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Advertisements like the one shown here are taken
out in the local press, for the opening of one of the first original
branches of the modern day Martins Bank, formed in 1928 through the
amalgamation of the Bank of Liverpool and Martins with the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Bank. Note that at this time, the Head Office of the Bank is
still at No 7 Water Street, Liverpool. Life at Head Office will be busy, bringing
together under one name, the branches of the many constituent banks of
Martins.
Image
© Martins Bank Archive Collections
As postcards used to say: Bridlington – it’s
bracing! Martins Bank arrives in this seaside town and civil parish in the
historic East Riding of Yorkshire in December 1929, so the sea air might be
a little more than bracing! Our
feature takes us to 1966, when Mr
Harold Bonner, who has been the Bank’s Manager at Bridlington since 1949,
has just completed 47 years of service. He will be succeeded in 1966
by Mr G T Greenfield, who will – in just three years’ time – take the
branch through the merger with Barclays.
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In Service: 2 December 1929 until 12 March 1971
 
Image
© Barclays Ref 0030-0382 September 1954
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In a review that is much shorter than some of
the retirement write-ups published by the staff magazine, the following
article, published in 1966, looks back at Mr Bonner’s time with the Bank,
and treats us to the customary description of how his retirement is marked
by his colleagues, buffet, gift, flowers, and so on…
  on october 28 Harold Bonner and his
wife entertained some 50 colleagues and friends to drinks and a splendid
buffet meal in delightful surroundings at the Brentwood Hotel. The occasion
marked Mr Bonner's retirement as Manager of Bridlington branch after nearly
47 years' service, all of which had been spent in the Leeds District, with
ten years as Pro Manager at Westgate and four years with H.M. Forces. A bouquet was
presented to Mrs Bonner by Miss Jean Abbott and a gold wrist watch,
subscribed by colleagues, was presented to Mr Bonner by Mr P. M. Lister
who mentioned that in his banking life Mr Bonner had been ill only four
times and that on each occasion his absence had been for two days. Mr Lister expressed his delight at seeing
so many customers present and he wished Mr and Mrs Bonner a long and
healthy retirement. In reply Harold Bonner
said he had always enjoyed his work and that he prized above all the many
friendships he had made during his career, particularly in his seventeen
years in Bridlington.
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