Having recently retired, I’ve outlined below my experience in the bank after almost 45 years. Please only read if you know me, or are interested in what it’s been like to have worked in the bank for a very long time!
I joined Midland Bank on 5 September 1978, and Retired on 3 April, 2023, just shy of 44 years, 7 Months.
I can remember the first day that I walked nervously up to the imposing wooden doors at Balham (‘Gateway to the South’) branch. After Balham there followed stints at Southwark (now London Bridge) and Forest Hill branches, before going into Bromley & Beckenham Area Office. A short time in Bromley branch followed, before once again moving into the area office and setting up and managing the second Centralised Securities Centre in the UK.
I was then privileged to be selected to attended the three month Wolfson Course & Programme at Wolfson College, Cambridge Uni - an amazing time studying courses of my choice and undertaking the central self-development programme. Following the completion of the programme I moved into the Southern Divisional Centre, Crawley under Alan Jewell.
The really serious stuff then began when I was appointed Manager of Southwark Park Road and Thornton Heath branches. After 5.5 successful years, I decided that I need a change and moved into Head Office, in Corporate & Purchasing Cards. After this three years in Group Audit followed, before secondment into a Global Cards project. There followed a natural move into Cards Operations, Southend, before moving into Global Banking (Corporate & Institutional Banking) where I spent my last 17 years doing a number of different roles around European Operations and Risk Management.
As with many others, I met and married my ex-wife in the bank - we have two wonderful daughters - and subsequent partner. I enjoyed the fantastic facilities of the HSBC Sports & Social Club, Beckenham, playing for the football team, and mixing with other amazing people playing sports for the bank
The opportunity to take early retirement came at the perfect time, as whilst thoroughly enjoying my time in the bank, I knew instinctively it was time to go!
I can say I’ve enjoyed an amazing journey and had some fantastic jobs and experiences working in the UK, Europe, South America, the Middle East and the Far East.
However, I have to say the best part of all this has been the fantastic people I’ve met from day one to my last working day! It’s the people that I will miss the most. But all is not lost, I’m still in contact with so many (I still meet up with friends from my very first branch) that the wonderful journey continues. I can honestly say I’ve had great fun along the way!
A very Happily Retired member of Staff!
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