11-92-80 Wakefield

Martins Bank 1928+

1928 does not only see new branches resulting from the amalgamation of the Bank of Liverpool and Martins with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank. The newly created Martins Bank gets to work immediately to open and plan even more outlets – some sixteen between 1928 and 1929. Of these some may well fulfil the previous commitments of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank, whislt others will be to gain new ground or consolidate in existing areas. Wakefield opens on the 16TH of February 1928, and immediately gains a sub branch at Wakefield Cattle Market, from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank. This wonderful Branch photograph is from 1941, and yes the bank IS advertising Government Bonds with a banner at least twice the size of its own Martins Bank signage! There was a war on, you know…

In Service: 16 February 1928 until 21 April 1978

1941 Wakefield Exterior BGA Ref 30-3034

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-3034

1928 Wakefield Listing - ARA MBA

Image © Barclays 1929

Extracs from Martins Bank Limited Annual Report and Accounts for 1929 © Barclays

Martins Bank’s Circulars throughout World War Two are full of instructions ordering staff to promote – at every possible opportunity – the take up of National Savings and Government Bonds. This is, effectively, an appeal to investors to help bankroll the war. We have two features from Martins Bank Magazine for Wakefield Branch. There is a branch visit at the beginning of 1951, and a very brief article with a staff group picture, from early in 1966…

1951 01 MBM.jpg On January 29th we paid our first visit to Wakefield, choosing one of the worst days of the winter to do so. Fog had reduced visibility to a few yards and frost made the air penetratingly keen. We were over two hours late in arriving and we could see nothing of the city apart from a few names in the gloom—The Bull Ring, Kirkgate, Northgate and Westgate in which our branch is situated. It was most tantalising to pass the cathedral precincts without seeing even the shape of a building in the fog. When we reached the branch Mr. Oldroyd was out looking for us and so we introduced ourselves to E. M. Ranson and Miss S. Moffatt, the other two members of the staff. Mr. Ranson served with the R.A.M.C. from 1940 to 1946, mostly in the Far East and part of the time trooping between India and Singapore. His previous service includes Bradford, Leeds, Castleford and Pontefract. He is keen on his job and having passed the Bankers' examinations is now tackling those of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries.

Miss Moffatt has only been in the Bank since last September and Wakefield is her first branch. In her spare time she takes an active part in the local Girl Guide movement. When Mr. Oldroyd returned we retired for lunch, there to deepen an acquaintanceship begun two years ago at the finals of the Directors' Golf Challenge Cup Competition; for Mr. Oldroyd is a good golfer and won the cup in 1949 and 1950, and is hoping to qualify again this year. Mrs. Oldroyd is a golfer too. Wakefield branch is his first appointment, his previous service being at Pontefract, Bradford, Hull and Bridlington. During the war he served with the Navy and had a very interesting job which started at Immingham, and took him successively to Murmansk, where he was shore based, then to New Guinea, the Philippines and finally to Hong Kong. His contacts with the Russians were of particular interest to us in view of the trend of events. He is now on the retired list with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander (S) and holds the Volunteer Reserve Decoration for long service, for he was in the R.N.V.R. before the war.

Our office at Wakefield, now in better premises than originally, is spacious and well-appointed and we were sorry that owing to the bad travelling conditions our visit had to be so brief.

1966 02 MBM.jpg Wakefield is the county town of the West Riding and was originally its main wool centre. Engineering, and old but valued farming connections and much private business help the branch today to counteract the pull of Leeds, Dewsbury and Huddersfield on family interests in a take-over age. Mining was one of the chief concerns of the branch before the Coal Board was born, but this old office houses youthful energy and still shows a welcome profit.



Mr A H Sutcliffe Manager 1938 to 1948	Mr W Oldroyd Manager 1948 to 1956	Mr F M Walker On the Staff 1948 to 1949	Mr T B Daniels On the Staff 1949 to 1950	Miss S Moffat On the Staff 1951	Mr E N Ranson On the Staff 1951



Mr J S Mason Manager 1956 to 1965	Mr G Sharpe Manager 1965 onwards	Mr R Horner On the Staff 1965	Miss J Firth On the Staff 1965	Miss S M Lumb On the Staff 1965	Mr J H Whiteley On the Staff 1965