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In service:
6 December 1938 – 3 June 2011 |
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Image: Barclays |
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It
was with special pleasure that we learned of the decision to include
Cambridge branch in this feature, because Cambridge is a city we have never
before had the good fortune to visit.
Our branch there was opened by Mr. R. H. Price, now Staff Manager,
just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. Mr. A. B. Aitken, who succeeded him as
Manager in 1940, went with him to open it, and, apart from war service has
been there ever since. |
© 1949 Martins Bank Limited / Geoffrey Wedgwood |
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On the mantelpiece of his room reposes a Japanese samurai sword, surrendered to him by a Japanese officer—an interesting reminder of his war service in India, Burma and Saigon. Mr. Aitken is an L. & Y. man who commenced his service at Eastbank Street in 1924. He also served at St. Luke's, on H.O. Relief Staff, at Liverpool City Office and at Ormskirk before going South. Always a keen sportsman, he has now abandoned rugger for the gentler pursuit of golf, but wasn't seen at Southport this year! As readers may judge from the photograph, our branch is situated close to some of the loveliest and most famous buildings in the world, five minutes' walk from the incomparable " backs " which were a carpet of daffodils of all shades and varieties at the time of our visit April 12th.
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Even
the dark Cambridge clouds don’t spoil the Bank’s bright stand at the 1960
Royal Show. |
As Mr. Aitken was on holiday at the time of our visit and as April 13th was Mrs. Aitken's birthday we celebrated with a little luncheon party. We would not presume to lay down the qualities which go to make a good bank manager, but surely pride of association with the place in which one works is one of them and Mr. Aitken certainly has this, as we discovered during our subsequent tour of the colleges when we commented disparagingly on the amount of daisy in the lawns of King's College. Although
not a keen gardener himself we were conscious of " a hush in the close
" after we had spoken. It is most refreshing to observe the great amount
of repair, renovation and even new building which seems to be going on
throughout the University. King's College Chapel has been cleaned inside and
the job of replacing the stained glass, removed for safety during the war,
is nearly finished. |
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An extension is being built to St. Catherine's while
repairs are in hand at a dozen colleges, including Jesus College which was
recently damaged by fire.There is a purposefulness about the place which is a
pleasant contrast to the apathy which seems to have descended upon other
places and a coat of paint and a bit of cleaning does make such a difference. We had coffee at Dorothy's, where Mrs.
Aitken and young Simon joined us, listened to the band and watched the
dancing, observing with interest the absence of any colour bar. Newmarket
did not interest us but we stole an afternoon away from the job and went to
Ely to see the cathedral, being much impressed with its beauty. The windows
are among the richest in colouring and beauty we have so far seen in this
country. Cambridge is one of Mr. Norman-Butler's spiritual homes and the
coaching of crews is one of his specialities. He had recently paid a visit
for this purpose. Mr. Verity, too, was there a few weeks before our visit, so
the branch cannot complain of being neglected. When we think of the situation
of some of our industrial and suburban branches we
feel that there are many compensations for those whose work takes them to a
place like Cambridge. |
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Our Thanks to Geoff Dunn for this
contribution to our series of “then and now” shots of Martins Bank’s former
branches. The two images are around fifty years apart, the name of the new “Boss” is just visible
on the signage above the window on the left.
Barclays vacated this building in June 2011… |
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1964 Image © Barclays |
2014 Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection - Geoff Dunn |
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Title: Type: Address: Index
Number and District: Hours: Telephone: Services: Manager: |
11-46-20 Cambridge Full Branch 30 Market Hill Cambridge 457 London Mon to Fri 1000-1500 Saturday 0900-1130 Cambridge 58348 Nightsafe Installed Mr W W Isle Manager |
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6
December 1938 15
December 1969 3
June 2011 |
opened by Martins Bank Limited Barclays Bank Limited 20-17-38 Cambridge
Market Hill Closed and transferred to Cambridge St
Andrew’s Branch |
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