Mexborough and Swinton Times February 18 1938
Mr J.W.Robson
Wath Banking Pioneer
50 Years Service
Wath and district has lost one of its best known and loved personalities by the death on Tuesday in the Argyll nursing homes, Sheffield, Mr. John William Robson, aged 74, of Wath Wood Road, Wath. His passing followed an operation, but was unexpected. He is survived by two daughters and two sons.
Mr. Robson was the friend and financial advisor of not only innumerable individuals, but of many organisations. Born in Sheffield in 1863 he was brought up in Barnsley, and entered the service of the Wakefield and Barnsley Union Bank, at Market Hill, in 1877. A sub-branch had been opened at Montgomery House, in August, 1872, with attendance on one afternoon a week only. Mr. Robson took charge here, and lived in Montgomery House.
In 1897 the Company amalgamated with the York City and County Bank, which opened the present premises, under Mr. Robson’s managership, as a separate branch in 1900.
In 1909 amalgamation with the London Joint Stock Bank took place, and a merger with the London CityI and Midland Bank occurred in 1918. In 1925 the title was abridged to “The Midland Bank,” and the Wath premises were altered to give a frontage to Montgomery Road.
Thus, while remaining in the same post, Mr. Robson served five different employers.
Rapid Expansion.
Throughout his managerial period the local branch showed rapid and constant expansion. From a small sub-office ducted from Barnsley, the branch itself became a parent branch with sub- offices at West Melton, Goldthorpe, Thurnscoe and South Elmsall.
Mr Robson enthusiastically established these offsprings, and his difficulties will be understood when it is stated that his only means of contact was a pony and trap. Often he bad to pass through floods to reach South Elmsall.
When he retired on May 31st, 1927, his long and loyal service of fifty years to local banking was rewarded by the Company, and the stall presented him with a silver inkstand. He was succeeded by Mr. G. W. Downend, accountant at the branch, and on his death, six months later, Mr. A. R. Ridge was appointed.
Mrs. Robson died in December, 1921.
Until recent years Mr Robson played a key part in the public life of Wath. For many years he was a Trustee of the Trinity Methodist Church, and although he had not been actively associated with this body for some time he always supported it lavishly. He was one of a small band who had charge of the building of the Church, and the Sunday school was one of his dearest interests.
KEEN FREEMASON.
One of his principal attachments was Freemasonry and it was a past master of the Fitzwilliam Lodge, Rotherham, and what a member of the Brother Lodge.
He was a trustee and patron of the Wath Athletic Club, and was a key member of the prewar Rifle Club. Mr Robson was one of the original members of the Wath Golf Club in the days when the links were that the old Cross House. The Mechanics Institute owed much to him in its early days, and for many years he was secretary and treasurer of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Wath.
Yesterday morning the remains were cremated at City Road Crematorium, Sheffield, and the urn containing the ashes were interred at Barnsley in the afternoon.