Steele, William Denis Fisher Steele

William Denis Fisher Steele

Steele was born at Ulster Bank House, Maghera on 18th March 1910 to William Steele, Bank Manager and Mary Lilian Elizabeth Steele nee Fisher. They had married on 14th November 1901 at Knockloughrim Church of Ireland, Maghera.

Following his education, Steele joined the bank on 9th April 1929 at Maghera branch (while his father was Manager there). A transfer to Ballymoney followed in 1931. He was appointed Assistant there in 1933. He was then transferred to Lisburn in 1941.

Steele volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Navy in October 1941. He took part in teh illustrious raid on Dieppe.

After demobilisation in January 1946, Steele returned to the bank and worked in Head Office, Coleraine (1949 - Assistant), Castlederg (1949 - Ledger keeper), Head Office (1950), Ballynahinch (1950) and Dromore, Co. Tyrone (1956 - Cashier), Ballyconnell (1963 - Manager) and Cookstown (1966 - Manager).

The website Cookstown Chamber of Commerce records a W D F Steele, amongst others meeting on 4th February 1974 to explore the possibility of forming a Chamber of Commerce.

Steele died on 10th August 1992 leaving a widow and family circle. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Spence, George Kenneth

Lieutenant (RN) George Kenneth Spence MBE (known as George)

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Spence was a native of Maralin, Lurgan and was born around 1923 based on  joining the bank at 17.

Following his education at Lurgan College, Spence joined the bank on 8th February 1940 at Head Office.

Spence volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Navy in 1941. He gained a Commission as a Lieutenant and commanded a Motor Torpedo Boat. The London Gazette published his promotions:

• 12th June 1942 - promoted to Temporary Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR).
  
  
• 15th December 1944 - promoted to Temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR).

After demobilisation, Spence returned to the bank and worked in Portadown, Head Office, Dromore (Co. Down), Portadown (1967 - Pro-Manager) and Dungannon (1969 - Manager).

Spence was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1981.

He married the former Miss Anne Sholdis of Lurgan and they had 2 sons, Edwin (staff Member) and Kenneth.

He retired on 28th February 1982.

Smyth, Frederick M

Lieutenant Frederick Nixon Smyth

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Smyth was born at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada (about 1917) to Alex Smyth and E A Smyth. After a time living in Seattle, USA the family moved to Comber, Co. Down.

Following his education at Roosevelt High School, Seattle, Regent House, Newtownards and Garvey College, Belfast, Smyth joined the bank on 7th March 1934 at Head Office. followed by Carrickmacross and Derry (1938) branches.

Smyth volunteered and enlisted into the armed forces. He served with the Royal Indian Army Service Corps and served in India and Burma as a Transport Officer with the rank of Lieutenant.

After demobilisation, Smyth returned to the bank at College Green followed by Ranelagh (1957). He was appointed as Pro-Manager at Monaghan branch in 1966 and then Manager at Belturbet branch in 1967.

He is married to the former Miss Mary Harrison of Holywood and they had 2 sons, Ian and David.

Smyth retired on 16th July 1977.

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Smith, Alexander

Alexander Smith

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Smith was a native of Belfast. Following his education at RBAI (INST), Smith joined the bank in 1932 at Ranelagh branch.

Smith volunteered and enlisted into the armed forces.

After demobilisation, Smith returned to the bank at College Green, Camden Street, Dundalk, O'Connell Street (1967 - Pro-Manager & 1973 - Assistant Manager).

He married the former Miss Jennie Higgins of Killegney, Co. Wexford.

Smith retired on 17th August 1977. 

Simpson, Frederick

Captain Frederick Simpson MBE (known as Fred)

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Simpson was born at

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Following his education, Simpson joined the bank in March 1934 at Head Office and served in Ballymote branch. 

Simpson volunteered and enlisted into the armed forces. He served as a Captain in the Gurkha Rifles in India, North-West Frontier, Burma, French Indo-China and Borneo. In recognition of his services, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

Following demobilisation, Simpson returned to the bank becoming Pro-Manger in Derry (1962) and in Dundalk (1963) branches. He stayed in Dundalk until his resignation in 1964. 

