives with a vengeance, and this lovely building, full of charm and character is demolished and replaced with a new, altogether different offering… The only clue to what has happened is the end of the building to the right, where in both images, you can just about see the same window and pattern of bricks that starts at the edge of the roof slope. We are all for internal alterations and improvements, and further down the page you will see the differences on the INSIDE of these two buildings. We do however feel that in today’s architectural climate, the original design would have stayed! Our feature concerns Mr R J T Edwards, who is retiring after forty-six years with bank. It is not unusual to find such long service in Martins Bank, but Mr Edwards commenced his career one year before the old Martin’s Private Bank amalgamated with the Bank of Liverpool, and he therefore worked for the Bank under THREE of its different trading entities between 1917 and 1963…

In Service: July 1922 until 12 March 1987

Images © Barclays Ref 0030-3107

1963 01 MBM.jpg 1938 to 1963 Mr R T J Edwards Manager MBM-Sp63P56.jpg At the end of January Mr. R. T. J. Edwards, Manager of Welling branch for 25 years, retired after nearly 46 years' service. To mark the occasion he held a cocktail party at the King's Head Hotel, Bexley, and, despite bitter snowy weather, some sixty of his present and former colleagues were present to wish him well. Mr. F. C. Hardman, (London Assistant District Manager), brought good wishes from the General Management, and expressed their thanks for many years of loyal and efficient service. In a light-hearted speech he mentioned the cordial relations that had always existed between District Office and Mr. Edwards, and paid tribute to his success in building up the present business at the branch. Mr. D. J. Williams, (Pro Manager, Welling), then expressed the affection and respect of the staff, pointing out that several of the managers present had learned their banking from Mr. Edwards. On behalf of the subscribers he then made a presentation of a leather-bound book containing their good wishes and signatures, and also a cheque. A bouquet was presented to Mrs. Edwards, whom everyone was delighted to see, by Miss Barbara Warren. Mr. Edwards made a suitable reply and thanked all his colleagues for their gifts, and those who had served under him for their help and support. A day or two before his retirement Mr. Edwards was entertained to lunch at 68, Lombard Street by the General Management and District General Manager. The last but one of the original Martin's men on the active staff, Mr. Edwards entered the Bank at Dartford in 1917 and after service at Bexley Heath was transferred to Welling branch soon after it opened in 1925. He served there as Clerk-in-Charge, and was appointed Manager in 1938. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are shortly moving to the Isle of Wight, where we hope they will settle happily in their new surroundings.

Welling – old…

…and new:

Images © Barclays Ref 0030-3107



*Mr T H Beecham* *On the Staff* *1925 to 1929*	*Mr R T J Edwards* *On the Staff 1925 to 1938* *Manager 1938 to 1963*	*Mr S E Palk* *On the Staff* *1949 to 1950*	*Mr D J Williams* *Limited Authority* *1951 to 1958*	*Mr J F O Burgess* *On the Staff* *1954 to 1959*	*Mr N B Bill* *Pro Manager* *1959 to 1960*



*Mr D B Woolgar* *Joined the Bank Here* *1960 to 1961*	*Mr J B Astbury* *Manager* *1963 onwards*