11-29-90 Newcastle upon Tyne Westgate

The North Eastern Banking Company opens a branch at Westgate, Newcastle upon Tyne at the beginning of December 1882. Sadly, there are currently no external views of the building available, but there are two internal shots in the photos left to Barclays by Martins Bank. Under Martins, Westgate operates as a full branch, and survives the merger with Barclays by nine years, closing its doors for the final time on 26 May 1978, after almost ninety-six yers’ service as a bank. There are no visits to Westgate by Martins Bank Magazine, but we do have the following retirement feature for Manager Mr Richley from 1965…

In Service: 1 December 1882 until 26 May 1978

Image © Barclays Ref: 0030-2019

1965 02 MBM.jpg on the evening of March 31st, Mr Richley, Manager of Westgate branch, and his wife entertained present and former colleagues at the County Hotel, Newcastle. District Office were represented by Mr K. O. Wells, Mr M. A. Charlton and Mr F. Thompson, Mr Weatherill having previously invited Mr Richley to lunch at Grey Street. Mr Brian Smith outlined Mr Richley's career from his entry into the Bank at Jarrow in 1921 until, by way of various branches in the North East and four years' war service, he was appointed Manager of Westgate branch in 1961.

Mr Smith spoke of the high regard in which Mr Richley was held by both customers and staff, an example of this being the number of calls from customers enquiring about him during his recent illness.

Image: © Barclays Ref 0030-2019

On behalf of subscribers, he presented Mr Richley with a tape recorder, and Mrs Richley was presented with a handbag by Miss Dodd. In reply, Mr Richley thanked everyone for their generosity and entertained the company with reminiscences of his early days in the Bank. He regretted leaving at the present time, because, after enduring six months of alterations at Westgate, he had only been able to enjoy the amenities of his new office for two weeks. He concluded by saying that at long last he would be relieved from safeguarding Bank keys, a large bunch or which he promptly handed to his successor.

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*Mr R S Clark* *Joined the Bank here* *1905*	*Mr H Cook* *Joined the Bank Here* *1908 to 1914*	*Mr Mungo Conacher* *On the Staff* *1917*	*Mr J Shotton* *Joined the Bank Here* *1920 to 1925*	*Mr N N Jobling* *Joined the Bank Here* *1923*	*Mr J H Ritson* *Manager* *1932 to 1943*



*Mr T A Wedderburn* *Manager* *1946 to 1961*	*Mr J Richley* *Manager* *1961 to 1965*	*Mr T D Muitt* *Manager* *1965 to 1967*	*Mr B Swan* *Manager* *1967 onwards*