A long-serving Beccles bank manager, Arthur Savage, who has died aged 90 after a short illness, ran the town's branch for a third of his career.

He had joined Lloyds Bank in 1938 and retired after 43 years' service, having refused promotion to remain in Beccles, which was to be his home for almost half a century.

Born in Stevenage, where he went to school, he started his banking career as a cashier at Dereham branch in 1938. He met and married Freda, who came from nearby Little Dunham, because they both attended Dereham Baptist Church.

They had decided to get married at Dereham in June 1945 while he was on leave from the Royal Air Force because at that time Lloyds Bank did not allow its staff to marry under the age of 30. They were married for 55 years.

He served for the duration of the second world war on the home front and after he was demobbed in 1946 returned to the bank as a married man.

He worked at branches including Barnet, and Hitchin, and then became the first manager at Stevenage New Town. A further move to Bishop's Stortford followed until in 1964, he became manager of the Beccles branch and retired in January 1981.

He became involved with many organisations, serving as a president of the Rotary Club, and was also a keen member of the Probus Club.

He supported the Wainford branch of the British Red Cross Society and his banking expertise was appreciated by local good causes including the Waveney Centre. He helped with fundraising for the local hospital and was a governor of the Ashley Downs Special School at Lowestoft.

His hobbies included stamp collecting and he was elected president of the local philatelic society, reading and gardening. And on one occasion, a customer stopped to thank him for making an initial loan, which launched his thriving business.

He also enjoyed watching cricket and had a very good sense of humour.

His wife predeceased him in 2000. He leaves two daughters, Barbara and Helen, three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

A family funeral service will be held at Gorleston Crematorium on Thursday, August 18 at 10.40am followed by a thanksgiving at Lowestoft Baptist Church at 2pm.