Letters From Brian, Our previous Minister
Recent copies of the letters from our previous Minister Brian.
These are reproduced from the monthly Newsletter..
November 2018: From the Minister’s Black Horse
“A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain”. Robert Frost
“A bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don't need it”. Bob Hope
“Drive-in banks were established so most of the cars today could see their real owners”. Unknown
I used to be a member of the Yorkshire Bank but when I moved near Sheffield (of all places) there was not a bank for miles and I joined Lloyds thinking it would be have a presence virtually anywhere I worked. This has been the case, even South Molton had a branch and there was a bank on the Isles of Scilly. When I say I joined Lloyds it was all very simple and quick and even at nineteen I was not regarded as trouble. I hear this is not the case today and I am sorry if I am intruding on personal grief (or anger).
Banks started playing hard to get some while ago, joining a secret society may prove easier than getting a bank account. They started closing branches saying you could bank on line, use the post office, ATM’s and even go into other peoples banks. They got quite carried away and soon all the banks were fleeing the high street. They took the ATM’s with them and effectively other peoples opportunity of finding a bank to pay into. They also had a brief go at ending cheques, a trick I fear they will return to one day soon. In 2011 the big players declared that if they were the only bank left in town they would remain and provide a service, bless. It was a promise they have reneged upon.
While all this was happening the Post Office was well underway demanding with menaces the closure of their small post offices. Their services were reduced such as vehicle tax. Computer terminals had to be fitted and they did not work well. Long standing post masters and mistresses were treated appallingly. I think the story was slightly different here in Sidmouth. But our two small post offices closed and now most days the queues can be seen from space (well that’s what it feels like) at the remaining post office.
Over in Ottery the last bank (Lloyds) closed its doors last month. Budleigh is going the same way. Cranbrook has no outlet other than a post office, Honiton is now hearing bad news. The departure and the chaos caused by the departure of Barclays and Nat West has affected many of you. The church is also having to move it’s account and I hear it’s not proving easy. I know some have had considerable challenge because of all of this. The time and complexity for loyal customers is really unacceptable. Sadly we no longer live in the time of good service and being held up as valuable customers. It might not be a bad idea however to get a public response from the three remaining banks in the town to check they will be staying put as even the black horse of Lloyds took to its hooves in Ottery and was the last bank to leave town
Their CEO are:
António Horta Osório
Lloyds Bank plc
25 Gresham Street,
London EC2V 7HN.
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Scott Powell
Santander
2 Triton Square,
Regent's Place,
London,
NW1 3A
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António Simões
HSBC
8 Canada Tower Square
Docklands
E14
Jesus said a lot about money, he set about the money changers in the temple and the old testament took a dim view of interest on the poor or on food stuffs.
Exodus 22:25 shows that charging interest was not viewed well for some; "If you lend money to My people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest.”
Alas in the time allotted I have not found anything about keeping a bank open for your loyal customers who didn’t withdraw their assets when the banks were in trouble.
Don’t forget to write to your CEO. Now where is that bolt for the stable door.
From Our Previous Minister, Brian
Jesus said a lot about money and money changers