Speaker for 7th March 2017
Pt1.
The President, Mike Turner, welcomed this morning’s speaker, Club Member Derick Woods, the topic of his talk being “Banking Stories.”
Derick's boyhood home
Derick was born in 1947 at Woodhall, Kilrea the home of his grandfather W.W Woods, a local business man and politician. After completing his GCE exams at Coleraine Inst. in 1964, a career in banking beckoned. This lead to the Northern Bank Headquarters in Belfast. Serving in the Bank for 34 years took Derick extensively to Belfast, Coleraine, Limavady, Bangor, Newtownbutler, Clones, Enniskillen, Ballygally, and Portglenone. The Isle of Man TT Races almost persuaded Derick to emigrate to that island. A replica of the Portglenone Bank was erected at the Ulster Folk Museum complete with a roll of honour of the managers. The last name on the plaque being none other than Derick Woods.
Who could forget the amusing moments; the bus journey with the Daintyfit girls in Limavady, bullocks in the bathroom at Newtownbutler, three in a MGB in Clones or a dead man queueing in Bangor. Every moment of Derick’s leisure time was occupied with Showbands in Limavady, motor racing at Kirkistown, golf at Bangor, sailing at Ballyhome, running with the Erne Striders, marathon races in Dublin, Belfast and London or badminton in Newtownbutler.
Sadly tragic moments did occur. Losing friends to terrorism along the border or returning from holiday in Cyprus to experience the Poppy Day Massacre in Enniskillen. Derick enjoys travelling and on one such journey he met Tenia, his future wife. In the 1990’s banking as we knew it changed. The sale of products and mortgage packages took precedence. Tele-conferences were fashionable, targets had to be attained and Lending Centres predominated. Now was the time for Derick to take early retirement and in the late 1990’s he left the banking industry.
Pt2.
Coleraine Probus and a lighter side of banking!
The speaker at the first Coleraine Probus Club meeting in March was member Derick Woods, who entertained everyone with a look at the lighter side of banking. This came as something of a surprise, as most members didn’t think there was anything funny about banks!
Derick was born and brought up in Kilrea, Christened ‘Frederick’ he soon shortened his name. He spent is secondary school years as an ‘Inst’ boarder, joining the Northern Bank from school in the ‘60s as a ‘Junior’ in the coin counting room of the very formal head office. After his initial training he was transferred to the Limavady branch, and following his formal style training, he introduced himself at the bank as ‘Mister Woods’ – which coming from a teenager to a bank manager may not have been the smartest thing to do. During his three year stay in the branch, Derick stayed in 'digs', sharing the five bedroom house with the owners and the ten or twelve other young men that resided there as well - cosy it was, and with no fear of feeling lonely!
Derick's next transfer was back to Belfast and the Winsor Road branch, where a work colleague introduced him to motor sport, which has since become a lifetimes interest. After a while, Derick had a move to Coleraine and the original Northern Bank branch which is now the Halifax office. The 70's saw a transfer to Bangor and digs on Seafront Road - this was a very 'civilised' branch and something of a luxury before his next move.
Getting promoted to the post of 'Cashier', Derick found himself in Newtonbutler. This was a 'three handed' branch; a Manager, Cashier and a Junior. However, the lodgings, locals and other staff were all very friendly, sometimes a little too friendly, as he did find the late night after hours drinking somewhat challenging. But this was also the time of 'the Troubles'. The bank and his digs were bombed more than once, as well as customers and friends becoming victims of the 'tit for tat' shootings.
Despite the sadness, there were also so lighter times. Derick recalled one day in his lodgings hearing a noise and coming into the entrance hall he say two bullocks coming through the front door. They pushed past him and went into the front room, as he saw another two enter the house. Trying to remove the animals from the front room was a difficult and rather messy task, but not as difficult as removing to second pair that had managed to climb the stairs into the bedroom.!
Getting the message across
Derick was thirteen years in Newtonbutler before his next promotion and transfer. This was to the post of assistant manager at the larger Enniskillen branch, where he soon made more friends among the staff and people of the town. He was returning to Enniskillen from holiday on the day of the big bomb. The following two weeks were some of the worst he had ever known, with funerals every day, many of which were people that he knew well or the children of the families he knew.
During the time Derick was in Enniskillen he developed another interest, long distance and marathon running. After a lot of training and practice he managed to get his time for the 26 miles plus down below four hours, and so he decided to try to enter the 'London Marathon'. He was lucky to be one of the 20,000+ who were selected to run along with the 'elite runners' through the streets of the capital. For Derick this was a memorable experience, but also disappointing as he took a little over four hours to complete the distance - but he does have a finishers medal and certificate, which is something to be very proud of.
Derick had his last transfer and promotion to be manager of the Portglenone branch. The bank building is no longer there, but thousands of people visit it every year!? This is because it is now part of the Cultra Folk Park. The bank and managers house have been set up as it would have looked in the 1920s (so please don't think Derick and his wife Tenia lived like the property is now). However, inside the bank is a plaque with all the managers names, their starting and finishing dates, EXCEPT for Derick, which shows his starting date only - so please don't expect to see him still working there when next you visit.
When the Danske Bank took over the Northern Bank and before the inevitable reorganisation got fully underway, Derick thought it would be the right time to retire. So after 34 years of service and raising from a coin counter to a bank manager, he can now find the time to relax and get away from the stress of money - like giving talks to Probus members and his role of assistant treasurer!
For some information about the history of the Northern Bank, hit the right note below! (this will open in a new window)
For some more photos, don't forget to check our new 'Members, Meetings and Lunches' page!