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We travelled to King's Lynn on July 6th and, once again, our travel plans seem to have caused the maximum amount of inconvenience, for the train by which we chose to travel was scheduled to take so much time on the last stage of its journey that Mr. Goodband motored out to Sutton Bridge and collected us there—a very pleasant way from our point of view of doing the last thirteen miles of the journey. The day of our visit was not one of the market days and we were able to see this very busy little place under much more pleasant conditions than when its extremely narrow and tortuous streets are crowded with vehicles and people. King's Lynn is unusual in being the possessor of two market places: The Tuesday Market and The Saturday Market. The former is a fine square in which all the big banks are situated: the latter is smaller, more picturesque and the stalls display their colourful wares in the shadow of the fine old twin-towered church of St. Margaret's and of the ancient Guildhall in which repose King John's Cup and Sword and the Regalia (not that lost in the nearby Wash). At the entrance to the church one notices flood levels marked on the stones of the porchway, the 1953 stone recording the fact that the church stood in several feet of water. A calculation showed that if our branch had been there in 1953 it too would have been flooded. There is also an important cattle market and a tiny fishing fleet, but though there are about a hundred butchers' shops in the town, fish is hard to come by; a fact which struck us as being rather curious.
We first had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Goodband on the occasion of our visit to Oxford branch in 1950. On that occasion we said about him: “We are all familiar with the man who doesn't know what he wants but is fed up with what he has got, and it is refreshing to meet a man who knew what he wanted and having got it is determined to enjoy it.” The remarks still stand, and have turned out to be prophetic for he assures us that they have been fulfilled.
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A native of nearby Grantham, he is now batting on his home ground, more or less. But while he likes being where he is, Mr. Goodband has that disposition which enables him to settle happily anywhere and to make the best of his circumstances whatever they may be. In this he is ably supported by his wife, a Londoner, but not one of those parochial Londoners who cannot be happy away from the Capital. We were very pleased to meet her and to have the pleasure of entertaining them both to dinner. Mr. P. J. Thorpe, second-in-command, commenced his service at Brighton in 1936 and after over six years' war service and a further spell at Brighton, went to Fenchurch Street in 1950. Housing has its own special difficulties in King's Lynn, there being little new building, and the competition of nearby American Air Force stations for available existing accommodation has rendered the position extremely tight and prices somewhat exorbitant. At present, while the search is on, Mr. Thorpe has left his wife in Ipswich with her people and he and the third man, Mr. N. H. Harvey, are living in a caravan on the outskirts of the town. Miss S. E. Vince is a local girl who has been with us since the branch opened. She has entered happily into the scheme of things and enjoys her work.
Retiring without ceremony as Manager of King’s Lynn Branch on July 31 after nearly 44 years’ service, Mr Prentice entertained friends and colleagues at his home where he was presented with a cheque. Entering the service at Dartford in 1923, he had spent all his banking life in the London district with the exception of the war years. Pro Manager at Soho Square in 1948, and at Gracechurch Street in 1952, he spent six years as a visiting inspector before being appointed in 1962 as Manager at King’s Lynn where his friendliness and approachability were always appreciated.
Mr C H Goodband Manager 1956 to 1962	Mr P J Thorpe Branch Second		Miss S E Vince Staff Member 1956	Mr N H Harvey Third Man 1956 to 1957
Mr E C G Prentice Manager 1962 to 1967	Mr J R Thorogood Manager 1967 onwards
Title:		11-17-50 King’s Lynn
Type:		Main Branch
Address:		103a High Street King’s Lynn Norfolk
Hours:		Mon to Fri 1000-1500
		Saturday 0900-1130
Telephone:		King’s Lynn 3368
Services:		Nightsafe Installed
Manager:		J R Thorogood Manager
© gut informiert! 2007 to date