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 With a liberal
sprinkling of apostrophes, Besses o’ th’ Barn sub-Branch at Whitefield, is
opened by Martins Bank in 1937. Although
like many of the other shops on Bury Old Road, the new Branch has been
converted from a previously substantial private dwelling, the Bank’s
Architect still manages to bring a feeling of security to the building, with
a fantastic stone facing to that ever popular bank branch device, the corner
entrance. During the Second World War, Besses o’ th’ Barn is managed by one
of many female Clerks in Charge, who step in as Managers in all but name to
help the Bank stay open…
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In Service: 23 August 1937 until
12 September 1988
Image © Barclays Ref 0030-3370
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Miss M A Lonsdale
features in our Staff Gallery below, and you can read more about the Wartime
female staff in our Martins at War feature: GENTLEMEN-THE LADIES. Besses o’ th’ Barn
survives the 1969 merger with Barclays and stays open for another twenty
years or so, closing in the Autumn of 1988. For our feature, we go back to
1968 - Retiring from forty-three years with the bank, and also just before
the merger, is Jack Lightfoot, who has been Clerk in Charge at Besses o’ th’
Barn since 1958. As ever, Martins Bank
Magazine is there to report on the festivities…
  retiring as Clerk-in-Charge of Besses
o' th' Barn branch after 43 years' service, Jack Lightfoot gave an informal
party at the Derby Hotel, Whitefield, on September 27. Some fifty of his
friends and colleagues, including Mr N. E. Foster and Mr F. Tunstall, were
present. After a buffet meal Mr
Derbyshire (Manager, Whitefield) spoke of the well-deserved esteem with which
Mr Lightfoot was regarded by staff and customers and of the loyalty and help
he had given four successive managers while at Besses o' th' Barn. Mr Derbyshire then presented a cheque which
would be used to buy a power mower, and Mrs Eileen Webb gave a bouquet to Mrs
Lightfoot. Mr Lightfoot responded with
characteristic sincerity, acknowledging with gratitude the gifts and good
wishes of his friends. Earlier that day he had been entertained to lunch at
Manchester District Office. With the
exception of five years with H.M. Forces his whole career had been spent in
the Manchester District, beginning at Accrington in 1925, and culminating in
his appointment as Clerk-in-Charge at Besses o' th' Barn in 1958.
Images © Barclays Ref 0030-3370
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