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Lewis’s Glasgow Store opens in 1929, just under thirty years before Martins’ acquires the Banking business, taking its first and only foothold in Scotland. The sheer size of the Department Store in Argyle Street is illustrated in this wonderful advertisement (right) from the Glasgow Evening Telegraph in 1938. “Remember! A visit to Glasgow means a visit to Lewis’s” proclaims the ad, before telling us about the amazing value we can expect –

{When in Glasgow, do as Glasgow does – go to LEWIS’S, Scotland’s greatest department store! You’ll be amazed and delighted with the quality and value you get at Lewis’s. Only because they buy in bulk for seven huge stores, can Lewis’s offer the values that they do – values in Fashions, men’s and children’s wear – values for the Home such as you have never seen! When you come to Glasgow you’re sure to find Dundee friends all over Lewis’s – taking advantage of the marvellous values on the shopping floors and enjoying a refreshing meal in the famous Restaurant – you’ll join them of course.}

Doing “as Glasgow does” brings to mind a very long queue - perhaps several times round the building - as the entire population turns out for a four course lunch in the Store’s restaurant, serenaded by Jack Chapman and his Band. All that, for the princely sum of 1/6 (that’s one shilling and sixpence – £0.075 or about US$0.12 what a bargain!)

Glasgow Evening Telegraph - 8 April 1938

Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd.

Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD

OUR visit to Glasgow on 18th March was something of an occasion. By the purchase of Lewis's Bank we acquired our only branch in Scotland and the branch in Glasgow is thus the outpost of outposts, a position at one time held by Berwick upon Tweed and Plymouth. Plymouth gave way to Truro, but from the point of view of isolation Glasgow now has it. The Truro staff are part of the South Western District and can attend the annual staff dinner, but Glasgow is in no District and contact is maintained by the visits of Mr. G. A. M. Lee, General Manager of Lewis's Bank, by the Inspectors on their periodic rounds and by the occasional visits of Head Office officials. There are eleven on the staff, nine of them ladies, and we had the pleasure of meeting them all except Miss E. Thompson who was unfortunately absent through illness.

Miss Thompson has been with the Bank seven years. The Manager is Mr. J. A. Whyte who commenced his business career before the Second World War with a firm of asbestos manufacturers, entering the Bank at its Manchester office in 1947. He served with H.M. Forces from 1939-1946 with the Royal Corps of Signals, mainly in India, where he transferred to the Indian Airborne Division, obtaining the rank of Captain, and piled up about a score of parachute jumps to his credit.

Mr. Whyte was appointed Manager at Leicester in 1949 and at Glasgow in 1951. We were interested to note that he displays his Certificate of the Institute of Bankers on the wall of his room, as is the custom among solicitors, accountants and estate agents. It is the first time we have seen it done in a bank. The only other male member of the staff is the junior, Mr. D. J. King, who entered the Bank last year, thereby making history by being the first male clerk to be employed in the branch since it was opened in 1929. The senior lady is Miss M. M. Donald (Mrs. Watson) who has been in the Bank for 25 years and in the Store for several years before that.

In the event of the Manager's temporary absence for some reason, Miss Donald takes charge of the office. Of course, in case of holidays or illness, a relief Manager has to be sent from England. The regular cashiers are Miss Donald and Miss I. Hogg (Mrs. Clark). Miss Hogg has been with the Bank ten years. Miss E. Campbell is typist for Mr. Whyte: she has four years' service to her credit. The other girls are Miss L. C. Reid (Mrs. Byrne) with seven years' service; Miss M. E. Gow (Mrs. Murdoch), with eight years' service; Mrs. F. I. Ellison, seven years' service; Miss H. Ferns, two years' service; and Miss M. Cosgrove, two years' service.

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections – Stephen Walker

Miss Cosgrove and Miss Reid entered the Bank from the Store. The Children's Counter at the Lewis's Bank branches always interests us. In Glasgow a huge pillar divides the counter so effectively that it has been necessary to place a large mirror on the wall of the customers' space facing the counter so that the cashiers can see what is going on on either side of the pillar. The division is unequal and the smaller part of the counter is reserved for the Childrens' Counter, but instead of it being lower than the main counter as in other branches, a little platform has been placed in front of it for the convenience of small depositors! Curiously enough, at this branch most children prefer to use the grown-up counter and the Childrens' Counter as such is not very active. Mechanisation has not reached this branch yet and the desks are all of the high variety. The Bank conforms to the general Scottish pattern by being open for business at 9.30 a.m., but unlike the other banks which close their doors for an hour for lunch, remains open until 3 p.m. It is also open on a Saturday afternoon, but is closed on a Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Whyte will be only too pleased to welcome any members of our staff who care to call in if they happen to be in Glasgow.

Miss E Campbell On the Staff 1960	Miss F I Ellison On the Staff 1960	Miss H Ferns On the Staff 1960	Miss I Hogg On the Staff 1960	Miss L C Reid On the Staff 1960	Miss M Cosgrove On the Staff 1960
Miss M Donald On the Staff 1960	Miss M E Gow On the Staff 1960	Mr D J King On the Staff 1960	Mr J A Whyte Manager 1960	Mr G K Dunn Manager 1964	Miss Mary Donnelly Cashier 1966

Sort Code: and/or National Number: Title: Address: Telephone Number: Manager:

88-05-00 Not Held Glasgow 97 Argyle Street Glasgow G2 CENtral 1029 Mr G K Dunn

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