|
 The
saga of Martins Bank’s Exeter Branches continues in April 1942, when, after
the destruction of 5 Bedford Street by German Bombs in the Baedecker air
raid, the staff must move into what are meant to be temporary premises in
Queen Street. The fact that the business is conducted here for nearly nine
years is an occupational hazard where Martins is concerned.
|
In Service: 1942 until 1951
|
|
Branches that are meant to be temporary have often had a
fairly long life of their own before the desired new premises are built and
occupied! When, for example, Martins opens its first branch in READING, those particular “temporary premises” are used for
around twenty-one years.
Western Morning News 16 June 1942
Image ©
Northcliffe Media Limited Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY
BOARD
Image reproduced with kind permission
of The British Newspaper Archive
|
The only visit paid by Martins Bank Magazine to any of
the Exeter Branches is in 1949, to the temporary Branch at Queen Street.
This is a shame, as some branches were visited two, even three times, and
sometimes as a result of having changed their location in respect of a
move, rebuild, etc..
When the staff from Martins Bank Magazine arrive at 6
Queen Strret, the dicsover that although Mr Collinge and his staff have
been there “temporarily” for seven long years, they are remarkably upbeat,
and the story begins with a recap of the work that followed the Baedecker
Air Raid of April 1942…
|
  Whilst at Torquay we went to Exeter to see Mr.
Collinge and his little crowd. Our original branch in Exeter suffered a
direct hit in the famous Baedeker raid on the city and the business is at
present conducted from temporary premises. Mr. Collinge was in charge of the
branch at the time of its destruction and helped with the work of digging
down to the strongroom. After the
demolition squad had finally cleared the entrance to the strongroom they
reported to him that all was clear. However, when he arrived with the keys to
open the door there was no sign of it. In the interval another bomb, which
had been quietly ticking away all the time the digging had been in progress
had exploded and completely buried the strongroom again. Exeter branch was
the last place in which we expected to find an Australian girl. Miss M. E.
Draper, who joined the service in 1944 was born in New South Wales and came
to this country for her education and has remained here ever since. The other
girl is Miss M. L. Pyne who joined our Staff in 1948. She is a local girl. Mr. Collinge himself has been Manager at
Exeter since 1945. He is an old Lancashire and Yorkshire man who started his career
at Bury in 1926 and served for varying periods at Whitefield, Heywood,
Oldham, Haslingden and Waterfoot before going to Exeter in 1939. From 1940 until he joined H.M. Forces in
1942 he was in charge of the branch during his predecessor's absence on
service. T. J. Stafford is
second man. He started his career at Southport in 1929 and after spells
at Liverpool City Office, Formby, 99
Stanley Road, Blundellsands and on Head Office Relief Staff, went to Exeter
on his return from military service in 1945. Of all the South-Western branches Exeter has to cope with the most
difficult office conditions but, though long drawn-out, this is only a
passing state of affairs and before long the Bank will once again be
represented by a building more in keeping with Bank standards.
Smart
Business…
|
|
|
|
|
|
Specially
printed cheques like these, are not just functional for the purposes of monetary
transactions. They are often little works of art which can also act as a
good form of advertising for your business. See our CORPORATE BANKING feature for more information…
|
Images © Martins Bank
Archive Collections
|
