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Barclays History

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27th August 2005, Accra Microbanking scheme turns a traditional Ghanaian money collector into a venture capitalist.

11th October 2005, Elvington Aerodrome Mike Newman breaking his own World Blind Landspeed Record.

27th June 1967, North London Reg Varney withdrawns £10 from the world's first cashpoint transaction.

9th September 1986, New York Barclays is the first British bank to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

29th June 1966, Birmingham The launch of Europe's first credit card sparks a revolution in banking.

1st December 1958, Hanover Street, London Britain's first woman bank manager poses for an incredulous press.

11th October 2005, Elvington Aerodrome

Mike Newman, Barclays Business manager, reaches 178.5 mph in his modified BMW M5, breaking his own World Blind Land Speed Record.

There would have been easier ways for Barclays Business Manager Mike Newman to raise money for charity organisation Vision 2020. But to create the kind of interest that would make a real difference to their efforts to stamp out preventable blindness, he put all his efforts into doing something difficult: breaking his own land speed record by topping an average speed of 167.32 mph. And if you’re thinking that’s not so hard, think again – Mike is also blind.

So, on October 11th 2005, Mike set out on his 3rd world record attempt since 2003. Driving a modified BMW M5, he hit an average speed of 167.32 mph. Yet another world record and more importantly, another huge boost to visually impaired communities the world over. But he’s not finished yet – he’s getting ready to become the first blind person to top 200 mph on dry land. In Mike’s own words, what he’s doing is catching people’s imaginations – and convincing them there’s little that is unattainable for the blind or partially sighted.

© 2007 Barclays Group PLC