11-55-60 Oldham

BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED

25 High Street

Lees

DISTRICT BANK LIMITED

Yorkshire Street

Mumps

Hathershaw

Lees

LLOYDS BANK LIMITED

194 Union Street

MARTINS BANK LIMITED

50 Yorkshire Street

MIDLAND BANK LIMITED

Union Street

Greenacres

Hathershaw

NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK

7 Manchester Street

WESTMINSTER BANK LIMITED

22 Yorkshire Oldham

WILLIAMS DEACON’S BANK

Church Terrace

YORKSHIRE BANK LIMITED

Market Place

Greenacres

In 1919, when the Bank of Liverpool and Martins absorbs the Palatine Bank, it inherits three branches in and around Oldham – at UNION STREET, WERNETH, and SHAW. Upon the creation of the modern day Martins Bank in January 1928, a further Oldham Branch – this splendid looking building in Yorkshire Street – is added to the Branch Portfolio by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank. It becomes the main Branch in the town, with Union Street closing in 1930. It also survives the merger with Barclays, remaining open until 1986. For our features, we meet a talented singer who works at Oldham Branch, and eavesdrop at the retirement of Mr England, Manager of the Branch for sixteen years…

In Service: 1901 until 17 March 1986

Branch Images © Barclays Ref 0030-2172

Oldham – palace of song?

1949 01 MBM.jpg The production in November of VIRGINIA this season’s choice of the Oldham Amateur Operatic Society, is of special interest to Martins Bank because of the success of Doreen Jepson in the title role. Of her performance, the Oldham Evening Chronicle said: “Doreen Jepson is favoured with an engaging personality, and a sense of comedy which enables her to present the candid, somewhat gawky, slangy girl with ashtonishing ease.

Her American accent is natural, and she sings and dances 1949 Miss Doreen Jepson Staff Member MBM-Sp49P26.jpg without seeming effort”. Doreen has, on occasion, engaged professionally in vaudeville, repertory, musical comedy and concert party work, having acquired proficiency in elocution and and singing. The Secretary of the Oldham Amateur Operatic Society says Doreen is the life and soul of the party, and was a resounding success in her part of Virginia. The photograph shows her as she appeared in the play. Doreen entered the service at Oldham in June 1945 and has been there ever since. She was educated at Ashton Secondary School.

Henry the Fifth and a motor mower…

1968 03 MBM.jpg retiring at the end of July as Manager at Oldham, Mr Thomas England had completed 45 years' service, including four years with H.M. Forces. He entered the Lancashire & Yorkshire Bank at Blackpool in 1923 and was appointed Manager at Friargate, Preston in 1939, Sub-Manager at Bury in 1941, and Manager at Oldham in 1952.

1968 Mr T England Retirment Photo MBM-Au68P54 On the evening of July 16 he and his wife acted as hosts to about forty friends and colleagues at a farewell gathering held in the congenial atmosphere of Birch Hall Hotel, Lees. Among those present were Messrs N. E. Foster, F. Tunstall, G. S. Gallagher, W. P. Glover and A. Meadowcroft, constituting what might be termed a five-star retirement.

Branch Images © Barclays Ref 0030-2172

At the beginning of the proceedings Miss Barbara Rathbone presented Mrs England with a bouquet. Mr Sim (Pro Manager) then paid tribute to Mr England's enthusiasm for banking and spoke of his services as a local magistrate and in the fields of politics and education. Thanking everyone for the gifts of a transistor radio and a cheque, to be used for the purchase of a motor mower, Mr England referred to some of the turning points of his career. He summed up his feelings by quoting from Henry V—'Old men forget; yet shall be forgot, yet he'll remember with advantages what feats he did that day.' During the month of his retirement he lunched at Head Office as the guest of Mr Maxwell and at District Office with Mr Foster.



*Mr G Dawson* *Joined the Bank Here* *1904*	*Mr J E Lomas* *Joined the Bank Here* *1915 to 1920*	*Mr C K Holden* *On the Staff* *1919 to 1922*	*Mr W R Bowness* *Cashier* *1923 to 1926*	*Mr S R Walker* *Manager* *1927 to 1946*	*Mr T Whittaker* *Pro Manager* *1932 to 1939*



*Mr J M Baldwin* *On the Staff* *1932 to 1956*	*Mr K Halliwell* *Joined the Bank Here* *1937 to 1939*	*Mr C Thornton* *Pro Manager* *1937 to 1952*	*Mr H V Jobling* *On the Staff* *1941 to 1942*	*Mr P D Lawson* *Joined the Bank Here* *1944 to 1946*	*Mr P B Walton* *Manager* *1946 to 1952*



*Mr Alan Brierley Sim* *1946-48 On the staff* *and 1960-69 Pro Manager*	*Miss Doreen Jepson* *On the Staff* *1949*	*Mr K T Downham* *Pro Manager* *1951 to 1960*	*Mr Thomas England* *Manager* *1952 to 1968*	*Mr S M Dearden* *Manager* *1968 onwards*