I am trying to get more info on Cecil Frank Spencer who is on BMD death registration as July 2001. Cecil was born in Devon on 21 Dec 1902 and died in West Sussex abt July 1901. Could someone possibly find the obituary or locate the place where he might be buried.

Bit confused as to the birth and death dates. I worked at Williams Deacons Bank in Marylebone, London in the '60s. My boss, the Bank Manager was a Cecil Frank Spencer, who commuted up from Sussex (possibly Lewes) every day. He was a slightly built, very dapper gentleman who always sported a bow tie. A very charming man

Thank you so much for your reply. No wonder you were confused by the dates. I meant to write that his death occurred about July 2001. Thank you for noticing the error.. I do know that Cecil Spencer did work for a bank and I believe was never married. Cecil was my grandfather's brother. How exciting to think that you might have worked for him. I would love to hear more from you. With this more accurate information would it be possible to research the obit. I would love to know how it reads.

Regards,
Barbara Partridge

Hello again
Yes, this must be the same gentleman. There's not very much I can tell you as I'm going back 44 years! I joined Williams Deacon's Bank in Marylebone, London in 1960. In fact I met my wife, Brenda there. Mr Spencer, who was indeed unmarried, was the Manager and typical of Bank Managers of that era. He was very kind to me and I recall that he gave me a gold Parker pencil for my 21st Birthday in 1961, which I still have. He was a real gentleman and quite often picked me up on my manners (I was a South London urchin). He was not very tall, about 5ft 6 inches and of slender build. He often wore a bowler, and always a silk bow tie. We had some very wealthy and influential customers and he was very much at home in their company. I also recall that he took me to lunch at his club once or twice and again made sure that my table manners were up to scratch! I believe he lived in Lewes , West Sussex, and was an active member of the church there. I believe he donated some kneeling cushions (hassocks?) which he may well have embroidered himself. He retired not long after I joined the Bank, which would fit in with the birth date of circa 1901. I can't really help with the obituary, but I am in touch with former Williams Deacons Bank employees, and I will ask if any of them has any memories of Mr Spencer, and if so, I'll write again.
Williams Deacons Bank was swallowed up by various mergers etc. The archives would be held, now, by The Royal Bank of Scotland, and it might be possible to obtain some information from there. You would need to write to the Archivist, I think.
Regards, Ted

Hello again Ted. I have just caught up to reading my posts and doing some more research. Time sure does fly by. Thanks so much for this wonderful information on Cecil. From what I have heard about him your description sure seems to fit. You mentioned he was very active at a church in Lewes. Would you know what that church might be?Do you know what newspaper his obit might have been published in? Perhaps I could go online and look it up in their archives. Thanks again and I am so tickled that he was able to mentor you a bit. I look forward to meeting him someday.
Regards, Barbara

Helo Barbara
Nice to hear from you again.
I have been to Lewes (my sister used to live in W.Sussex) but I don't know it that well. Checking on line, the main C of E churches appear to be St Thomas, and St Marys. I believe the main newspapers are The Argus and the Sussex Express. The request for info on Cecil hasn't yet been posted on the Williams Deacon's Bank website
http://www.wdpensioners.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index.html
I'll let you know if I hear anything.
Regards
Ted

Dear Ted, thank you so much for all your help. I will check out the website and possibly try the newspapers.

Regards,
Barbara