11-87-50 Manchester Overseas

OUR SITE USES FRAMES TO ACHIEVE A NOSTALGIC LOOK – IF YOU CANNOT SEE A MENU TO THE LEFT OF THIS PAGE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE ‘HOME’ BUTTON ABOVE

A number of talented and dedicated staff provide the overseas services of Martins Bank, and many are gifted with knowledge of one or more foreign languages. It comes as a particular loss to the bank when these staff either move on or retire, as their skills are hard to resource. Although many of the Bank’s larger branches have their own foreign departments, and the ability to perform some foreign transactions, Martins has three dedicated overseas branches designed to serve the Bank as a whole – Chief Overseas Office is in London, support by Liverpool and Manchester Overseas Branches. Manchester Overseas is located at one end of the same building as Manchester District Office, the palatial former Head Office of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank at 47 Spring Gardens.

This building in Service:1934* until 12 December 1969

*but see also history at foot of page

1970 Manchester City Office exterior BGA Ref

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-1830

When Barclays and Martins Merge at the end of 1969, the business of Manchester Overseas is transferred to Barclays’ own Overseas Branch at 94 Portland Street. For our feature, we go back to 1966 when staff are saying goodbye to Mr C Holland whose record of service includes a staggering thirty-four years at Manchester Overseas…

1966 02 MBM.jpg 1952 to 1966 Mr C Holland Pro Manager MBM-Su66P57 on april 29 many of his colleagues and friends throughout the District gathered at Manchester Overseas branch to mark the retirement of Clarence Holland after 42 years in the Bank. Apart from war service, he spent 34 years in Overseas branch where he was appointed Pro Manager in 1952. After paying tribute to Mr Holland and mentioning particularly his fluency in many languages, Mr D. P. Wilson, the Manager, presented him with a watch on behalf of subscribers. Mr Holland spoke briefly and wittily in thanking his friends for their gift and he then entertained them to a party. Earlier in the day he had been entertained to lunch by his District General Manager.

We are indebted to Alan Thomond for his contributions to our “then and now” series – he has supplied a large number of contemporary photographs of Martins Bank’s Branches in and around Manchester. The shot below, taken in Spring 2016, shows the former premises of Manchester Overseas now occupied by the World famous Vivienne Westwood Store, but with the Martins Coat of Arms still defiantly flying the flag from the stonework on the side of the building! Nowadays too, things look a lot less sooty and grimy than they did in the 1960s…

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-1830



*Mr Clarence Holland* *On staff 1932 to 1966* *Pro Manager 1952 onwards*	*Mr J S Laver* *On the staff 1936-56* *and 1960*	*Mr H W Strong* *Pro Manager* *1946 to 1964*	*Mr S Herbert* *Manager* *1951 to 1961*	*Mr J F Hardman* *Assistant Manager* *1952*	*Mr J Tarbit* *Assistant Manager* *1952*



*Mr W L Cockburn* *Manager* *1961 to 1965*	*Mr B Butterworth* *Pro Manager 1964* *Assistant Manager 1968*	*Mr D P Wilson* *Manager* *1965 to 1967*	*Mr N C Gartside* *Pro Manager* *1966*	*Mr P A Cawsey* *Manager* *1967 to 1969*	*Mr A J Lonsdale* *Pro Manager* *1968*



*Mr W A Makeham* *Manager* *1969 onwards*