In Newsletter No. 73 we asked if anyone could name the Local/Managing Directors who BAAKO FRAFRA worked for in Accra, Ghana. Thank you for the numerous responses which produced the following names.
MIKE BOREHAM JULIAN WATHEN FRANK DOLLING
TUBBY PEARCE LOUIS MOREL GEOFF HOLDER
DON MILES GEORGE DAVY JOHN KERSLAKE
JOHN DUCKETT CHARLES MABON JOHN PHILIP
DAVID BROOKES EDDIE HILL IAIN KNAPMAN
Writing from Australia DENIS AUSTIN reports that he has taken up martial arts, practising karate, kick boxing and boxing so as to challenge himself and keep exercising. Denis has travelled on the Ghan Express from Adelaide to Darwin and from Sydney to Perth on the India Pacific train. Whilst working on Inspection Denis visited 20 countries with Barclays and after spells in the South Pacific and Europe retired from Dubai to Australia.
More from Australia. JEAN BANNISTER left 168 Fenchurch Street in 1983 after which she and her husband relocated to Singapore, which she says was a great base for travelling around the Asia Pacific area. For many years Jean’s husband commuted from Singapore to Tokyo, a city that remains one of her favourites. Jean moved to Perth in 1996, is a very keen golfer and a member of the GOAT’s Golfing Society with whom she has played many fabulous courses in Australia, Mauritius and Singapore. In 2015 Jean attended the BIPC November lunch, her first re-union with former colleagues since she left Barclays and kindly invites any BIPC golfers passing through Perth to play at her Club, the Cottesloe Golf Club. By the way GOAT stands for “Girls On Another Tour”!
The passing of Mike Mitchell reported in the last Newsletter brought back memories of a lunch at Lords Cricket Ground hosted by JOHN KERSLAKE to mark the 90th birthday of our Club’s longest serving Secretary, the late JOHN BETTLEY. Mike was a whizz on cricket statistics and mentioned that MARK TRESS was the only person in the party who had batted at Lords, but as the umpire called “play” one minute before the scheduled start of the match and Mark was bowled first ball, technically he was out before the match started. Mark challenges this statement saying that in July 1953, when schools cricket was still played at Lords, he did in fact make his way to the wicket over the hallowed turf, took guard, but was clean bowled third, not first ball. He distinctly remembers that as he returned to the pavilion the clock stood at 11.32a.m. The crowd was estimated at around 50, of whom twenty three were Mark’s relations!
MOSTYN LLOYD writes to say that on 31 August 2015 he retired from his last banking position. He joined Barclays on 15 February 1945 so has 70 years 6 months banking service under his belt. Can any member beat that? Mostyn worked for Barclays in the UK, Ghana, the United States and Canada taking his pension in 1989 when he and SUSAN decided to retire to San Francisco where Mostyn accepted directorships of a number of Californian banks.
EDRED BOWMAN has been appointed Assistant Chaplain to The Royal British Legion, Shaftesbury. In October Edred conducted a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at Poole Crematorium for the life of MIKE REAVELEY which was attended by 56 members of the “BIPC family”. Mike was a great supporter of BIPC and a regular attendee at all Club functions.
PETER ADAMS recalls that on the 20th February 1961 he reported to Mr. Bailey the Staff Manager of LOBS who escorted him to the Foreign Exchange Department to commence his career in DCO. The FOREXCH Manager was KEN FOWLER, his deputy JOHN EVANS. Peter now frequents the Victoria Arms, Brentwood where he met up with RON REED who married VAL ADAMS (no relation) the f/x cashier. Sadly Ron died recently, but in particular they used to reminisce about the successful DCO football team, managed by TOMMY SUMNERS, and fellow players JOHN DINES, LES and ALLEN BURGESS and JOHN PERDRISAT. Do other members have memories of the DCO football team, a keen supporter of which was the then Vice Chairman, DONALD CARTER, and those who played for the team in the Northcott Cup which they won in 1969.
DARRELL BARNES escaped the lunacy of the “salariat” many years ago, since when he has been Trustee of the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, an External Trustee of the University of London Union and, when not writing short stories and poetry, supports the Boat Club of his alma mater, St. Edmund Hall, Oxford. Last year Darrell trained to be a guide at Chelsea Physic Garden, a post he did not take up since he would have been prohibited from poisoning irritating visitors!
