# Hilda Harding

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{{Short description|Bank Manager}}
{{Infobox person
|name=Hilda Harding
|image=Hilda_Harding_first_UK_female_bank_manager.jpg
|caption=
}}

'''Hilda Millicent Harding''' (10 September 1915 – 26 December 1998)  was appointed by [Barclays](/source/Barclays) Bank as Britain’s first female bank manager. She was the great-aunt of British children’s author [Robin Bennett](/source/Robin_Bennett).

==Career==
===Progression===
Harding joined the High Wycombe branch of [Barclays](/source/Barclays) Bank as a shorthand typist, on 18 June 1934. She earned £50 per annum.<ref name="Daily Sketch">''Daily Sketch'', 17 May 1958</ref><ref name="Hilda Harding Cuttings">{{cite web|url=https://www.home.barclays/content/dam/barclayspublic/docs/BarclaysNews/2017/Mar/Hilda_Harding_Cuttings.pdf |title=Hilda Harding Cuttings |publisher=Barclays}}</ref> In 1939 she transferred to [Henley-on-Thames](/source/Henley-on-Thames) branch as a ledger clerk; in 1941 she was appointed secretary to the local Directors at [Reading](/source/Reading%2C_Berkshire). After the Second World War, in 1947, she was one of the first women to attend the Barclays training school at Chester House, [Wimbledon](/source/Wimbledon%2C_London), and a year after that she transferred to Barclays Head Office as secretary to a senior executive. In 1950 she attended the administrative staff college at [Henley on Thames](/source/Henley_on_Thames) (now [Henley Business School](/source/Henley_Business_School)). Finally, on 15 May 1958, she was announced as Barclays' first female bank manager, at the planned new [Hanover Square](/source/Hanover_Square%2C_Westminster) branch in London.<ref name="Hilda Harding appointment">{{cite web |url=https://www.archive.barclays.com/items/show/662 |title=Head Office Circular announcing the appointment of Hilda Harding as branch manager &#124; Barclays Group Archives |publisher=Archive.barclays.com |date=1958-05-15 |accessdate=2015-09-25 |archive-date=2015-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925054807/https://www.archive.barclays.com/items/show/662 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Hilda Harding appointment 2">{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/bank-accounts/7916201/From-top-hats-to-Metro-Bank-a-history-of-British-banking-in-pictures.html?image=5 |title=From top hats to Metro Bank: a history of British banking in pictures |publisher=Telegraph |date=2010-07-29 |accessdate=2015-09-25}}</ref><ref>Career information courtesy of Barclays Group Archives</ref>

===Hanover Square branch===
The new branch opened in December 1958, with a staff of six including two women deputies.

===Retirement===
Harding retired on 10 September 1970.  She lived at [Shiplake](/source/Shiplake), near [Henley-on-Thames](/source/Henley-on-Thames), and ran a market garden until her death in 1998.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harding, Hilda}}
Category:1915 births
Category:1998 deaths
Category:People from Shiplake

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hilda Harding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Harding) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilda_Harding?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.