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 There were several good reasons why
Gosforth, of the various branches in the Newcastle area, should have been the
first to receive a visit in connection with this feature in the Magazine.
First of all, because the name McKendrick, well-known and honoured in the
Bank, has gained additional lustre through the activities of the present
manager, Mr. J. Cantley McKendrick, a cousin of our former Chief General
Manager; secondly, because Mr. H. Rowland Child, the second man, has helped
us from time to time and his humorous parodies have been among the best
things we have published. We also had the pleasure of the company of Mr. and
Mrs. McKendrick on our Italian Lakes holiday this year and this was the final
thing which resolved us to put off the visit no longer.
 Mr.
McKendrick is an amateur artist of no mean achievement. He is Chairman and
Treasurer of the Newcastle Society of Artists and his work has frequently
appeared in their annual exhibitions in the Halton Galleries. His work has
also been accepted for exhibition by the Pastel Society in London, and one of
his pictures was selected by the Arts Exhibition Bureau for exhibition all
over the country. We have been privileged to see samples of his work in our
own annual Autumn Exhibition at Head Office and have reproduced some of them
in this Magazine. Mr. McKendrick entered the Bank in 1911 and has served at
Dunston, Gallowgate, Corbridge, Quayside, Loftus and Chester-le-Street before
his appointment as Assistant Manager at Morpeth in 1929. He became Manager at
Gosforth in 1936. Mr. Child has spent most of his time in the North-Eastern
District, but he was in the London District for a short time during the last
war, when he was appointed Acting Manager at Southall. He is one of the
leading lights in Martins Bank Players and has acted as Producer and in other
capacities. The only other man at the branch is Mr. A. Pigdon, who entered
the Bank in 1941 and served in the R.A.F. from 1943 to 1947. Miss M. E. Hall
is the senior girl. She was a cashier at Newcastle City Office during the war
and takes second till at Gosforth now. The other three girls, aged 15, 17 and
19, respectively, are Audrey Richardson, Audrey Elford and Joan Davison. They
help to make an extremely happy office. We had the pleasure of visiting Mr.
and Mrs. McKendrick in their home and, later, of entertaining them in
Newcastle before our return.
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  Mr. and Mrs.
McKendrick were “At Home” to banking
colleagues and friends at a delightful little gathering in the rooms of the
Northern Architectural Association on April 29th. The walls were adorned with
many fine examples of Mr. McKendrick's artistic skill. Light refreshments
were served, and at an appropriate point in the proceedings Mr. H. R. Child
presented Mr. McKendrick with a cheque representing donations made by past
and present colleagues. Mr. Child spoke of the friendly and warm-hearted
qualities which had always endeared Mr. McKendrick to his colleagues and to
his staff. In his reply Mr. McKendrick spoke of his many happy years in the
Bank. He had, however, an absorbing hobby which he relied on to save him from
the boredom which seemed to afflict many men in retirement. He proposed with the proceeds of the cheque
to buy a pedestal for his television set, and a cabinet for his artistic
materials, and the contemplation of these articles would always remind him of
his loyal and generous colleagues. Mr. and Mrs. McKendrick were known to a
wider circle of colleagues through their participation in the Bank Party to
the Italian Lakes in 1951. We remember with affection this kind and sensitive
man and his charming wife and join with our North-Eastern colleagues in
wishing them much happiness in the years to come. Mr. McKendrick entered the
Bank in 1911 and served at Dunston, Gallowgate, Corbridge, Quayside, Loft us,
Chester-le-Street and Gosforth before his appointment as Assistant Manager at
Morpeth in 1929. He was appointed Manager at Gosforth in 1936. He served with
H.M. Forces from 1916 to 1919.
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