Category: Dumbarton

The boys gathered in their own wee booths while the girls one was always nearer the jukebox. For the lads this turned out to be the best way of coming up with the most unoriginal chat up line ever, “ what song would you like me to play for you ?” So it was either a lot of giggling and a knock back or she would join you for selection at the jukebox and that was a good sign, softer romantic songs were chosen. The old time favourite from the boys was : Je t’aime from Jane Birkin. In contrast after an embarrassing refusal it was pressing B16 for The Animals – We’ve got to get out of this place or the Rolling Stones C23 – Can’t get no Satisfaction.

The branch was for many years the most popular place to bank money for the hundreds of local men and women employed in the now closed Hiram Walker distillery in Castle Street. It is straight across the road from the imposing, grey sandstone public house which was once the whisky company’s offices, which included the cashier’s department where Dumbarton man Dick Lynch was in charge. Earlier this week, the bank announced that 82 branches across the UK would close as part of a plan to make £100m of cost cuts by 2022. The Dumbarton branch will close in July next year. There is no announcement in relation to its autobank or whether that will also go when the branch closes.