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.

Porter, James Kenneth

Lieutenant Colonel James Kenneth Porter OBE (known as Ken)

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Porter was born at 17 Upper Garville Avenue, Rathgar, Dublin on 16th September 1918 to James Porter, School Teacher and Jessie Porter nee Shaw. 

Following his education at Methodist College, Porter joined the bank at Head Office on 26th April 1937 and later worked as a junior in the Paste Room (c. 1938).

A photograph of him with colleagues, T K Adair, C F R Anderson and Norman Atkinson appears on page 219 of the book, 'The Ulster Bank Story' by Lyn Gallagher. Adair and Atkinson also served during the war.

In 1940, Porter volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Artillery serving in India, Burma and Malaya.. He was promoted through to Lieutenant Colonel by 1945 and had been 'Mentioned in Despatches'.

After demobilisation, Porter returned to the bank in 1946 at Head Office. Transfers followed to Knock, Enniskillen (Teller then Pro-Manager, 1961).

In 1949, Porter married Mis Isobel Hamilton of Dromara, a former official and they had a daughter, Rosemary.

Porter was made an Officer in the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his work with the Army Cadet Force in the Counties of Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh. He had been the County Commander of the Force since 1956.

Further appointments in the bank followed with Castlederg (1965 - Manager), Lurgan (1967 - Manager) and Area Director, Northern Region S (1969).

Ken Porter is also mentioned on page 273 of the above book in the chapter 'Progress Inevitably Means Change (1969 to 1982)'. This person is described as the North West Area Director.

Porter retired on 31st December 1980.

Lt Col Ken Porter OBE died on 14th May 1991 leaving his widow, Isobel and daughter, Rosemary.

Patton, William Davison

William Davison Patton (Billy)

Patton was born at Livery, Ballymoney on 17th September 1912 to William Patton, Farmer and Lily Patton nee Bell. They had married on 30th June 1908 at Cookstown Presbyterian Church.  

Following his education, Patton joined the bank in 1932 and served in Ballyjamesduff, Blackrock, Newtownards, Portadown, Downpatrick branches before becoming cashier in Stewartstown branch (1952).

Patton volunteered and enlisted into the armed forces.

Patton retired for health reasons in 1972.

Billy Patton died on 3rd January 1979. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam

Oakman, John Clements

John Clements Oakman (known as John)

Oakman was born at 'Oakhill', Hillhall, Lisburn on 10th March 1918 to William Robert Oakman, retired Accountant and Edith Maud Oakman nee Wilson. They had married on 19th January 1911 at Newcastle Presbyterian Church.

Following his education, Oakman joined the bank on 23rd May 1938 at Head Office.

In 1939, Oakman volunteered and enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) and later trained as a Glider Pilot. He took part in the Normandy landings during the re-occupation of France.

After demobilisation, Oakman returned to the bank and served in Lisburn and Finaghy branches.

Oakman took early retirement for health reasons in 1969.

John Oakman die don 27th August 1989 having lived at 'Oakhill', Hillhall, Lisburn. The bank staff magazine published this obituary:

Bank staff magazine - photo courtesy of Rodney Sweetnam