11-26-80 Stockport

Our photograph shows the re-built branch of Martins Bank at 37 Great Underbank, Stockport, pictured circa 1967. The original Stockport branch was opened on the same spot by the Adelphi Bank in 1891, just eight years before they are taken over by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank, and can be seen below in one of the lithograph images of Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank Offices donated to Martins Bank Archive from the estate of W N Townson.

1922 Stockport Branch Exterior as L & Y Bank WNT.jpg

What so impresses us about these lithograph prints is that careful re-touching by modern photo software not only makes them brighter and clearer than they ever were when published, it also brings them back to life.

In Service: 1891 until 17 March 1989

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-2785

Some, like this one of Stockport have an eerie, almost 3D quality to them. It’s the next best thing to a true photograph, and these Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank branch images really do help us to tell the story of Martins Bank. By the mid 1960s the original building is becoming too cramped to meet the staffing and technological needs of the bank, and so this most traditional of Branches is replaced by the obligatory concrete and glass. What matters, is of course on the INSIDE, and these comparison pictures show what a relief it must have been for the Branch Staff to move from the old to the new:

Before

Images © Barclays Ref 0030-2785

After

Staff Retirement gatherings and celebrations are usually marked by Martins Bank Magazine, and we often read of individuals having achieved up to forty-five years’ service with the bank. Occasionally there have been double retirements, but we think that the article below might be the one and only TRIPLE retirement celebration recorded by the Magazine…

Goodbye Mr Hall, Mr Hopley and Mr Lawrence…

Mr Hall Mr Hopley and Mr Lawrence.jpg 1968 04 MBM.jpg The party held at the Stockport Travellers Club on August 29 was unusual for it marked the retirement of three men whose careers have at some time brought them to Stockport branch. Mr Lawrence had been for the last four years Pro Manager there after a lifetime in the city of Manchester. Mr Hall, beginning his career in Blackpool, served at a number of branches in the Manchester District before becoming first cashier at the branch four years ago. Mr Hopley, although retiring from relief staff, had had two spells at Stockport shortly after the war. Before serving on relief he had been second man at Chorlton-cum-Hardy for six years. Over forty colleagues, including Mr Tunstall, Miss Goddard and Mr Paulson from District Office, saw Mr Higenbottam (Manager, Stockport) make the presentations, speaking warmly of the loyal support each had given over the years. Mr Hall received a film projector, Mr Lawrence and Mr Hopley cheques —to be used respectively for an infra-red grill and a nest of tables. Bouquets were given to Mrs Hall and Mrs Hopley by Miss Wright: unfortunately Mrs Lawrence was unable to attend. Before their retirement the three lunched at District Office as the guests of Mr Foster.

An Exchange of Goodwill…

1952 02 MBM.jpg 1952 Miss Joan Barker MBM-Su52P55 A signal honour has come to Joan Barker, of our Stockport branch, in being selected by the Girl Guides' Association as one of four Rangers to represent Great Britain on a " Goodwill Exchange " in the United States. Twelve Rangers are going altogether, one from each of eight European countries, and four from Great Britain, and the funds are provided from the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund of the Girl Scouts of America. The other countries represented are Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany and Norway. The party left England in the S.S. America on June 9th and will go to New York first of all, to the Edith Macy Training School. Each will then go to a different part of the States for three months, camping, sight-seeing and visiting American homes, working through a programme arranged by their American hosts. Joan will go to Fort Worth, Texas. The selection of candidates is made as a result of a number of personal interviews, when the candidates are screened, so that the lucky ones are those best calculated to represent their respective countries " on show " in the States. Personality, appearance, ability to make a public speech, general knowledge of world affairs and of affairs in their own country, these and other qualifications are the ones looked for. We are pleased and proud that one of our girls should have been selected as an ambassadress of goodwill and the Bank has gladly given the necessary leave of absence under special arrangements to enable Joan to make the most of this wonderful opportunity.



*Mr Percy Arnett* *Joined the Bank Here* *1901*	Mr H A Bullough *Joined the Bank Here* *1919*	Mr W Howarth *Joined the Bank Here* *1923*	Mr W S Johnson *On the Staff* *1923 to 1928*	*Mr W W Arnold* *On the Staff 1926-1931* *Manager 1931 to 1947*	Mr C Williamson *Pro Manager* *1932 to 1944*



Mr J H Walker *On the Staff* *1946 to 1947*	Mr G Ramsell *On the Staff* *1947 to 1948*	*Mr F Hensall* *Signing Authority* *1947 to 1952*	Mr E Pickup *Manager* *1947 to 1957*	Mr P R Thompson *Joined the Bank Here* *1949 to 1950*	*Mr J W Ottaway* *On the Staff* *1951 to 1958*



*Miss Joan Barker* *On the Staff* *1952*	Mr W H Florey *Joined the Bank Here* *1952 to 1954*	Mr J C Higenbottam *Manager* *1957 to 1969*	Mr F Tunstall *Pro Manager* *1959 to 1961*	*Mr W A Lawrence* *On Staff 1960-64* *Pro Manager 1964-68*	Mr E I Medcalf *Pro Manager* *1961 to 1964*



Mr R Hall *First Cashier* *1964 to 1968*	*Mr W P Glover* *Pro Manager* *1968*	*Mr R B Blomeley* *Manager* *1969*