In October SALLY and RICHARD UNWIN celebrated their Ruby Wedding Anniversary on a cruise from Montreal down to Florida. Sally had always wanted to see the New England colours in the “Fall” and reports that they lived up to expectations. In Miami they caught up with former colleagues from Miami Branch, GONZALO VALDES FAULI, ENRIQUE ARIAS and TERESITA BERNACE. Sally and Richard later called on DAVID and MARY(formerly Packham) JORY in Naples on the West Coast of Florida.
While visiting family in Australia last July TONY and ANN BACON were able to catch up with two Barclay-friends in Melbourne. TAM HOSHAW (nee MIET) was Tony’s French language secretary in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in 1982-83. All nine of Tam’s siblings are now happily residing in Australia, refugees from their native Viet Nam during its troubled past. IAN MINCHIN, initially recruited in Melbourne, but subsequently promoted to a senior post in Sydney, has published an interesting and well-reviewed family history entitled “Brothers in Arms”. It describes the service of two generations of brothers in his family during both World Wars, together with subsequent family events. In particular Tony mentions it is nice to read Ian’s appreciation of his time working for Barclays, in sharp contrasts to the bad press Barclays now usually receives. The book is available from Amazon.
BERNARD and MARLENE KAY have recently moved home and coincidentally now live just 100 yards from Bernard’s golf club! Bernard has been teaching bridge on cruise ships for the past 12 years where on occasions he has been pleased to meet up with former Barclays’ colleagues. As a result of his bridge teaching, the English Bridge Union Teachers Association has honoured Bernard with professional status.
ALLAN ANDERSON is still alive and well in the Philippines after 29 happy years there. Having lowered the Manila Barclays Eagle in 1996, the last branch standing in Asia, Allan set up his own consultancy. He is now trying to retire for a second time, but plans to remain in the Philippines where PETER and MARION GEER and JOHN CARRUTHERS have previously cruised in and where Allan would make other visiting folk from the good old days of DCO/BBI most welcome.
An extract from TheTimes Obituary 9 November 2015. “MICHAEL TOWNSEND MC, MVO, OBE soldier and administrator, born 9 April 1920 on Gezira Island, Cairo where his father managed Barclays Bank (Dominion, Colonial & Overseas)”. Who can spot the error? The obituary records that for three days and nights in April 1945 Captain Michael Townsend was a specific target for Nazi tanks as he stood on a church spire in Lower Saxony directing Allied gunfire. The Military Cross citation states “Townsend was instrumental in halting and breaking several enemy attacks. The enemy would undoubtedly have carried out successful infiltration had not accurate fire been brought down by this officer”.
The Telegraph of 7 November 2015 also recorded some history, this time by way of a letter from one of our members. “Sir- I am afraid that I can beat the experience of Howard Buchanan whose chocolate treat dated from the 1911 coronation of George V. In 1980, my great aunt died aged 103. Her father had been the general commanding the Household Brigade in London in 1863. On March 10 that year, the then Prince of Wales married Princess Alexandra of Denmark. In my great aunt’s attic we found a presentation gift of a large slice of the royal wedding cake. It was delicious and tasted quite fresh, despite having been baked 117 years earlier. – ALAN TRITTON”
Barclays International Golfing Society (BIGS) is now in its sixth decade, ALAN SMITH having recently handed over the Captaincy for 2016 to PAUL HUNTER. 35 golfers attended the Autumn Meeting at the famous West Hill course, CLIFF KNOWDEN winning the Scott Salver from PHIL BUCKINGHAM and MARK HODGKINSON, whilst the outgoing Captain Alan Smith won the Circus Place Trophy for members aged 65 and over. New members are always welcome and anyone interested in joining BIGS should contact Cliff at . The next meeting is at Brokenhurst Manor GC in the New Forest on 5 May and the Annual BIGS Lunch will be held at Parkers Restaurant, Holborn on Friday 4 March.
