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Nightingale (formerly known as Nightingale House and The Home for Aged Jews) was the largest Jewish residential and nursing home in Europe in 2001. As a non-profit making charitable organisation (Registered Charity Number 207316) the Home has been funded by a combination of private and state funding. Nightingale has always been run on Orthodox lines but has been supported by all sections of the Jewish community.

Origins: Nightingale had its origins in three charities, the Hand in Hand Asylum for Decayed Tradesmen (founded 1840), the Widows' Home Asylum (founded 1843) and the Jewish Workhouse also known as the Jewish Home (founded 1871). They were established in the old Jewish quarter in London's East End to cater for the needs of the Jewish poor.

The Poor Law system of workhouses did not embrace the social values, religious and dietary needs of poor members of the Jewish community. Respect and care for the elderly has been a core priority in the teachings of Judaism. A major aim of these Charities therefore was to save aged Jews from starvation and exposure on the streets and from the Workhouse and find places for them where their needs were met.

The Hand in Hand Home occupied the following premises: 5 Duke's Place (from 1843), 22 Jewry Street (from 1850), Wellclose Square (from 1854) and 23 Well Street, Hackney (from 1878). The Widow's Home was first based at 22 Mitre Street, then 19 Duke Street (from 1850), 67 Great Prescott Street, Goodmans Fields (from 1857) and later moved next door to the Hand in Hand in 1880.

The Jewish Workhouse was founded in 1871 by a movement led by Solomon Green, the son of Abraham Green one of the founders of the Widow's Home. The first premises were at 123 Wentworth Street. In 1876 the Home moved to 37-9 Stepney Green.

In 1894, these charities amalgamated as The Home for Aged Jews. In 1896 the combined Homes were based at 23 and 25 Well Street, Hackney and 37 and 39 Stepney Green. Two Medical Officers, a Master and two Matrons cared for 105 residents and were managed by a General Committee, House Committee, Finance Committee, Investigating Committee and Ladies' Committee.

In 1907 The Home for Aged Jews moved to 'Ferndale', Nightingale Lane, Wandsworth Common. The premises had been gifted by Sydney James Stern, Lord Wandsworth, an assimilated English Jew in 1904.

Aims: In 1896, the aims were: 'to provide a Home for, maintain and clothe aged, respectable and indigent persons of the Jewish Religion, who shall have attained the age of 60 years, and shall have been resident in England for at least seven years.'

In 2004 the aims have not changed significantly: 'to relieve persons of the Jewish faith who are not less than 60 years of age and are in need, by providing housing and items, services or facilities calculated to reduce the need of such persons, including special care in cases of infirmity'.

Changing roles: In the early 20th century, the work of the Home moved away from direct rescue work and the alleviation of poverty carried out by the former Charities, to a greater emphasis on care and the improvement of the quality of life for its residents.

Developments were made in care despite continued financial difficulties with annual deficits and falling numbers of subscriptions. Funds for the Home were increasingly augmented by valuable sources of income from collections made by Aid Societies such as the Ezra Society, takings from local cinema screenings and fundraising activities such as bazaars. The introduction of Welfare State legislation and pensions contributed greatly to the Home's income and increasing focus on care.

In-house eye care, ear and dental care facilities were introduced by 1924. In 1949 an Occupational Therapy Department was established in line with contemporary thinking on care for the elderly providing a wide range of activities such as basket weaving and needlework. From the 1950s, residents were increasingly encouraged to participate in activities and a regular programme of social events was provided. By the 1960s the Medical Staff consisted of a Matron, deputy Matron, 12 qualified staff and 30 state enrolled Nurses and Orderlies. The mid 1960s saw relaxations in Orthodox religious restrictions with the introduction of visiting hours on Sabbaths and festivals, and the abolition of compulsory wearing kippot (skull caps) and attendance at religious services.

The Community Care Act 1993 had major implications for the Home. Tha Act encouraged potential residents to continue at their own homes for longer. As a result, residents on their admission to the Home were much frailer and dependent requiring greater levels of nursing and paramedical staff. The average age of residents in 2001 was 88 years.

The later half of 20th century saw major building projects with expansion and modernisation of the site. These included: the building of Asher Corren Wing (1957), Gerald Lipton Centre (2001, formerly the Red Brick Extension opened 1976), Birchlands (formerly occupied by the Jewish Home of Rest) (1980), Jessie and Alfred Cope Wing (redeveloped in 1992), David Clore Art and Craft Centre (1986) and Balint Wing (1987).

