'The bank wanted compensation to move out, but all I could say was you've got the money and I HAVEN'T.'

'The bank wanted compensation to move out, but all I could say was you've got the money and I HAVEN'T.'

Tom describes some of his business ventures.

Tom Sutton

Trinity College Dublin

1955

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Tom Sutton

Work and Employment

Life Story

Glengormley, Co. Antrim

1950s

Private houses were situated on either side of our Glengormley shop - all rented property, but the opportunity came to buy all three when one tenant left, and we scraped up all our resources together to achieve this. The empty property was let as a baby outfitter and then I managed to attract interest from the Ulster Bank for the other, but a big snag existed, there was still a tenant there. Overtaking that problem meant getting somewhere else for the tenant to live, at the same rent. Mission accomplished when we acquired a semi-detached house for them nearby at Farmley Crescent.The bank, with a five year lease, quickly turned the property into a very attractive branch and I was aware that they also had the offer, depending on the success of the venture, to build a full sized bank at the corner of Antrim and Farmley roads. With about half the tenancy time gone, applications were sought for someone to take over as sub postmaster in Glengormley, as Mr. Symmons the chemist who currently carried out this job had tendered his impending retirement. At the last minute I put in an application for the job and offered the premises which the bank used as where I would operate the post office. To my great surprise I was offered the job commencing in two months time. The bank wanted compensation to move out, but all I could say was you've got the money and I HAVEN'T.However, after further negotiations, the bank agreed to bring over a temporary building, provided that when they started to build, I would take it away and pay them �3000 for same. I agreed, half heartedly to this, but unknown to me at the time, Fred Cartmill, the local draper in Glengormley agreed to by same for �6000, take it away to house his school uniforms etc., and place it on ground at the rear of his shop. I knew nothing of this at the time, but alas, Fred was turned down for planning permission to do this, we he had to take it down and leave it piled up in his garden at home. Shortly after starting work as sub postmaster, a furniture shop at the corner of the Ballyclare Road was burnt to the ground, planning was however reversed and it was allowed for the bank building to be placed at Fred's shop, so that the furniture proprietors' could get back into business quickly. Alas they deemed to call it a day and eventually Fred was able to use it for his uniforms.

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)