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The Bank of Liverpool
opens a branch at Blundellsands in 1898, further consolidating its very
comprehensive hold over a wide area of Liverpool and its suburban towns and
villages.
Under Martins Bank this
translates to a branch every few miles on this piece of coastline and right
round the Wirral Peninsula.
For our feature, we look
at the long careers of two of the managers of Blundellsnads Branch – Retiring
in 1947 it’s Mr Ellis, whose forty-four year career begins in 1903 in
Liverpool and sees him travel to the south coast and back, and in 1969 we
meet Mr Armistead, who has spent his forty-three years with the bank serving
in no less than four different districts…
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In Service: 1898 until 28 August
1992
Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0300
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  On
the last day of September a gathering of friends and colleagues took place in
the home of Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Ellis for the purpose of making a presentation
to Mr. Ellis who was retiring from the bank after 43 years' service. The gathering was delightfully informal, due to the fact
that so many of those present were intimate friends as well as colleagues of
Mr. Ellis. The proceedings were opened by Mr. S. Webster who made a pleasing
reference to the way in which Mrs. Ellis had always backed her husband up in
the social work which he had made such a feature of his life at
Blundellsands. In this connection another speaker, Mr. G. O. Papworth,
revealed that although he was Mr. Ellis's senior during banking hours he had
served under him as a Quartermaster-Sergeant in the Crosby Battalion of the
Home Guard of which Mr. Ellis was second-in-command. He was also a prominent Rotarian and a Past
President of Crosby Rotary Club.
 The presentation was made by Mr. R. H.
Price, the Staff Manager, who proclaimed his admiration for that select body
of men who were chosen to open the new branches. (Mr. Ellis opened
Southampton office, and, incidentally, Mr. Price opened Cambridge branch!) Other speakers
were Mr. N. A. Milroy and Mr. R. H. Gardner, retired Assistant Superintendent
of Branches; and then the gift of a barometer was presented and Mr. Ellis suitably
replied, after which tea was served. In
addition to those already mentioned it was very nice to have with us Mrs.
Ellis, Mrs. Papworth and Mr. R. C. Eastwood, as well as several other past
and present colleagues. Mr. Ellis started
his career at East branch in 1903, and saw service at Victoria Street,
Garston and Birkenhead before joining the army in 1914. He served with
distinction in the first world war and was awarded the D.S.O., attaining the
rank of Major. He came back to the bank in 1919 and was appointed Manager of
Woolton branch in 1920. He opened Southampton branch in 1925 and was made
Manager at Blundellsands ten years later.
  on April 29 Mr Edwin Armistead entertained
thirty-five colleagues in a local church hall to mark the end of 43 years in
the service of the Bank, the last nine as Manager at Blundellsands. His
career had begun in the Craven District, in 1939 he went to Bristol, then
followed four years with H.M. Forces.
After his return to Bristol he served two years with mobile branches
and was appointed Manager at Nantwich in 1951 where he remained until his
appointment at Blundellsands. Mr W. O.
Davies, deputising for Mr Buchanan, presented Mr Armistead with a wallet
containing a cheque. The Craven, Bristol, Cheshire and Lancashire areas had
all provided names for the list accompanying the gift. Mr Armistead responded with grateful thanks and said that
the cheque would be used to buy a suitable memento of this happy occasion.
Miss Eileen Brown presented Mrs Armistead with a bouquet.
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