Arthur Stevens

Bank: National Provincial Bank

Place of work: London Princes Street office

Died: 20 February 1944

Arthur Stevens was born on 30 January 1908, the son of Herbert and Ethel Stevens. He was educated at Richmond County School. He joined the staff of National Provincial Bank in August 1924 as a probationer at London Westminster Bridge Road branch and was promoted to junior clerk a few months later. He worked at several London branches, moving to Oxford Street in May 1925, Liverpool Street Station in April 1926 and Cornhill in September 1926. He was promoted to clerk in January 1927, moved to Chiswick branch in May 1929 and to Princes Street in January 1935. 

Outside of work, Stevens was a keen rower and in 1925 became a member of the bank's rowing club. In 1926 he rowed bow in the bank's 1st VIII and was in that position a year later when the crew made bank history by winning the club's first open race at Putney. In 1928 the crew secured 3rd place in the Head of the River Race, won 'Junior VIIIs' at Reading and made further history by becoming the first National Provincial Bank team to compete at the Henley Royal Regatta. After his rowing days were over, Arthur remained a keen member of the club coaching crews and serving one term as club captain.

Just before the outbreak of war in September 1939, he left the bank to go on war service in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Flying Officer Stevens was killed during a raid over Germany on 20 February 1944. He was 37 years old and left a widow, Celia, whom he had married in 1931. Celia also worked for the bank at its Long Acre branch.