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 The Bank’s buildings are often elaborate, some
palatial, some tiny, many a talking point, but it is only when you fill these
buildings with the memory of helpful Martins staff, that they really are
brought back to life. Heckmondwike provides us with three stories from
Martins Bank Magazine – each one is about a member of the staff – one at the
start of her career, and two others who end their service at Heckmondwike…
Supergirl…
  Miss
Barbara P. Sharpe, who, on leaving school last September joined the staff of
Heckmondwike branch, has won the Grand Prior Badge, the highest award for St.
John Ambulance cadets and received
this award from Princess Margaret, Commandant-in-Chief
of the St. John Ambulance Brigade Cadets, at the headquarters of the Brigade
in London. She is the daughter of Mr. R. Sharpe, a Cashier at our Cleckheaton
branch. Barbara was for six years
a student of the Heckmondwike Grammar School and has been a keen member of the
Gomersal St. John Nursing Cadets for a similar period, during which she has
successfully passed twelve examinations, gaining the requisite number of
proficiency certificates to qualify for the award. These include Home
Nursing, Child Welfare, Hygiene, Clerical Ability, Care of Animals, Fire
Fighting, The History of the Order of St. John, Interpretership (qualifying
as linguist in French), Cookery, (three
separate graded examinations) and Handicraft. Apart from her individual
prowess, Barbara has captained a team from Gomersal St. John Ambulance
Brigade Cadets which has been successful in winning the Anne Smith Cup for
First Aid and Home Nursing open to all Spen Valley Corps of the Brigade; the
Wheatleys Cup for First Aid, an open competition and the Carrington Cup for
First Aid and Home Nursing, competed for by Brigades throughout the South
Western area of Yorkshire. Barbara's mother
is divisional superintendent of the Gomersal Nursing Division of St. John
Ambulance Brigade.
Images
© Barclays Ref 0030-1264
A
retirement party…
  A large number of Mr. Heaton's colleagues
attended a party at his home on the eve of his retirement at the end of
November to have a very jolly evening and to present him with a walnut hall
and card table. The presentation was made by Mr. L. Fisher who had worked
with Mr. Heaton for over 20 years previous to his own retirement early last
year. He paid tribute to Mr. Heaton's genial qualities and all the members of
his staff voiced their appreciation of his kindness and friendliness to them. In addition to nearly all Mr. Heaton's past and present
staff being present, Manchester was represented by Mr. H. Blundell and Mr. Herbert.
Two others from over the Pennines were Mr. Pickup and Mr. Fisher. Mr. Dyson
(Dewsbury), Mr. Taylor (Cleckheaton), Mr. Slater (Batley), and Mr. Mallinson
(Shipley) were also present. Mr. Heaton's old friend and colleague, Mr. Owen,
late Manager of Market Place, Huddersfield, was there to welcome him to the
band of pensioners. Miss Sykes, a member of
the Heckmondwike staff, presented Mrs. Heaton with a bouquet and Mr. and Mrs.
Heaton both made happy responses to the many tributes paid to them. Mr. Heaton entered the service of the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Bank in 1912 and was appointed Manager at Heckmondwike in 1934.
Three former Managers
- still alive!
  At the end of October Mr. I. Binns retired
after 43 years' service and to mark the occasion he and Mrs. Binns held a
cocktail party at Prospect Hall, Cleckheaton. Seven managers from
neighbouring branches, two retired managers and a number of other colleagues
and pensioners were present, and, of course, the members of the staff at
Heckmondwike. The presentation of a
nest of tables was made on behalf of the subscribers by Mr. Barber, second in
command at Heckmondwike, who spoke warmly of the long and loyal service of
Mr. Binns. Owing to fog it was not possible
for any representative of the Manchester District General Management to
attend but Mr. Leake (Manager, Huddersfield) conveyed the good wishes and
thanks of Mr. Tonge. After Mr. Binns had responded Mr. Heaton and Mr. Dyson
added their tributes and Mr. Heaton mentioned that there would now be three
former managers of Heckmondwike branch still alive. Mrs. Pyrah then presented
a bouquet to Mrs. Binns. A few days earlier Mr. Binns was entertained to
lunch at Spring Gardens by Mr. Tonge. Mr.
Binns entered the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank in 1917. He served at Batley
from 1923-1937, and at Dewsbury from 1937 until 1954, apart from service with
H. M. Forces, 1942-1946. He was
appointed Manager at Heckmondwike in 1954.
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There is no contemporary photograph of Heckmondwike here,
rather we compare two earlier versions of the building at 36 Market Place –
1922 and 1950. Not surprisingly, there is not too much difference, although
one of them is in desperate need of a clean!
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Image ©
Martins Bank Archive Collections
– The W N
Townson Bequest
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Image
© Barclays Ref 0030/1264
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