11-73-31 Bury Elton

The Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank opens a Branch at Bury Bridge, Elton, in 1905, some seventeen years before the amalgamation with the Bank of Liverpool and Martins that will create the modern day Martins Bank Limited. Elton will be one of the longest surviving sub-Branches in the Bury area, with Barclays calling time on this unusually shaped building in March 2004.

Unusually for a sub-Branch of Martins Bank, we have photographs of no fewer than SIX of the Clerks-in-Charge who served at Elton between 1923 and the merger with Barclays at the end of 1969. For our Elton feature, we look at the retirement celebrations for Mr Alan Whittaker, who by 1966 has worked there as Clerk in Charge for so long, the locals have named the Branch after him!

In Service: 1905 until 22 March 2004

Image © Barclays Ref: 0033-0203

As usual, Martins Bank Magazine is there to cover the event and to look back on Mr Whittaker’s career which began in 1923. Once again in this time of a “job for life” we are looking at the extraordinary figure of forty-three years’ service with the same employer…

Whittaker’s Bank?

1966 01 MBM.jpg 1941 to 1966 Mr A Whittaker Clerk in charge MBM-Sp66P50.jpg 31 December marked the end of an era at Bury when Alan Whittaker retired as Clerk-in-Charge at Elton branch. Apart from four years in the R.A.F. Regiment he had held the post for 24 years and the branch had become known locally as 'Whittaker's Bank'. His departure was the occasion of a party at the Royal Hotel, Bury, on January 4 when the staff of the local branches, Mr F. Tunstall (Manchester District Superintendent of Branches), former colleagues and several customers witnessed Mr H. M. Isherwood (Manager, Bury) hand Mr Whittaker a cheque on behalf of many subscribers.

1955 Bury Elton CU BGA Ref 33-203.jpg Mr Isherwood described Mr Whittaker as a man of many parts. As well as building up the branch's business he had held several community posts over the years including Chief Warden of the Bury Civil Defence Corps, Secretary to the Management Committee of Bury A.T.C., founder-treasurer of one golf club, secretary of another. Now Secretary of the Manchester Astronomical Society he will be pursuing his interest in the months ahead, reading astronomy at Manchester University.

Part of the presentation cheque, said Mr Isherwood, had been used for a special attachment for Mr Whittaker's telescope and other instruments would be bought with the balance. Mrs Whittaker, who was accompanied by their daughter, Judith, received a bouquet from Miss Lord. In a brief but sincere response Mr Whittaker thanked his colleagues for their generosity and then invited them to a buffet tea. He entered the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank in 1923 at Whitefield and served at one or other of the Bury branches until his appointment to Elton in 1941.



*Mr L Taylor* *Clerk in Charge* *1923 to 1924*	*Mr S A Buxton* *Clerk in Charge* *1924 to 1934*	*Mr A Spencer* *Clerk in Charge* *1934 to 1941*	*Mr N R Manser* *Joined the Bank Here* *1939 to 1942*	*Mr A Whittaker* *Clerk in Charge* *1941 to 1966*	*Mr T Longworth* *Clerk in Charge* *1966 to 1968*



*Mr W D Rushworth* *Clerk in Charge* *1968 onwards*