Vote brings echo of Abbey National battle

ALEXANDER Sandison, who died four years ago, was the leading light of the campaign against the flotation of Abbey National, writes Vivien Goldsmith.

So, when the fight was over and lost, he withdrew his savings and deposited them with the Guardian Building Society.

That was taken over by Cheltenham & Gloucester building society in 1990, and savers received a bonus payment of 4 per cent.

So even now there is an account in Mr Sandison's name which stands to gain several thousand pounds from the C&G's proposal to abandon its mutual status and become part of Lloyds Bank.

His widow, Jean Sandison, who is one of the executors of his will, said she would probably vote for the conversion on his behalf so that the legatees would benefit from the money. 'But on my own account I will probably vote against on principle,' she added.