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 Martins
Bank first sets up shop in Guildford in 1939 under the management of Mr E
D R Whittaker, and operates from 150 High Street for the next twenty-one
years. In need of better premises, the
Bank secures 172 High Street and relocates the Branch in 1961. The image of the Branch is from a private
collection of Martins Bank’s Southern Counties Branches, which may be the
only photographs still in existence of some Branches as they were in the
1950s. (See also Reading) . Our staff
gallery below shows some of the staff who worked at the original branch site
up to 1961. The remainder can be seen
on our page for Guildford 172 High Street.
At the time of the move to no 172, the Manager is Mr R
C Reekie who is about to retire from Martins
after a long and distinguished career.
As usual, Martins Bank Magazine is on hand to record the goodbyes, and
the highlights of a forty-four year career…
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In Service:
12 March 1939 until 1961
Image © Martins
Bank Archive Collections - Geoff Taylor
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  Mr. R. G. Reekie, M.B.E., Manager at
Guildford since 1948, retired at the end of April after 44 years' service. To
mark the occasion he invited a number of his colleagues, including the staff
of the branch and their wives, to a cocktail party at the County Club,
Guildford, among those present being Mr. F. C. Hardman, London Assistant
District Manager; Mr. F. E. Gillham, Assistant Staff Manager (London), and
Mr. Swindlehurst. A tribute to Mr. Reekie's service was paid by Mr. Hardman
after which Mr. McOnegal, who has worked with Mr. Reekie during the entire
period of his management at Guildford, expressed the good wishes of the staff
and presented him with a camera and a book of signatures on their behalf.
Mrs. Reekie was presented with a bouquet. In his reply
Mr. Reekie thanked his staff for their loyal co-operation at all times.
Mr. Reekie commenced his banking career with Glyn
Mills in 1917 and entered Martins Bank in 1942 as Assistant Manager at
Oxford, being appointed Manager at Guildford six years later. He was awarded
the M.B.E., in 1958 and was elected to the Surrey County Council at the
recent election.
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