| Description | Tape 1 Side A: WILLIAM MICHAEL MURRAY born 13 December 1938 Ayr. Paternal family: father born Glasgow, a teacher. Grandfather a seafarer. Maternal family Hiscock: mother born Glasgow. Grandparents English, grandfather a chauffeur, grandmother in domestic service. Mother a clerkess. Recalls paternal grandfather. Reference to ship Captain Cook, New Zealand. Describes paternal grandmother. Details re holidays in Drymen with maternal grandparents. Describes estate owned by Sir George Mitchell. Further details re grandparents, Mitchell, his estate. Grandfather had been a horseman. Early childhood memories of Troon. Has younger sister. Details. Describes childhood home in Troon. Moved to Aberdeen 1945. Recalls blackout. Lived in Cranford Road then Morningside Crescent. Describes home, neighbourhood. Mentions coal fires. Recalls neighbours on both sides. Details re father who taught maths, science in trades college. He was headmaster Hanover Street Night School. Describes him, relationship with him. He was a Church Elder. Followed him in this. Describes mother, own similarity to her. Father died at 57. Details. Describes discipline in childhood home. Importance of church. Recalls father's involvement in EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland), his right wing politics, own inclination. Involvement of parents, uncle in formative years. Details re attempts to get into bank, success at second attempt, winning prize. Mentions playing in jazz band, father's encouragement to study etc. Recalls friends visiting home. Went to Aberdeen Grammar School. School days not happiest days of life. Enjoyed sport. Played golf. Hockey was main sport, played for school, district, clubs, Scottish Veterans. Enjoys fishing. Came to banking by accident. Explains. Recalls first interview by manager of Union Bank of Scotland. Mentions interest in metallurgy.
Tape 1 Side B: Describes Aberdeen in pre-oil days. Recalls bus drivers, conductors, tramcars, shops, harbour, packed beach, Glasgow visitors, Union Street. Recalls newspaper sellers. Safe out at night. Compares with now. Recalls Beach Ballroom, coal boats Spray, Thrift. Describes Aberdonian character, people. Recalls time taken to go by train to Glasgow. Aberdeen prosperous with granite, farming, fishing, never poor. Impact of oil industry, cowboys, big spenders. Early resistance before oil production stage. Started work in Union Bank of Scotland, Kittybrewster Branch 1954. Recalls first job, including carrying cash, cheques. Describes first day at work, colleagues, daily routines, deliveries. Banking respected as a job. Reasons for not going to sea, or working overseas. Details re sister's education, work as chemist, marriage. Close to her. Own marriage 1962. Recalls friends, social life. Played banjo in jazz band. Became semi-professional. Details. Is not musical. Explains enjoyment of band. Recalls meeting wife at Beach Ballroom during National Service period. Mentions children. After National Service rejoined bank at Castle Street, Aberdeen, as clerk 1960. Did Associate's exams. Won prize for Scotland. Details. Own place in hierarchy of bank at that time. Did securities work. Explains strict regime. Everything written by hand. Recalls ledger machines. Aberdeen a wealthy city, low unemployment. No mention of oil then. Adopted children. Details. Recalls complexities, strictness of adoption process, importance of medical checks. Recalls collecting son at 4 weeks, preparations in home. Sent to Nethergate branch of bank, Dundee, 1961 as clerk. Paid salary of Ð600. Lived in digs for first time. Sent to Chief Office in Dundee 1962. Worked on jute shipments. Put on 'Certificate A' fast-track.
Tape 2 Side A: Details re early career postings leading to appointment as Chief Clerk at St John Street, Perth, 1967, later Accountant. Was youngest accountant in Bank. Senior to older colleagues. Explains attitude to them, their reaction. Describes role as Accountant running office. Examples of own ways of dealing with staff, difficult situations. Mentions instance of theft. Details re security, alarms etc. Appointed Assistant Manager, Lerwick 1971. Big change in role. Explains. Young for task. No mention of oil when interviewed for job. Had bank house in Lerwick. Recalls attitude of others at time of departure for Lerwick, arrival at Sumburgh, first night in Lerwick Hotel. Impressions of Lerwick then, harbour, fishing, shipping. Recalls Shetlanders, their attitudes. Mentions some key bank customers, businesspeople. Bank of Scotland was the major bank in Shetland. Comments on other banks, their similarity, except Clydesdale. Attitude to Clydesdale. Recalls first arrivals of oil people in Shetland soon after own arrival, reactions of Shetlanders. Mentions early supply boats, discussions re industry. Bank appointed oil consultants to new oil division. Real oil scene didn't start till c1973. People anxious about the industry. Cost of labour went through the roof. Compares Shetland and mainland attitudes to lending etc. Explains skills, scope of lending. Got more personally involved with customers. Explains own methods when dealing with various situations, high level of trust. Recalls Manager, George Murray, hard taskmaster. Gives example of his skills, authoritative and particular approach. Describes a test of wills leading to good relationship with him. Recalls his public reputation. Supported by him when chosen to succeed him as Manager.
