11-64-01 Bexley

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Bexley is one of the original fifteen “Grasshopper” London and North Kent Branches of Martin’s Private Bank that join with the Bank of Liverpool in 1918. To illustrate this lovely old branch, we are once again privileged to have some wonderful and evocative photographs on this page, both from the Geoff Taylor Collection, and that of Jack Jaques who is Martins’ Manager at Bexley from 1965 and through the merger with Barclays.

There are no visits to the Branch by Martins Bank Magazine, so our features further down this page concentrate on the retirements of two successive managers of Bexley, Mr Lawrence and Mr Kirk. First, we must make a confession on behalf of Martins – this lovely old branch does not stay lovely and old for much longer! The “alterations and improvements” hording shown here, tells us that the culprit seems to have been Martins, which makes what is to follow even more shocking… It does take a moment or two to realise that this is the SAME branch, but a side-by-side comparison does confirm our worst fears – (for proof look at the shop shown on the left, and the small blue doors to the right of the photographs). This new and radical design is very similar to that of Martins’ Branch at LEWISHAM, which opens at the same time, but this ISN’T Lewisham, it’s a part of old Kent that whilst slowly losing its identity to become yet another London Borough, surely does not deserve such space-age alteration at this time? What was the Bank thinking?

In Service: 1 March 1887 until Friday 2 September 2016

Just what was the Bank thinking?

Bexley is not the first example of a change for the worse – WELLING branch has a similar fate, see also HARTLEPOOL YORK ROAD. With that most useless of commodities – hindsight – we know that today everyone yearns for something that looks substantial and traditional – it’s not some kind of architectural snobbery – we know now that people’s quality of life is affected by the buildings they live in or use. In the excitement of the late 1960s, the Summer of Love, “Round the Horne”, and Colour TV for the first time, the desire to remove tradition and what it stood for must have been very strong indeed! In order to redress the balance, here is an image from Geoff Taylor’s collection, which shows Bexley in much happier times, April 1954…

Image (right) © Martins Bank Archive Collections - Geoff Taylor

1957 02 MBM.jpg On the last day of March Mr. S. E. Lawrence retired from the managership of Bexley branch, a position he had held for over 20 years. On March 28^th nearly 50 of his friends and colleagues were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence at the King’s Head Hotel in Bexley. Mr. L. G. Tunnah, London District General Manager, and a number of managers of branches in the London District were among those present.

1936 to 1957 Mr S E Lawrence Manager Close Up MBM-Su57P47.jpg The proceedings which preceded the presentation were introduced by Mr. T. J. W. Ivey, second-in-command at Bexley, who paid his own personal tribute to Mr. Lawrence. The presentation on behalf of the subscribers of a battery clock and a book token was made by Mr. R. G. Thorogood, Manager at Chislehurst. There was also a book of signatures. Mr. Tunnah then paid his own tribute on behalf of Mr. E. Norman-Butler and the General Management in London, and conveyed their good wishes for a long and happy retirement.

Mr. Lawrence expressed his thanks and said how happy he had been in the service of the Bank, and a bouquet was presented to Mrs. Lawrence, whom we were all delighted to see, by Miss P. Tidy, Bexley branch. Mr. Lawrence entered the Bank in 1915 and after service in the First World War 1915 to 1919, was posted to Bromley in 1919, being transferred to Swanley in 1921. He was appointed Pro Manager at Swanley in 1932, and Pro Manager at Sittingbourne the same year. His appointment as Manager at Bexley came in 1936.

1965 03 MBM.jpg 1957 to 1965 Mr A L Kirk Manager MBM-Au65P58.jpg A newcomer to golf who would now have plenty of time to improve his handicap. So Mr H. Ryder (District General Manager) described Mr Kirk, retiring as Manager of Bexley branch at the end of May. Mr Ryder was making the presentation of a cheque and book of signatures at the Kings Head, Bexley, where Mr Kirk, with his wife, son and daughter, was entertaining 70 colleagues including Mr S. W. P. Barter. After Mr Ryder had concluded with good wishes for the future Miss Stephen handed Mrs Kirk a bouquet.

Specifically avoiding reminiscences. Mr Kirk thanked everyone for the gift, adding that music as well as golf would have more of his attention in the future. Mr Kirk’s 44 years’ service was spent mostly in Kent branches, beginning at Bromley in 1921. His first appointment was as Pro Manager at Mottingham in 1939, followed by four years’ war service. After five years with the visiting inspectors he became Pro Manager at Holborn in 1953 and Manager at Bexley in 1957.

MARTINS BANK LIMITED

NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK



*Mr S E Lawrence* *Manager* *1936 to 1957*	Mr E D V Garrett *Joined the Bank Here* *1943 to 1945*	Mr D J Williams *Joined the Bank Here* *1945 to 1946*	Mr J Pope *Branch Second* *1947 to 1953*	*Mr G C Denton* *On the Staff* *1957 to 1959*	*Mr A L Kirk* *Manager* *1957 to 1965*



*Mr J A Jaques* *Manager* *1965 Onwards*