In September former trainees from DCO/BBI Liverpool and Manchester attended the 10th Liver/Manc reunion at the Mug House tavern under London Bridge. The organisers MIKE CUMMINS and TONY PARKER were delighted to welcome four first time attendees GORDON BROWN, DEREK FOULDS, MARK TRESS over from Italy and ALAN ROBERTS who travelled from Simonstown, South Africa. Also partying were STAN LEE, CHESTER BALL, JOHN GRADWELL, CHRIS MARTIN, ROGER MONEY, CHRIS NICOL, FRANK TOWNLEY, NICK BRENTNALL, CHRIS HOWARTH, BILL PRICE, BARRY STREETS AND DEREK THOMPSON but worthy of special mention are PETER GREENHALGH and BERNARD EASON who have attended all ten gatherings. Club Chairman, RICHARD WEBB was in attendance to protect the Club’s reputation at what is always a boisterous affair!
DAVID EMERTON reports that on the 21st October 2015 a small group of former DCO/BBI computer staff met at a city hostelry to celebrate their association with DCO’s first UK Computer Centre at Token House, Copthall Avenue, London. The actual Computer Department was formed on 5th April 1965 in offices at 33 Old Broad Street with the late Ken Owen as Manager. Many of the staff were drawn from London branches with General Management forecasting they would return within 2 to 3 years! The subsequent computerisation explosion proved otherwise, whilst nobody could have foreseen the fantastic camaraderie that would develop within the team of people who worked with and for each other in the very demanding and competitive emerging IT world. The end product of working in this environment was a ‘family’, the lasting strength of which was clear at the October gathering where old friends began reminiscing about those heady bygone times. The event was so successful that a unanimous decision was taken by those present to meet again on a regular basis and to form ‘The Copthall Club’. The aim of the Club will be to keep those important historic memories alive in a convivial atmosphere. An open invitation is extended to all ex-Token House, Computer Centre pensioners to join The Copthall Club. Those who are interested in attending future reunions should contact either Don Collins (() ) or David Emerton ().
The family of GEOFF NEWSOME, who died recently, would like to thank all his friends and colleagues from Barclays for their kind messages of support and sympathy, which were very much appreciated.
The Club has received an enquiry from a member seeking to trace a former colleague PAUL MASON who was originally called BRUNO PERRIRA, but changed his name whilst serving in the Congo in the 1960’s. He was married to DIANE and they had two sons Marco and Paul. The family were French speaking and it is believed that after the Congo they moved to Greece. If you can throw any light on the whereabouts of PAUL MASON, please contact the Hon. Sec. Mike Cummins.
MANY THANKS TO ALL MEMBERS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS NEWSLETTER. THE EDITOR IS ALWAYS DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE YOUR INPUT EITHER BY E-MAIL (make sure though you note the 3 conseqtive “ t”s in this address !) OR BY POST TO JOHN BENNETT, GABLE VIEW, WELLESLEY CLOSE, CROWBOROUGH, EAST SUSSEX, TN6 1QP.
CLUB NEWS SPRING 2016
MEMBERSHIP
NEW MEMBERS
We are delighted to welcome the following new members and Associate members who have joined the Club since the last Newsletter.
Mr Winstay AGATHE St Johns, Antigua
Mrs Anne ANNABLE Alabama, USA
Mr John COPPARD Ferndown, Dorset
Mrs Ruth TURNER Congleton, Cheshire
ASSOCIATE
The Club now has 1,502 members and 175 Associate members. Total 1,677
Some Membership Facts:
Currently we have 128 overseas members resident across 33 countries from America through Europe to Australasia. In UK, 80% of members live south of the Watford Gap / Dorset is the county with the most members (320) / 105 members are 90+ / and there are 540 aged between 80/89 – Early retirement due to ‘dirty service’ clearly works !
AND, if you were born on 3rd February 1938, you are the exact average age of all our membership.
* IMPORTANT RECRUITMENT AMENDMENT *
The Bank has reduced the service qualification for membership from 20 years to 15 so if you know any former colleagues who have completed 15 years service, please advise them the door for BIPC membership is now open.
IN MEMORIAM
Mrs Viv BAKER Wife of Jim Baker (Zambia)
Mrs Dorothy BATEMAN (1908/2015) Mother of Howard
Mr Kenneth COOMBES (1927/2015) Barbados
Mr Ronald CROUCH (1927/2015) Admin Office Europe
Mr Victor DEANE (1929/2015) BexHill on sea
Mr Edward DELLOW (1921/2015) Ilford
Mr Cyril DOUGHTY (1922/2015) Poole
Mrs Margaret ELKERTON (1942/2015) widow of Mike Elkerton
Mr Roy ELLIOTT (1926/2015) Staff Dept / Poole