Tape 2 Side B: Manager, Lerwick 1973. Recalls arrival of oil industry, visits of early survey personnel. Development of Sullom Voe. Arrivals of supply boats. Details. Some local companies supplied oil boats. Saw business opportunity for Bank. Compares own approach with that of other banks. Recalls first visit to JMJ, contractors, primitive conditions at Sullom Voe. Applied to have bank within site, arrangement of unusual working hours because of workers' timetables. Got sole banking rights. Recalls up-to-date telex. Describes development of business with oil industry. Details re staffing of Sullom Voe bank. Unusual approach to banking. Effect of bank girls on customers' language. Big deposits of salaries. Workers' approach to saving. Office opening hours. Had mobile units, Land Rover. Recalls weather. Describes own trusting relationship with workers. Mentions alcohol. Started to get company accounts. Recalls attitude of Head Office to operation, being given authority to make financial decisions. Reference to Green, Compass Catering; Basil Butler, BP. Business became big. Recalls a case of dealing with staff. Mentions expansion of local industries. Recalls making a mistake, reaction of a major customer. Involved in Shetland business organisations etc. Sought out by companies coming to Shetland. Recalls banking arrangements in Yell, Unst. Risk taken opening branch at Sumburgh, reaction of Head Office, Andrew Russell, Treasurer. Most bankers worked by the book. Recalls Zetland Islands Council personnel, recruitment of young bank staff from school, cooperation with Council officials. Impression of Ian Clark, his battles with oil companies. Recalls instructing local companies dealing with oil industry. Outcomes achieved by Clark, e.g. oil storage question taken to the wire. Details re Clark's style, reputation, attitude.
Tape 3 Side A: Impact of Ian Clark (cont'd), reaction of people to him. Recalls fractious Chamber of Commerce meetings involving Clark. Own relationship with him. Details re erroneous story in Scotsman newspaper about punch-up between self as Chairman, Chamber of Commerce, and Council Chairman. Advice about attitude to media. Clark was very strong, believed in his own ability. Opinion of him. His relationship with oil companies. He would take advice. He had meetings with Tony Benn, Minister of Energy. Attitude of industry to Clark. He later went to BNOC (British National Oil Corporation), then disappeared. Comments on reasons for his departure. Bank grew into big business with oil industry. Details. Recalls social life in Lerwick, mixing with customers, competitors. Attitude to competition, poaching, cooperation. Recalls chasing potential customers. Bank of Scotland most aggressive, top oil bank in UK. No pressure from Head Office re business targets. Explains reporting routines. Describes qualities required of a good banker. Own attitude to job. Learned from managers. Advised Shetland businesses re dealing with oil companies, business opportunities, accommodating their strange ways. Shetland people were not used to contracts. Explains. Recalls dealing with oil industry-related companies. Big companies didn't try to take advantage of Shetlanders. Explains. Recalls Ian Caldwell's involvement in land deals, e.g. at Sullom Voe, problems. He was in knitwear before. Reference to Tom King, Shadow Minister of Energy; Bruce Gardyne. Impression of Jo Grimond. Sent to Chief Office, Aberdeen, as Manager. Feelings re leaving Shetland. Family situation. Time to move on. Conflicting views in Bank re time spent in appointments. Explains. Mentions strength of Clydesdale Bank in Aberdeen, Edwin Reid.
Tape 3 Side B: Comments on work of Edwin Reid, his unique function. Compares his role in Clydesdale Bank with own in Bank of Scotland. Changes to Aberdeen, e.g. harbour. People more sophisticated. Mentions new restaurants. Recalls early oil exploration days when 'cowboys' spent money like water. When production stage arrived, more stable workforce. Recalls property price rises. Companies looked after their pennies. Struggle for people not associated with the industry. Details. Effect on local companies. Bank had to be careful re lending. Some firms went under. Details re Hall Russells shipbuilders. Reference to unionised workforce. Recalls degree of greed that existed among younger folk re wages. More liberal attitude of bank at time. Mentions Aberglen. Biggest troubles with customers developing businesses too fast, coming unstuck. Mixed socially with hockey, golf friends outwith job. Explains. Recalls anxieties at having to pull plug on a company. Feelings about cocktail parties. Attitude towards Clydesdale, Royal Bank of Scotland. Mentions later senior appointments in Bank. In Shetland at right time, grabbed opportunity. Established Bank in north-west England, Manchester 1982-9. Started from scratch. Recalls first days, lack of customers. Grew to big office. Recalls jungle of Manchester, having to learn again. Hadn't wanted to go. Details. Manchester went well. Next appointed to Edinburgh, Assistant General Manager, Chief Head Office Manager. Still dealt with customers. Reference to politics in Bank. Getting top job was thanks to oil industry. Reference to Basil Butler, BP. Attitude to making mistakes. Feelings about time spent with family, long working hours. Reference to outside activities, CV, honours. Significance of awards to career. Current lifestyle, charity work, involvement with organisations.
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