Northern Rock: The losing players

The Shareholder

Robin Ashby was among many shareholders who attended a meeting, at Newcastle Arena, ten years ago, to hear more about the fate of their investments. Instead he left with more questions.

He watched the Rock's share price plummet as attempts to find a buyer were made.

When the government took over the company the shares were valued as worthless. Robin, and many others, always felt they should have been compensated. But that never happened.

The former shareholders took their fight to Westminster and to court. But lost.

Some of them, however, say it's a battle they plan to re-start.

In an interview with ITV News Tyne Tees, the former Chancellor Alistair Darling laid out the government's position, then and now:

The Saver

Sylvia Murphy had been a loyal Northern Rock customer for more than 25 years.

When she saw the queues on television, she, simply, couldn't believe what was happening.

Sylvia had her savings guaranteed by the government - as all savers did - but lost her shares, and remains angry at how she was treated.

The Worker

Daniel Gorman worked in Northern Rock's main call centre in Gosforth.

He insists staff there were as worried as customers - especially as many were paid their bonuses in shares.

He described the atmosphere inside as they dealt with panicked phone calls every day:

These were just 3 of many stories of everyday people affected by a huge event a decade ago.