Trim size: 210 x 148 mm

Synopsis   
Learning to swim, riding a bicycle and saving money were some of the things my father taught me at a young age. On August 8, 1953, he took me to the new branch of the State Savings Bank in Canterbury Rd, Box Hill South, to open an account. Although only an seven-year-old I’d managed to save two pounds, which was a fair amount of cash considering the adult basic wage was £11/16/- per week. The idea of putting the money in the bank to accrue interest appealed to me and as June 1, 1954 approached, I asked my father if he could calculate how much I could expect. He did so and said it would be 10 pence. He explained it was only a small payment but was the start of building a savings account.
     One  Saturday morning midway through 1954 we went to the bank and the manager himself attended to us. He took the passbook and came back, stating rather apologetically: ``I’m afraid it’s not very much,’’ and handed pass book 1068 to me. To my delight it was 11 pence, a penny more than I had expected, and it made my day.