Celebrating 50 Years in 1983
Fifty years after HRH The Prince George formally opened the new Head Offices of the BMB on November
27th 1933, the building and some of its staff took on a festive flavour to celebrate. Staff entered the spirit of the occasion by
dressing in period costume as part of the festivities held in the week commencing November 28th.
Left to Right (standing): Tony Farrington, Bob Burton, Neil Prestidge, Val Whittington, Ken Harrison, the Lady Mayoress, Norman Monk,
Eric Bignell, Kathy Tims, Ken Bower, David Kemp, Chris Roberts, Bob Luckett; (seated): Sheila Turner, Judith Barker, Barbara ?, Maria
?, the Lord Mayor (Councillor Bill Sowton), Julie Valente, Debbie Keegan.
As part of the 1933/1983 celebrations, Norman Monk (Safe Deposit Custodian) provided explanations to the celebrity guests of
how his department worked.
Debbie Tarrant,
model for Lord Lichfield
Kathy Cook, Olympic Athlete
Phil Brown, Olympic athlete
Denis Martineau, Vice-Chairman, TSB of Birmingham & The Midlands, with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress. Denis Martineau’s
father (Wilfrid Martineau) was a member of the BMB’s Committee in 1933.
The Anniversary Celebrations were given publicity in the Birmingham press, which included details of what was happening
in Broad Street. In addition to the opportunity to meet a variety of celebrity guests, new customers were offered six months’ free
banking or a special commemorative pen. Free morning coffee and afternoon tea were served, and an exhibition of photographs of Birmingham
in the previous 100 years was a feature in the Banking Hall.