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Image © Martins Bank
Archive Collections |
In Service: 17 May 1956 until 15 December 1969
Image © Barclays Ref
0030-0490
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Martins Bank Magazine wastes no time in paying the staff an early visit. When you read their article below, it will probably seem quaint that the Bank’s Chief Accountant had already told off the new branch staff for using the locally accepted name Burton ON Trent, instead of UPON! It appears that as well as “going to extremes to be helpful”, the Bank also insisted on correctness in all things! These days there are perhaps more important matters with which to concern ourselves… Burton upon Trent, despite its useful corner aspect is surplus to requirements when Barclays and martins merge. However, the local Barclays at 168 High Street is also closed, and the business of both banks is transferred to new premises at 22/23 High Street.
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A single silver vase
of flowers kept on the table strikes just the right note. The office is very
light and airy, with large windows right down one side and along the front. The
floors upstairs are being fitted out for a large firm of solicitors and if
you want to see the very latest thing in decoration this is the place to
visit. Doors painted in pastel blue enamel, walls in various pastel shades,
with the fourth wall deep red, dark green and so on. You won't see anything
more modern in any of the London branch buildings which have been receiving
so much publicity, and the whole building, both branch and offices, is, in
its own style, as much a showplace as anything we possess and from its roof
outside the caretaker's flat a fine view over the town can be obtained in
every direction. We meet many interesting people on our travels and time
alone prevented us from making the acquaintance of someone whom we have
wanted to meet since boyhood days when at a seaside town we heard a comedian
describe a certain person's job as “painting spots on rocking horses”. |
Image © Barclays Ref
0030-0490 |
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Image © Barclays Ref
0030/0490 |
Well, most of the rocking horses are made
in Burton and as someone must paint the spots on them, we were obviously not
far from realising this little ambition. Another time, maybe! Thirty miles
away we once shook hands with a sagger maker's bottom knocker. The “What's My
Line?” organiser did not exhaust the possibilities of this part of the world
when he featured the last-named gentleman. The new branch is managed by a
very well-known personality, our old friend Mr. George L. Jackson, whose
activities first as Secretary and then as Chairman of the Staff Association
have earned both our gratitude and admiration. We went to his new home to
call for Mrs. Jackson who joined us for lunch. His house has several
attractive amenities including a flat roof which commands an excellent view
of the countryside, and his garden, a third of an acre in extent, is
attractively planned, well stocked and in excellent heart. Most garden lovers
would envy him. This branch is Mr.
Jackson's first appointment. All his
previous service having been in the Merseyside district, at Liverpool City
Office, Castle Street, Claughton Village, Trustee Department and 99 Stanley
Road. |
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We were
pleased to meet his two daughters, the elder of whom hopes to go to a
university and aspires to be an architect. The younger does not seem averse
to banking as a career. Mr. J. L. Alexander is second-in-command. He
commenced his career at Ulverston in 1936, going to Barrow in 1947 and
Walsall in 1949. Mr.
T. M. Brown decided to make a career of banking after initial experience with
the Rolls-Royce Company and entered the bank last year, first on Midland
District Office relief staff and then at Derby.
Miss
M. K. Brambley had only been in the Bank a week at the time of our visit and
by the time these notes appear she will have been joined by Miss A. G.
Miller. Miss Brambley, too, has had prior business experience. The new branch has made an
excellent start and we were most impressed with everything we saw. The whole
set-up is one of which to be proud. |
Image © Barclays Ref
0030-0490 |
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