...as over 150 years of banking comes to an end at Langport.
This was the scene in the centre of Langport this afternoon as local councillors, bank staff and the town clerk posed for photos for the local press as NatWest officially handed over its Stuckey's Bank artifacts to the town hall.
In the background you see the bank branch's replacement: the new 'bank on wheels' which will visit the town weekly.
The artifacts included the old Stuckey's bank opening hours sign and an old black and white portrait of Vincent Stuckey, one of the bank's founders.
Reports from the vicar this evening suggest Mr Stuckey has hit 250 mph as he continues to spin in his grave up at the churchyard...several moles have been killed.
But it wasn't all pleasantries at the photoshoot this afternoon...
Three cheers for Ian Macnab!
Before the group gathered for the pictures, town councillor Ian Macnab could plainly be heard giving NatWest's main representative what for.
Angry at the branch closure - he told the bank's regional manager, who'd turned up for the pictures, that he thought it was a "black day" for Langport and that he was not there in any way to promote NatWest's new bank on wheels service (pictured)
As the photoshoot took place, Carry On Langport's reporter raced round to the bank which was minutes from closing for the very last time. There he found at least ten people in the queue, each looking equally peeved off as the next.
Even a bunch of pikeys turned up to see if they good blow the cashpoint out of the wall by 3 o'clock.
We salute the local staff of Langport NatWest who've had to deal with all the negative comments aimed at the bank since the closure was announced and we wish them all the best with their relocations - if that's what they're going to do.
As for the general management up at NatWest in London who took the decision to close...a message from one of Langport's oldest residents:
That's it for now - more news as it comes in.
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