Today’s speaker was Anthony Wadsworth on “Captain Mainwaring’s Progress”
Captain Mainwaring is everybody’s idea of a bank manager. Anthony stated that he had never worn a bowler hat, but has worn a 3-piece suit and carried an umbrella.
Progress was punctuated by a ‘phone call from regional head office with promotion involving a move to another branch and that meant living in digs whilst searching for a house to buy.
As he moved up the ranks to sub-manager, he was then able to lend (a limited amount of) money. Anthony preferred dealing with personal customers rather than the business side of things. He found it more difficult to assess a business proposition when the business could not provide a current statement of accounts, sometimes from 2 or more years ago
Anthony was involved in investigating why a major charity with large income and large expenditure was losing money, the answer became apparent fairly quickly – too many chiefs, not enough Indians.
Anthony also became a radio star, delivering a 6-week broadcast on Capitol Radio to small businesses.
To Anthony, the attitude changed when Lloyds took over TSB and became a selling organisation not a service one.
Starting in 1961, Anthony left the bank in January 1997.
Anthony’s talk generated a number of questions including whether his wife accompanied him on his various moves (yes, except London); who decides on the moves – head or regional office; processing business loans – first year forecast fairly easy, 2-5 years more difficult.