In 1960s The Home for Aged Jews became Nightingale House (The Home for Aged Jews). Address: 105 Nightingale Lane, Wandsworth LB. From 1997 the Home was renamed as Nightingale.

In 2001 there were 300 residents. Residential and nursing home facilities included a comprehensive leisure service programme, an Art and Craft Centre, special facilities for those residents with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia with a reminiscence centre, multi-sensory room, on-site physiotherapy, pharmacy and dental surgery and occupational therapy services, synagogue, coffee shop, hairdressing salon, landscaped gardens, general shop and kosher food service.

Nightingale's goal in the 21st century was to provide loving care and enable residents to experience a 'wonderful quality of life' - whereby they could 'find a new lease of life and whole host of new activities, hobbies and friends'.

The Governesses Benevolent Institution was founded in London in 1841 to assist governesses during illness, poverty and old age. It was renamed the Schoolmistresses and Governesses Institution in 1952 and was still in existence in 2004.

1829-1843:

The Governesses Mutual Assurance Society was formed in 1829 to help alleviate the hardship suffered by governesses, especially in illness and old age. It planned to make grants in cases of illness and assist governesses to purchase annuities from funds subscribed to by the general public. The Society did not prosper, however, and ended in 1838. An attempt was made in 1841 to resurrect the Society and at a public meeting in May 1841, a two-fold institution comprising the Governesses' Benevolent Institution and the Governesses' Provident Fund was proposed. Fund raising was very slow and the institution's committee decided in 1843 that reorganisation was necessary.

1843-1860:

The modified institution concentrated initially on providing immediate relief for needy governesses. The Ladies' Committee began administering temporary payments in 1843. The Provident Fund was established soon after to encourage governesses to purchase annuities that would mature on their retirement. The Institution began investing in Government securities and private enterprise for financing annuities. Annuities were allocated to applicants elected to receive them by the Institution's membership and the first was given in 1844.

In 1845, the Institution established a home for unemployed governesses in Harley Street. It moved to Cavendish Street in 1927 and closed in 1930. The Institution opened an Asylum for Aged Governesses in Prince of Wales Road, Kentish Town in 1849. Queen's College in Harley Street was set up in 1848 with funding from the Institution to provide an education for school mistresses and governesses. The Institution received its Royal Charter in 1848 and Queen's College received its own charter in 1853. These early achievements occurred during the tenure of Reverend David Laing (1800-1860), the Institution's first Honourary Secretary who served from 1843 until his death.

1861-1939:

The Asylum was sold in 1870 and the funds were used to purchase land at Chislehurst, Kent where a terrace of 12 houses were opened in 1872. These houses were renamed 'The Home for Retired Governesses' in 1911 and then 'The Queen Mary Homes for Governesses' in 1946. In 1905, the Institution was given 'Fairmont', a cliff-top house at Shanklin, Isle of Wight and it was opened in the same year as a holiday home for working governesses. Fairmont was sold in 1937 and the funds were used to establish the Assisted Holiday Scheme. In 1908, Mrs Ada Lewis-Hill bequeathed half of her estate to the Institution for building another governesses home. A scheme was set up to invest the funds for this purpose in 1917, and in 1924 'The Ada Lewis Governesses Homes' were opened at Beckenham, Kent.

In 1913, a private Act of Parliament gave the Institution wider powers for managing its investments and a reorganisation occurred in 1934 when a separate Executive Committee was formed to assist the Board of Management. The Almoner's Department was formed in 1930 to arrange visits to applicants and receivers of temporary assistance and annuities. The Clothing Department was formed soon afterwards to supply items of clothing and blankets to applicants and the Employment Department was incorporated in 1934 to continue provision of training and an employment agency for governesses. The Provident Department advised governesses and schoolmistresses on purchasing annuities for their old age but it was replaced in 1937 when members of the Institution's board set up the Governesses Mutual Provident Fund, an independent association for providing pensions. The company was renamed the Women Teachers Thrift Association in 1944. The Jubilee Memorial Fund for Aged and Destitute Governesses, founded in 1887 by Miss M.C. Westall, was amalgamated with the Governesses Benevolent Institution in 1938.

1940-1991:

In 1946, Queen Mary gave a substantial gift to the Institution. The gift was the endowment that the Queen had provided for the Holiday Home for Governesses between 1902 and 1944.

