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 Martins Bank’s Bangor Branch opens in 1963, at a time when Martins’ expansion into
the South, East and West of England and Wales is gathering pace. Between now and 1969 some of the most up to
date bank branches will be opened, offering new standards in comfort for both
staff and customers. Bangor is one of
a select few from this period that survives to the present day, celebrating on 6 June 2013, fifty years of service to
the customers aof Martins and Barclays.
Martins Bank Magazine visits Bangor not long after the branch openes
for business for the first time, and brings us this article in the Autumn
1963 edition…
“Education hungry
peasants and tradesmen”…
To most of us
the mention of Bangor brings to mind Telford's Suspension Bridge on the A5 to
Anglesey and summer holidays. To many
it is a Welsh market town between historic Caernarvon and Conway, yet few
realise that Bangor, with a population of a mere 14,000, is a city with a
cathedral founded early in the sixth century only to be destroyed and rebuilt
throughout the chequered history of Wales.
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Branch Images © Barclays Ref 30/89
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 Bangor's civic status is
enhanced by the academic atmosphere of the University College of North Wales – the ‘College on the Hill’ – built only eighty years ago with
money from education-hungry peasants and tradesmen. Not surprisingly,
therefore, Bangor is proud of what it has done and of what it is doing
to-day. It already has a museum, a technical college and a civic centre, but
space is Bangor's main difficulty. Lying between the Menai Straits and the
mountains of Snowdonia, there is little room for expansion and the narrow
High Street is already a problem but rebuilding has started. It is in the High Street on a
site which is at present a maze of steel girders that our permanent branch is
taking shape; for the present, we have a most attractive temporary office
less than one hundred yards away, which is a revelation of what can be done
in a very short time. Mr H. B. Howell Jones arrived in Bangor on May 23rd to
open our new branch, as Manager, on June 6th. He found the shell of a shop in
a new building, some scantling and two safes. There were no lights, no
telephone, no conduits, but there were some contractors and there was only a
fortnight to opening day with the Whitsun holiday intervening.
 The branch opened on time and
our Manager's modesty when questioned about events in that memorable
fortnight is best summed up in Thackeray's words: 'Although I enter not, Yet
round about the spot Oft times I hover.'
It was, in fact, all rather hair-raising but it is
quite possible that Mr Howell Jones has in recent years consoled himself with
the many soporific references to 'everything coming to those who wait.' He
may, therefore, have been prepared for everything coming at once when things
really began to happen. Almost within a year he has married, bought a new
house at Llanfairfechan, become a father, been elected a Fellow of the
Institute of Bankers, received his first managerial appointment and, of
course, opened a new branch. We hope he will now have time to consolidate his
position but, meanwhile, his many friends will be glad to know that his
urbanity and charm have not suffered as a result of his recent
experiences. Entering the Bank in 1928
at Manchester Office, Mr Howell Jones worked in the Manchester District until
he moved to Rhyl in 1939. In 1946 he went to Colwyn Bay where, since 1955, he
had been deputy to the manager. He attended the Domestic Training Scheme in
1960-61 and last year was Chairman of the North Wales (East) Area of the
Institute of Bankers. His interests range from debating and foreign travel to
ski-ing and climbing and as he is also Welsh speaking we can look forward
confidently to the success of the new branch.
 Mr D. W. S. Parry, who came
from Wrexham to occupy the second position also speaks Welsh. He entered the
Bank in 1947 at Wrexham and all his service has been spent there and at
Chester and Hoole branches with two periods on relief.He has already found a
bungalow at Benllech, in Anglesey, to which his family has moved, so his
energy and ability will have full scope in helping to build the new business.
Mr Colin Jones, a native of Wrexham, entered the service at Oswestry in 1961,
moving to Chester last year. He has somehow managed to find accommodation in
Bangor which is no easy task in view of the competition from the University
for suitable lodgings and is making the most of the opportunities to learn
as the new business grows. The young lady member of the staff, Miss L. A. Bowles, was unhappily away from
the office as the result of a very nasty road accident but she was back at
home after a spell in hospital and we were very ready to agree when Mr Howell
Jones suggested that arrangements for the photograph of the staff might be
deferred until she was sufficiently well to travel from her home beyond
Caernarvon. By the time this Magazine is published, we hope Miss Bowles will
be back in the team of enthusiastic pioneers at Bangor
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