RUBERY RELOCATED
My memories of the day Rubery branch was moved to new premises
by Gilbert Sherborne
Shortly after the BMB was established in 1919 a number of attempts were made to open a branch in the Rubery area. With the Bank restricted
to only establishing branches within the city boundaries, a number of temporary locations proved unsuccessful. With the location restriction
removed by new legislation, a site was purchased at 75 New Road in 1939, only for the Second World War to cause further delay to the
Bank's plans.
In 1948, Bromsgrove Urban District Council agreed that a type of prefabricated concrete building could be erected
on the Bank's site. It was from this cold and damp temporary building that the branch was relocated to 147 New Road on June 7th 1968.
Although the temporary building displayed the full "Birmingham Municipal Bank" title, the new premises omitted the word "Birmingham";
I was informed by a friend who was a local councillor (and later Mayor of Bromsgrove) that as the premises were in Bromsgrove, not
Birmingham, the council would not agree to the Bank's full title being displayed.
At the time of the relocation, the Manager
of Rubery branch was Denis Holbeche, but he was on holiday in June 1968. Consequently, as I lived locally, I was told by the Superintendent
of Branches (Cecil Selwyn) that I would "do the honours" as Branch Manager. I was to be supported by the branch's staff - Valerie
Mann (who had just joined the Bank) and Barry Coleman.
For the occasion, I was asked by Cecil Selwyn to provide flowers, but
neither Valerie, Barry, or myself knew anything about flowers. I therefore asked my wife, Beryl, to make suitable arrangements. Despite
having our three small children to look after, she found time to create a lovely display, and we had a 'blooming good' relocation.