11-60-40 Hexham

By 1875 the North Eastern Banking Company has embarked on a policy of expansion, the effects of which are still felt today through Barclays’ presence in the North East. At this time, the NEBC has plans to open at Allendale Town, Brotton, Amble, Consett, Lofthouse and has just opened a Branch at Hexham. Inevitably for a branch of its age Hexham is, by the early 1960s, in need of some tender loving care. It becomes one of a number of branches in the North East to undergo a complete transformation. Some Branches are pulled down and rebuilt, some are re-located and others, like Hexham, are given a complete modernisation.

In Service: 8 June 1874 until 1 March 2024

Image © Barclays Ref 0030-1297

In 2010 we were sent images of the branch BEFORE its refurbishment, by Elsie Altass, who, when she was Elsie Robson worked at Hexham and can be seen in one of the images. We also have a number of AFTER images from our friends at Barclays. Taken together, these pictures really demonstrate what a difference is made by a makeover…

Before…

Left: The Old Counter. Right: Hard at Work Anne Auld, Doris Bell, Elsie Robson, Rita Swaddle, Gilbert Hunter and Lorna Sewell

After…

Image © Barclays Ref 0030/1297

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection

Images © Barclays Ref 0030/1297

Behind the scenes, things do look a little bare to say the the least. No doubt today’s health and safety buffs would have a field day with those electric fires, not to mention the swivel chairs with the dodgy looking leg arragement. It will be the 1980s before the banks start to use chairs with FIVE legs (not quite so easy to fall off, apparently). Look! – isn’t that a trailing telephone wire? That must surely be an insurance claim waiting to happen! What we should of course remember, is that this was all that was needed to run a large branch with efficiency over a long period, at a time when people were sensible and looked out for themselves and each other without the need for “health and safety” nor its inevitable litigation! Over the years Hexham supports a number of sub-Branches: Corbridge, Riding Mill and Stocksfield Branch End of which only Stocksfield makes it past the 1969 merger with Barclays, only to be closed early in 1971. For our feature, we re-visit the retirement celebrations of two consecutive Managers of the Branch, Mr Luke Wanless (from 1948 to 1957) and Mr G W Gibson (from 1957 to 1969)…

1957 03 MBM.jpg At the end of July Mr. Luke Wanless, Manager at Hexham since 1948, retired. He had been absent through illness since January and was unable to resume his duties before retirement. Because of this he slipped away from our midst without fuss or formality and it is left to us to place on record our appreciation of his services over a period of 42 years. 1948 to 1957 Mr Luke Wanless Manager MBM-Au57P56 Mr. Wanless entered the service in 1915 at West Cornforth and in 1917 went to Newcastle upon Tyne. From 1917 to 1920 he served with H.M. Forces in the First World War, returning to Newcastle in 1920. He also served at Loftus and Chester-le-Street in between further spells at Newcastle, and in 1932 came his first appointment as Manager at Haltwhistle. In 1934 he was made Manager at Rothbury, remaining there until his promotion to Hexham. We hope that his health will improve in retirement and that he will enjoy many happy years of leisure.

Image © Martins Bank Archive Collection

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1969 01 MBM.jpg 1957 to 1969 Mr G W Gibson Manager MBM-Sp69P56 at Hexham Golf Club on December 30 Mr and Mrs Gibson entertained more than fifty past and present colleagues, including Mr W. Weatherill, Mr R. P. Gordon and Mr C. T. Norman-Butler. Opening the formal proceedings, Mr Brian Smith, second-in-command at Hexham, spoke of the many good wishes he had been asked to convey to Mr and Mrs Gibson on behalf of customers and members of staff unable to be present. Mr Weatherill then presented a cheque to Mr Gibson, congratulating him on his success as a branch manager and tracing his career through 45 years' service. He had joined the Bank at Sedgefield and, apart from over four years' war service, he spent all his time in the North Eastern District. He became Manager at Wooler in 1949 and at Hexham in 1957. Replying, Mr Gibson thanked his staff and all those who had supported him through the years, not least his wife. She received a bouquet from Miss Moss. Mr and Mrs Gibson are remaining in Hexham where they have many interests.



*Mr A W Keenlyside* *Joined the Bank Here* *1915 to 1933*	*Mr J W Bell* *Manager* *1927 to 1948*	*Mr R Doxford* *On Staff 1932 to 1943* *Pro Manager 1936-43*	*Mr R D Batey* *Joined the Bank Here* *1944 to 1946*	*Mr Luke Wanless* *Manager* *1948 to 1957*	*Mr F Stoker* *Pro Manager* *1952 to 1954*



*Mr G A Welsh* *Pro Manager* *1954 to 1956*	*Mr G W Gibson* *Manager* *1957 to 1969*	*Mr G W Hunter* *On the Staff* *1960*	*Mr R Hunter* *Pro Manager* *1962 to 1964*	*Mr D R Sergeant* *Pro Manager* *1964 to 1966*	*Miss A P Dobson* *Cashier* *1965*



*Mr B Smith* *Pro Manager* *1966*	*Mr D W Air* *Manager* *1969 onwards*