Report for the year ended 31st October, 1964
RETIREMENT OF H J SUTHERLAND
On the 31st July 1964 Mr Sutherland retired following
the advice of doctors. Your Committee felt that this occasion should be marked by a presentation to him and a social evening was held
on Saturday, 12th September and attended by the Chairman of the Bank Committee, Mrs E L Hobson, JP, together with members and retired
members of the Staff and their wives/husbands. About 260 guests were present, to all of whom it was obvious that Mr Sutherland's health
had greatly improved. Later he wrote to the Association expressing his thanks for a very memorable evening.
The friendly atmosphere
in which Mr Sutherland met delegations from your Committee to discuss Staff problems has been greatly appreciated.
MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEE
During the year Mr J A Smith, a past Chairman of the Association resigned from the Management Committee after many
years as an active member. Your Committee wishes to place on record its appreciation of the services rendered to the Association by
Mr Smith.
The vacancy on the Committee was filled by Mr M P Bourke.
MEMBERSHIP
The influx of new staff has again enabled
us to maintain the increase in membership reported for the last two years. In spite of the loss of members through resignations and
retirements, the total membership is now 377 including 48 in the Retired Members Section.
RETIRED MEMBERS SECTION
The
membership of this section is showing a steady increase and our thanks are due once again to Miss Hastings for acting as Accredited
Representative of the Retired Members Section for the past the past year. Unfortunately Miss Hastings finds that she is no longer
able to act as liaison officer due to other commitments taking up an increasing proportion of her time.
SOCIALS
The interest
shown in the programme of social events is very gratifying and any suggestions for new social activities will be welcomed by your
Committee.
The ancillary organisations continue to flourish and for the information of members, particularly new members, a list
of the Clubs, together with their Secretaries, is given below:
|
Cricket |
J G Eyre |
Shard End Branch |
|
Football |
P Batchelor |
Cotteridge Branch |
|
Golf |
A
Green |
Selly Oak Branch |
|
Motor |
J G Eyre |
Shard End Branch |
|
Rambling |
M Davenport |
Horse Fair Branch |
|
Tennis |
P Aston |
Relief Staff |
These Clubs manage
their own affairs but each one is in receipt of an annual grant from the Association. The form of these grants has been the subject
of an extensive review by your Committee, as a result of which new arrangements will be instituted in the next financial year.
CONDITIONS
OF SERVICE
During the past year representations have been made to the Management on two points of major concern to the Staff,
they were:
(1) The grading of Relief and Junior Branch Managers.
(2) The change in Management policy with regard to promotion.
As
a result of discussion with the Management concerning the grading of the Relief and Junior Branch Managers, certain facts came to
light and it was decided by your Committee that the wisest course would be to hold this matter in abeyance for the moment.
Grave
concern was expressed by a large proportion of the Staff at the change of promotion policy by the Management. This was the subject
of very frank discussions held by representatives of your Committee with the General Manager and Deputy General Manager. Subsequently
your Chairman met the Chairman of the Bank Committee following which a delegation conferred with the Secretary of the Birmingham Municipal
Officers' Guild who is making further representations.
The question of a five day working week has been kept in mind and will
be discussed with the Management as and when it is implemented in other quarters.
DISCOUNT TRADING
Arrangements have been
made during the year for members to obtain trading concessions with Messrs F W Askew and Son, Jewellers.
SICK MEMBERS
Your
Committee would like to thank all those who have made visits on behalf of the Association to members away sick. It is quite a tonic
for members to see a friendly face and receive some small gift to show that they are not forgotten. We hope for swift recovery to
health for those away at the moment.
"CONTACT"
Our thanks are due once more to Mr G Butler for his hard work in the task
of Editor of the Magazine. The Association Journal is much appreciated by all, particularly those in the Retired Members' Section.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The
Association would like to express their gratitude to the Management for facilities provided and assistance given during the year and
also to the following:
The typists for their endless work on our behalf.
Account Department for collecting the subscriptions.
Miss
Meggs and the Canteen Staff for the good food received.
Mr Maggs for his many duties, including keeping us 'merry'.
Mrs Cherry for collecting
our Guild Subscriptions, and to all who have helped at any time and in any way, our sincere thanks.