|
 In
what turned out to be the coldest winter for many a long year, the UK
shivered its way into 2010 happy in the knowledge that the rapidly crumbling
road surfaces could at least be gritted.
That is until the shock news that the country “might run short of
salt”. Winsford makes the national
headlines as it promises to divert supplies that were due to be exported to
Europe, so that the UK’s road network might still be put first. This is just the sort of calm reaction that
seems also to have been apparent in the 1960s, when Martins Bank’s still very new branch at Winsford has
troubles of its own. Martins Bank
Magazine visits the branch about a year after it first opens.
|
In Service: December 1967 until 26
October 1973
Branch
Images © Barclays Ref 0030-3244
|
|
Bearing in mind what we said earlier about the Winter of 2010, were quite
surprised to find that the Magazine’s Winsford feature has a strangely prophetic title…
WINSFORD WITHOUT SALT
 ‘I suppose all new branches have their teething troubles,
but to arrive one morning to find the place on fire . . . well, that really
was a nasty shock.' David Rogal was talking about the incident that happened a
month after he opened our branch at Winsford in Cheshire in December of last
year. The heating system which feeds warm air through ceiling vents developed
a fault overnight: by morning the corner of the office that houses the
machines was alight. From a small cardboard box Mr Rogal took two pieces
of charred wood, remains of one of the beams.
But that was nearly a year ago; today, the Winsford
staff are busy dealing with their growing business from premises in the
town's new shopping centre. We couldn't see the branch as we approached the
centre from the main road as it is tucked inside the pedestrian precinct.
Instead we were confronted by the imposing frontages of two of our
competitors. However, like so many of Winsford shoppers, we made our call by
car and in so doing discovered Martins' hidden asset—a
rear entrance giving on to the main free car park. ‘So many of our customers use the back entrance I'm
convinced it's proving an advantage,' said David Rogal.
|
|
|
|
Branch
Images © Barclays Ref 0030-3244
|
Not
many years ago in Winsford a new branch bank would have experienced
difficulty in gaining even its first customer. The once prosperous centre of Cheshire's
famous salt mines was in the doldrums, for only one mine remained and no
other major industry had come to the town. Then came the turning point. In 1961 Winsford embarked on
a scheme of expansion which included the creation of a trading estate and,
over a number of years, the housing of some of Liverpool's overspill
population. Though the town is just outside the Merseyside Development Area
its expansion has enabled it to offer industry the full range of Government
grants and so attract to the trading estate some of the country's biggest
concerns. The industrialists have found
Winsford well placed geographically—less than thirty
miles from Merseyside and Manchester, just six miles from the M6 motorway to
the west Midlands, and close to the electrified Liverpool-London rail link.
Within fifteen years Winsford's 20,000 population is expected to reach
70,000.
 'Winsford—an expanding town’
says the road sign as
you cross the boundary line—and that is no exaggeration. And David Rogal
wants to keep on saying the same about his branch. His career since he
joined the Bank in 1949 has taken him to many Manchester District branches
and latterly included two years on inspection staff. He attended the Senior
Training Course in spring this year. Nowadays
golf and photography—and a new-born son—keep his spare time
filled, though living quite near Oulton Park, where he once took a racing car
driver's course, keeps alive his interest in motor sport. Gaining and retaining
business at the counter is Robert Davies who finds a new branch a distinct
change from a well-established office like Nantwich where he joined the Bank
in 1965. He was an enthusiastic footballer until two broken ankles put him
out of the game: now he contents himself playing cricket for Crewe L.M.R.
team. His other interest is the theatre. The feminine touch is provided by Mrs
Christine Woodward who is enjoying the variety of work offered by the small
branch. In her limited leisure time she enjoys a game of badminton. David Wood was attached
to the staff as a trainee after entering at Sale branch in September. He too
is a sportsman and plays rugby for a local club. As the accompanying photograph shows, Winsford has
counter screens which are known on occasions to distort customers' words. One
day the Winsford staff thought they were about to open an account for a town
clerk until in the barrier-free atmosphere of Mr Rogal's room the new
customer proved to be a time clerk.
“All in a day's work”, as somebody once said.
|
