Maternity Leave 1990 - 1991

The birth of our first daughter was always going to be exciting! I was lucky enough to have an easy and uplifting pregnancy. After experiencing morning sickness for a couple of weeks things settled down very well. To the point where I felt amazing and on top of the world. An experience I can never forget. Another pleasant surprise was having a rather big appetite! Eating for two as they say. I did not worry about the birth because it was something that was inevitably going to happen at some point. This was to start during the late part of the 39th week. After being in labour for most of Sunday we decided to then go to the hospital in the evening. With gas and air and pethadin our daughter was born around 5am on the following Monday. So now we were three and the way of life was going to change.

Pregnancy Our 1st Daughter

The next thing that happened was rather unexpected. I had managed to get pregnant. At the time I was unsure as to whether I wanted to have a baby at this time. I happened to be on the mini pill which I found out later does not always stop this happening. There was some deliberating to do because a career was really my goal in life. But of course life sometimes takes you down another path. My then boyfriend and patents urged me to carry on with the pregnancy. After a lot of discussion and thought we decided to go ahead and start a family. This also meant that we would need to move out of the flat we were living in.So we decided to look at some houses to buy in the Hove area. And finally ended up purchasing one. Where amazingly after 32 years we still live. A great area with easy and quick routes to the downs, the sea and the town centre.

Barclays Bank PLC Clerical Grade 4

After spending a month learning how to work as a Clerical Grade 4 clerk it was time to put these new skills into practise. This was to become my new role for quite some time. Both enjoyable and rewarding. I really did enjoy working with the accountant, loans manager, assistant manager and manager of my local branch. Great life skills that have helped me throughout my adult life.

Grade 4 Security Clerk

This was the final stage in Bank Clerical grade jobs, including 1 to 4. A grade 4 was the highest position you can get to before taking on accounts manager, loans manager, assistant manager and then manager positions. These where to become some more great life skills that I would pick up during my career in banking. Here I learnt about accounting, investments and property, skills that I am proud to have which have helped me move into life as a mature adult.

Barclays Bank PLC Year 10

After being employed for 10 years it was time to move onwards and upwards again. My new position was to become another favourite, Security Clerk. There were lots of things to learn, which was so exciting! These included, Accounting, Investments, Buying and Selling Shares, Loans, Savings Accounts, Safe Deposit Boxes, Dictating letters and so much more. For this role I was given a desk and telephone in the banking hall. It was my job to help customers with any financial queries on a 1 to 1 level in a private room. Any phone calls would be answered by me or transfered from other members of staff. It was an icredible privalege to be on this new journey!

Barclays Bank PLC - Year 6 to 9

This year was to become another great year as I had successfully learnt and practised all the clerical grade 3 jobs that were possible. These would include 1st Cashier, Machine Room Supervisor, DDR and STO clerk and Foreign Till Cashier. At this point I was very fersatile as I could take on any of these roles depending on the requirements. If someone was in holiday or off sick I was quite capable of taking their place for a few days or a week. This meant that on Monday mornings I never new until I arrived at the bank which role it would be.

Barclays Bank PLC - 5th Year

After successfully mastering the position of DDR and STO clerk for 6 months it was time for me to move on and up in the banking world. My new job title was Foreign Till Cashier, a job that was to become one of my favourite positions. This role would involve buying and selling foreign currency, issuing and cashing in travellers cheques and transfering funds to and from worldwide Banks in many different countries. This of course does not exist today because of the use of Euros.