In connection with the Swimming Competition fixed for June 13, Mr Hilton stated that the Baths Committee were not prepared to grant official facilities to the Bank for holding sports, which coupled with the fact that very few entries had been received had resulted in the cancellation of the sports.
With reference to the making of applications for grants from the Welfare Fund on the reason of marriage or resignation of officers of the Bank, it was felt that some definite standard was necessary on which to base each application.
It was therefore resolved: that applications of £4 each be made in respect of officers marrying or resigning the services of the Bank who had completed at least 5 years at the date of such marriage or resignation, and that in the case of officers with less service, such less amount as should be determined by the Committee.
It was resolved: that the venue for the Annual Outing be Evesham.
The Chairman stated that Hampton House near Evesham had been recommended as a suitable place for tea, and that Councillor Fletcher had kindly offered to do the catering.
It was suggested that games and sports, for which prizes should be provided, should be held after tea. The arrangements for the Outing were left in the hands of the sub-committee.
As several members of the Staff had expressed a desire for another ramble, it was resolves that arrangements for a second ramble be left in the hands of Misses Lewis and Crawford and Mr H G Corles.
With reference to the Annual Dinner it was resolved: that application be made to the Welfare Fund Committee for the sum of 4/6 per head for each junior member and 3/6 per head for each senior member of the Staff attending the Dinner.
The Chairman stated that a number of requests had been made for a Billiard Tournament. It was resolved: that Mr Ladbrooke be appointed to make arrangements for a Billiards Tournament and that a grant be applied for from the Welfare Fund of £1-10-0 towards providing prizes for the tournament.
The Chairman read a letter from the Royal Cripples Hospital asking whether copies of the ‘Help Yourself Annual’ might be sent to the Bank for sale among the Staff. The Secretary was instructed to deal with the matter.
December 22nd 1930
Miss Ridge stated that several members of the staff had expressed a desire for a Theatre Party, and suggested that arrangements be made accordingly. The Committee thought, however, that it would be better first to circulate the Staff and so ascertain whether sufficient support would be forthcoming to justify arrangements being made.
Mr Tooby suggested that a Benevolent Fund be instituted and that funds for the purpose be raised on similar lines to those operating in the case of the Welfare Fund. The Chairman, however, was of the opinion that the present time was unsuitable for proposing such a scheme, and suggested, alternatively, that a grant be applied for from the Welfare Fund, and used for benevolent purposes. It was resolved: that application be made to the Welfare Fund for a grant of £10, such sum to be placed to a Benevolent Account in the names of the Secretary of the Staff Committee and one member of the Committee, and administered by them at the direction of the Staff Committee.
The Committee …. considered the question of a programme of summer events, and functions were arranged as follows:
Sunday Ramble – June 7th
Annual Outing – July 23rd
Tennis Tournaments – June 14th & August 13th
Golf Competitions – July 2nd (Golfing Cup); September 10th & 24th
Bowls Competitions: June 18th & August 27th
Auditors’ Cricket Match: July 9th
June 15th 1931
(Chair: T J Ladbrooke)
In connection with a winter programme of social events, Mr Buxton moved that one dance be held and that it be the Annual Ball. Mr Carver seconded this and it was Resolved: That the Annual Ball at the Grand Hotel on Saturday, December 5th and that application be made to the Welfare Committee for a grant in connection therewith.
The Dance Sub-Committee reported that it was not possible to secure the Grosvenor Rooms for the Annual Ball on Saturday, December 5th and consequently arrangements were made for the Ball to be held at Tony’s on December 3rd.
Mr Raftery submitted papers regarding nominations for three Guild Representatives and requested that a Returning Officer be approved to deal with the election. It was Resolved: That Mr H G Wright be requested to act as Returning Officer in the matter of election of three Guild Representatives.
In connection with the nomination of three Bank Representatives to serve on the Municipal Officers’ Guild, the Secretary reported that Mr H G Wright, who acted as Returning Officer, had notified the Guild that the retiring Representatives, viz: Miss Lewis, Mr Abbiss and Mr Raftery had been re-elected for the ensuing years.
The Secretary submitted a letter from the Secretary of the Municipal Officers Sports Club, asking the Bank to elect a representative to serve on the Management Committee. Mr Whitehouse acted as the Bank’s representative the previous year, but owing to difficult circumstances was unable to accept office for this year. Mr Buxton proposed that Mr C Selwyn be asked to undertake the duty, and it was Resolved: That a letter be sent to Mr Selwyn asking him to act as the Bank’s representative on the Management Committee of the Sports Club for the ensuing year.
The Committee then considered the question of a programme of summer events, and functions were arranged as follows:
Sunday Ramble – June 5th
Annual Outing – July 21st
Auditors’ Cricket Match – July 7th
Tennis Tournaments – June 2nd & August 11th
Golf Competitions – May 26th, June 30th (Gelling Cup Match), September 8th
Bowls Competitions – June 16th & August 25th
Sunday Excursion to Blackpool – October 9th
In connection with a Winter Programme of social events, it was decided, after discussion and voting, that a Dance be held at Tony’s Ball Rooms on December 8th 1932, and that an application be made to the Welfare Fund for a grant of 2/-d per head for each member of the Staff attending the Dance. A Sub-Committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements for the Dance, as follows: Miss Ridge, Messrs Ladbrooke, Raftery and Parsonage.
