11-80-00 Bishop Auckland

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The North Eastern Banking Company opens its Branch at Bishop Auckland in 1897, and there follows run of eighty years of Banking service from this lovely old building, until Barclays relocates to another site in the town in 1977. Bishop Auckland is a full branch with no sub-Branches. The branch photograph appears to have been taken from an angle that suggests the photographer was leaning out of an upstairs window of a bus(!)

Almost as a reminder that although Martins is a NATIONAL bank, its Head Office and much of its operation is in the North, this mock-up cheque from the front of a Nationally distributed 1968 product leaflet proudly features the details of the Bank’s Bishop Auckland Branch.

This might be seen as a little more honest and direct perhaps than the “Anytown” used by many banks in similar literature, or indeed Barclays’ own fictitious “High Street, Caxton” branch! These days, when the words “a job for life” really are indicative of a past age, we can hardly imagine what it must be like to serve the same employer for more than forty years.

In Service: 1897 until 21 January 1977

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-0265

As we have seen in the many retirement features in the Archive, it is not uncommon for some Martins managers to have clocked up forty-five or more years.

1960 is a leap year, so when on 29 February Bishop Auckland Manager Mr Russell retires, the Bank effectively squeezes an extra day out of him! Martins Bank Magazine now reports on the events of Mr Russell’s last day in the Bank, and look out for the gentle sexism of the day when his wife is described as giving a “charming little speech” having accepted the gift of a bunch of flowers…

1960 02 MBM.jpg 1944 to 1960 Mr E B Russell Manager MBM-Su60P49.jpg Mr. E. B. Russell, Manager at Bishop Auckland, retired on February 29^th after 44 years’ service. Most of this time he spent in the South West area of Durham where he is widely known and very highly respected. Among his many activities he is a past, President of Bishop Auckland Rotary Club. He was appointed Manager at Wearhead in 1932, Manager at Crook in 1937 and at Bishop Auckland in 1944. Mr. L. J. Walton, District General Manager of the North Eastern District, arrived at the branch during the morning of the 29^th to express in person his good wishes for the future, and in the evening Mr. and Mrs. Russell entertained past and present colleagues to a dinner party held in the King’s Restaurant, Bishop Auckland. The guests included Mr. G. A. Weatherburn, Inspector, representing the District Management and, later on, Mr. W. S. Blaylock, Inspector, who called in on his way back from Darlington. Mr. S. Hading, on behalf of the subscribers, presented Mr. Russell with four sets of crystal glassware, and Mr. Weatherburn spoke a few words on behalf of the Management. Mr. Russell expressed his thanks and the guests were highly entertained by his anecdotes of the early days in the North Eastern Banking Company. In more serious mood Mr. Russell said that his chosen career in the Bank had given him a very full and satisfying life and the memories he had to look back on were stimulating and happy ones. He paid tribute to his staff, to his colleagues and to his wife, whose help and understanding had been a constant source of strength. At this point in the evening Miss Barbara Sutton presented Mrs. Russell with a bouquet for which she expressed her appreciation in a most charming little speech.



*Mr J G Shaw* *Joined the Bank Here* *1899 to 1909*	*Mr H Stitt* *On the Staff* *1908 to 1915*	*Mr E Farndale* *Joined the Bank Here* *1914*	*Mr T Hopper* *Joined the Bank Here* *1916 to 1919*	*Mr T Blenkinsopp* *On the Staff* *1918 to 1919*	*Mr S Surtees* *On the Staff* *1918 to 1922*



*Mr E B Russell* *Manager* *1944 to 1960*	*Mr R Morton* *Joined the Bank Here* *1950 to 1952*	*Mr K G Dixon* *On the Staff* *1952 to 1953*	*Mr R Russell* *Manager* *1960 to 1965*	*Mr A MacDonald* *Limited Authority* *1963 to 1966*	*Miss B P V Chisholm* *First Cashier* *1964*



*Mr F Bates* *Manager* *1965 onwards*	*Mr R Thompson* *Pro Manager* *1966*

	BARCLAYS BANK LIMITED 2 Branches		LLOYDS BANK LIMITED

	MARTINS BANK LIMITED		MIDLAND BANK LIMITED 3 Branches

	NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK		YORKSHIRE BANK LIMITED