Simpson spent 4 years travelling throughout the world between 1964 and 1968 when he again returned to the bank at College Green before becoming Pro-Manager at Branches. In 1969 he was appointed Manger in Kilkenny branch.

The book 'The Ulster Bank Story' by Lyn Gallagher records a story on page 97 about a Fred Simpson in the chapter 'Managers'.  

He retired on 18th April 1977 as manager of Ballymote branch and had been a former bank inspector.

Fred Simpson (right) - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Rice, Norman John

Norman John Rice (known as Norman)

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Rice was born at Pier View Terrace, Holywood on 5th December 1912 to Alfred James Rice, Commission Agent and Annie Frances Rice nee Cochrane. They had married on 24th August 1908 at Holywood Church of Ireland.

Following his education at Friends' School, Lisburn and RBAI (INST), Rice joined the bank in 1934 at Head Office (Paste Room) and served in Gortin and Cork branches. 

Rice volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Air Force. He served in Bomber Command and Training Command. The London Gazette dated 9th February 1945 records a N J Rice with service number 179599 being promoted to Flying Officer in the RAF.

After demobilisation, Rice returned to the bank to work in Donegall Place (1946) and following a period of ill-health, he returned in 1953 to Larne (Ledger-keeper) and Ballycastle (1958 - Cashier) branches. In 1970 he was appointed to Killybegs as Manager.

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

He retired from Killybegs in 1977 to live in Belfast.

Norman Rice died on 11 September 1985 leaving his widow, Joan (former Miss Joan Kiernan of Northern Bank House, Beragh) and sons, David and John. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Scott, William Ernest Francis

Sergeant William Ernest Francis Scott

Scott was born at Kilcroagh, Castlederg on 27th October 1904 to William John Scott, Merchant and Maggie Scott nee Young. They were married on 23rd June 1903 at Killester Presbyterian Church, Castlederg.

Following his education, Scott joined the bank on 15th March 1923 at Ballina branch followed by a transfer to Enniskillen branch.

Scott volunteered and enlisted into the Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery and served in the Middle East and Italy with the rank of Sergeant.

After demobilisation, Scott returned to the bank at Ballymote as Cashier. In 1956 he was transferred to Killyleagh in the same position.

Retirement from Killyleagh came on 15th March 1968.

Mr Scott died on 23rd July 1991. His wife had pre-deceased him. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Sands, Henry Valentine

Lance Sergeant Henry Valentine Sands (known as Henry)

Sands was born at Killycomain, Portadown on 4th August 1910 to James Sands, Manager in Factory and Annie Sands nee Boyce. They had married on 22nd April 1905 at Waringstown Presbyterian Church.

In 1911, Sands (0) is living in house 6, Killycomain Road, Portadown with his parents and sister, Margaret Lillian (3).

Following his education, Sands joined the bank at Head Office on 1st October 1928.

On 2nd May 1939, Sands volunteered and enlisted into the 8th Belfast Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. He served in France and South East Asia Command.

The Lennon Wylie website records a H V Sands as serving with 8th Belfast H A A Regiment with service number 1461930. His rank was L/Sgt and his address was recorded as 17 Killycomain Road, Portadown.

After demobilisation, Sands returned to the bank and served in a number of branches before being appointed as Pro-Manager in Lisburn branch. A promotion to Manager at Castlederg branch followed in 1967.

Henry Sands died in service on 7th October 1969. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Preston, Walter

Walter Preston

Information Required

Please assist me by emailing gavinbamford@btinternet.com with any information that you would have on this Ulster Bank official.

He would probably have been born between 1915 and 1922 giving an age range of 17 to 24 at the start of the war in 1939.

Patterson, James

James Patterson

Information Required

Please assist me by emailing gavinbamford@btinternet.com with any information that you would have on this Ulster Bank official.

He would probably have been born between 1915 and 1922 giving an age range of 17 to 24 at the start of the war in 1939.