11-13-40 Great Crosby

A building with character – that’s Martins Bank’s Branch at Great Crosby, opened in 1901 by the Bank of Liverpool. Just for once we can forgive them for not locating the Branch on a corner. The “Mock Tudor” look, has always been a favourite of Martins, and is reflected in the design of several new branches in the 1950s and 60s.

Whilst Great Crosby’s building still draws customers, it is as a public house, rather than a bank, as Barclays moved the business to a location nearer to the hub of Great Crosby’s shopping area. At the end of August 1964, another of Martins’ great characters, Mr Moncrieff retires after a collosal 48 years in the service of the bank, and he actually commenced that service under the Bank of Liverpool itself!

In Service: 1901 until 1992

Branch Images on this page © Barclays Ref 0030-1107

1955 to 1964 Mr A D Moncreiff Manager MBM-Wi64P51.jpg 1964 04 MBM.jpg mr moncreiff's retirement from the management of Great Crosby branch at the end of August was marked by a gathering at the branch of some 40 past and present colleagues, many of whom had travelled a long way. Mr I. Buchanan (Liverpool District General Manager) said he welcomed the opportunity to salute a remarkable colleague—a Glaswegian, the oldest serving member of the staff, and one who shared with the Chief General Manager the distinction of being the last of the management from the original Bank of Liverpool. Of Mr Moncreiff's 48 years' service, 30 had been spent as a manager and it was no breach of confidence to state that his starting salary in 1916 was £25 per annum and that it took him five years to reach £100 per annum! He was a founder-member of Head Office Staff Department in 1926 and though his first management came at the age of 34—a considerable distinction in those days—he was still regarded as the fittest, youngest and most debonair of our managers.

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collections

He thanked Mr Moncreiff most warmly on behalf of the General and District Management and wished him and his wife every happiness in retirement. Mr Moncreiff was presented with a cheque to which many friends had subscribed and Mrs Moncreiff was handed a bouquet by Miss Margaret Harrison.

In a short speech Mr Moncreiff thanked Mr Buchanan not only for the kind things he had said but for not saying much that he might have said. He was grateful to the Bank for many things, notably the number of friends he had been able to make on both sides of the counter. He referred particularly to his colleagues over the years and included a gracious tribute to Mrs Pitt for her care of the branch premises. In conclusion Mr K. Harris-Hughes (Manager, Cardiff) expressed the thanks of all present to Mr and Mrs Moncreiff for their generous hospitality and wished them well, adding that young people like Mr Moncreiff never retire—they merely change their mode of life. Mr Moncreiff entered the service at Central branch, Liverpool, in 1916, serving at several branches in the Liverpool area and as a visiting inspector before joining Head Office Staff Department in 1926. In 1935 he was appointed Manager at Colwyn Bay and moved to Great Crosby as Manager in 1955.



*Mr F A Dew* *Joined the Bank Here* *1905*	*Mr R H B Whittam* *Joined the Bank Here* *1927 to 1928*	*Mr N A Milroy* *Manager* *1935 to 1955*	*Mr W A Inglis* *Joined the Bank Here* *1949 to 1950*	*Mr W J M Scott* *Ltd Auth 1955 to 1959* *Manager 1964 onwards*	*Mr A D Moncreiff* *Manager* *1955 to 1964*



*Mr C G S Tiffin* *Pro Manager* *1959 to 1964*	*Miss Valerie Tilley* *On the Staff* *1962*	*Mr J D Winckles* *Pro Manager* *1964 to 1965*	*Mr A M Lee* *Pro Manager* *1965*