I saved a shilling a week with the school bank. We had a paper booklet but each time we saved £1 we had to take in our black bank book which was kept by the school and sent off the bank for our £1 to be added. The black bank book was always completed by someone in beautiful copperplate writing.
When I was 7 the big day came when I had to go to the bank to sign my first signature. Banks were special in those days. Solid buildings with massive wooden doors. People spoke in hushed voices like in church. We joined the queue and when it was our turn a gentlemen in a suit asked how he could help us. Mam said I was there to sign my book. I remember he smiled and asked us to wait a minute. My nose just reached over the top of the counter. It smelt of wood polish and brasso. Another gentleman came who seemed to be more important. I thought he was the manager but now I reckon he was the chief clerk. He told the first gentleman to get me a stool to stand on. He lifted part of the big counter and brought a shiny wooden step. Other customers started to ask mum why I was there and were really nice to me with smiles and 'well done's' The chief clerk put a huge piece of paper in front of me, gave me a fountain pen and asked me sign my name...just like they asked the grown ups. Then I had to sign again in my black bank book. When I'd signed he very formally said, "Thank you, Miss *. You are a valued customer of our bank and we look forward to doing business with you". I felt soooooo grown up. It's stayed with me all these years.