With reference to the Lord Mayor’s Unemployed Fund, Mr H G Wright attended the meeting and explained that a special appeal for contributions to the Fund by members of Corporation Staff had been received through Mr W S Body. After a lengthy discussion as to the best means of drawing the attention of the Bank Staff to the appeal and obtaining contributions thereto, it was Proposed by Mr Raftery and Seconded by Mr Viney, that a circular letter be sent to all Branches with a suggestion that each member of the Staff should contribute to the Lord Mayor’s Unemployed Fund at the rate of one penny in the pound on one month’s salary. The proposition was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.
Mr Parsonage submitted a Balance Sheet in connection with the Annual Ball held in December, from which it was seen that a deficit of £4-9-0 had been made. After discussion it was decided to transfer the sum of £4-9-0 from an account in credit at Head Office, being funds accumulated from previous dances.
Mr Raftery put forward a request received from a member of the staff that the date when the first period of the Annual Holidays began should be, if possible, notified to the staff before the publication of the Holiday List so that a correct calculation of holidays could be made, and after discussion it was decided to put the request to the General Manager. This was done, when the General Manager pointed out that the first holiday period started practically at the same time each year, and there should be no difficulty in making a calculation.
A further point was raised with regard to those members of the Staff whose holidays fall in the first holiday period who are taking the RSA Book-keeping examinations, thus compelling them to curtail or forego their holidays in order not to miss the examination. It was decided that the point should be put to the General Manager also, and accordingly the following was sent and received back with the General Manager’s reply:
‘A point was raised with regard to those Members of the Staff who are taking the RSA Book-keeping Examinations and whose holidays fall in the first period, thus resulting in the examination falling in their holidays, and it was suggested that a note be put before the General Manager to see whether or not in these cases the holidays could be changed for one year’.
[The General Manager’s reply annotated on above note: ‘The holiday list on the reorganized basis will stand but any person affected should write in to me when I will notify those concerned of the possibilities of changing over with them. I am not prepared to give a direction that any officer shall make the change but have no doubt a mutual arrangement can be made.’]
The Secretary reported that the grant applied for in respect of the Pantomime night had been sanctioned. That the appeal in connection with the Lord Mayor’s Unemployed Fund had resulted in a cheque for £17-6-8 being forwarded from the Bank Staff, and that the ballot in respect of the vacant seats on the Committee resulted in the re-election of the retiring members, viz: Miss Morrison, Messrs W Buxton, J T Ladbrooke and F W Parsonage.
The Secretary reported that the three retiring Staff members on the Welfare Fund had been asked to serve again for the ensuing year and had indicated their willingness to do so. The Chairman stated that the Bank Committee had elected their three representatives, viz: Alderman Gelling, Councillor Cooper and Alderman Barrow, the latter taking the place of Alderman Sir Percival Bower who served previously.
The Committee then considered the question of a programme of social events for the summer season, and it was decided to hold the undermentioned functions:
Sunday Ramble – May 21st
Golf Match – June 1st
Bowls Competition – June 8th
Tennis Tournament – June 15th
Sunday trip to Weston – June 25th
Gelling Cup Match (Golf) – July 13th
Auditors’ Cricket Match – July 6th
Annual Outing – July 20th
Bowls Competition – August 24th
Golf Match – September 7th
Golf Match – September 21st
Discussion …. took place regarding the use to be made of the Assembly Hall at Head Office for Staff social purposes, and the Secretary of the Welfare Fund Committee explained that it was necessary for a formal application to be made by the Staff Committee to the Bank Committee for permission to use the Hall. It was thereupon Proposed by Mr Carver, Seconded by Mr Ladbrooke, and Resolved: That the Committee of Management of the Bank be asked to grant permission to the Staff in future to use the Assembly Hall at Head Office for social purposes.
It was suggested by the Secretary of the Welfare Fund Committee that in the event of permission being granted by the Bank Committee, half of the Assembly Hall be used for social purposes, and that a billiard table, ping-pong table, card tables, etc, be laid down, the provision of such equipment and any expense incurred in connection therewith, to be borne by the Staff. The Secretary of the Welfare Fund Committee stated that he had no doubt the Welfare Fund Committee would be prepared to make a substantial grant towards the provision of the equipment. These facilities to be available for the whole of the Staff, according to arrangements to be made. In the event of it becoming necessary for the proposed equipment to be removed temporarily from the Assembly Hall, the Secretary of the Welfare Fund Committee had ascertained that the cost of dismantling and re-erecting a billiard table would be approximately £3.
Consideration was then given to the question of supplying teas, etc, for the members of the Staff who might use the Assembly Hall for social purposes. It was strongly felt by the Committee that some such provision should be made, and it was Proposed by Mr Carver, Seconded by Mr Viney, and Resolved: That the Canteen Committee be notified of the request of the Staff Committee that teas be provided for members of the Staff using the Assembly Hall for social purposes on any day of the week up to 5:30pm.