The decline in the numbers of governesses requiring financial assistance or employment services led to widespread changes to the structure and responsibilities of the Institution. The Governesses Benevolent Institution Act of 1952 amended the charter to permit eligibility for women teachers in independent schools and changed the Institution's name to the 'Schoolmistresses and Governesses Benevolent Institution' to reflect this. The Charity Commissioners allowed the Institution to admit elderly women from non-teaching professions to enter its residential accommodation in 1982 although its funds could not be used to help them financially.

The Institution purchased and converted 'Northwood', a house in Chislehurst, in 1955 for use as a nursing home for invalids. The Queen Mary Homes in Chislehurst were demolished in 1966 to make way for the construction of Queen Mary House, a purpose built residential home for accommodating 44 residents. Queen Mary House opened in June 1967, causing the closure of Ada Lewis Homes and Northwood. An additional wing was erected in 1972 for less active or temporarily sick residents.

In 1991, the Institution still offered free annuities, a residential home, visiting, grants for many special needs, help with holidays, and confidential advice to eligible women. Applicants must have been employed for the major part of their working lives in the private sector of education as governesses, schoolmistress, self employed teachers of language or music etc., matrons, secretaries, and teachers in adult, further and higher education. Applications were mainly invited from British subjects but under some circumstances, non-British nationals were assisted. Queen Mary House accepted applications for residence from women from comparable careers or professions.

The Institution was still in existence in 2004.

Offices of the Schoolmistresses and Governesses Benevolent Institution:
1843-1912 32 Sackville Street, London W
1912-1916 Walter House, 418-422 Strand, London WC
1916-1934 Dacre House, 5 Arundel Street, Strand, London WC2
1934-1959 58 Victoria Street, London SW1
1959-1981 39 Buckingham Gate, London SW1
1981- Queen Mary House, Manor Park Road, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5PY.

Honorary Secretaries and Secretaries of the Institution:
Reverend David Laing 1843-1860 (Founder and Honorary Secretary)
C.W. Klugh 1845-1902
Reverend Alfred Buss (Honorary Secretary) 1886-1912
A. Wesley Dennis 1902-1921
A.F. Mullins 1921-1933
Colonel Sir Geoffrey Codrington 1933-1946
J.W. Beattie 1946-1972
F.G. Waters 1972-1974
R.W. Hayward 1974- .

Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications Limited was established in 1969. The name derives from two individuals who fought against colonialism and slavery during their time. Toussaint L'Ouverture of Haiti and Paul Bogle of Jamaica. They were both sons of slaves who rose to prominence and were a source of inspiration for their people.

The Huntleys lived in West London, Ealing, LB worked from their front room and when the business became too big for the front room rented shop premises at 5A Chignall Road.

Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications Limited was committed to discovering, promoting and disseminating Black history and Black contributions to the world in academic, creative and social fields. They took a strong political stance to achieve this and initiate change in England and throughout the Diaspora. The books, cards, artwork and workshops which they promoted had to be created by Black people and tell the story of Black people.

The countries of the Caribbean were involved in an anti-colonial struggle in the 1940s and pushing for independence. The Huntleys arrived in London in the 1950s and with others joined the struggle to have a voice and be accepted in the society. They began by producing and selling cards and posters which depicted Black people. Ironically the first book published, The Groundings with My Brothers came not from their struggles in England but from the struggles of historian Walter Rodney, in Jamaica, which they recognised as a universal struggle to disseminate Black history to ordinary people. To stop the voice of Black history from being silenced they decided to publish Rodney's speeches and make it available to as wide an audience as possible. The second publication, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa gave a view of the European encounter with Africa from a Black perspective. These books were often distributed free because publishing was not seen by the Huntleys and their supporters as a means to get rich but a political act to educate and inform.

As of 1984, Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications's list of directors included Jessica Huntley, Eric Huntley, Andrew Salkey, Venetta Ndbele and Ewart Thomas (who was based in the United States of America). The company described itself as "specialists in books from and about the Caribbean, Africa, Afro-America, Asia, [as well as] posters, greeting cards, African arts and crafts" (LMA/4462/E/06/004).

Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications also attracted a group of active supporters of artists, writers, teachers, students, parents and academics who shared a similar world view. Some of these later became Friends of Bogle-L'Ouverture and published work, organised events and raised funds to further the work of Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications.

The bookshop became the touch point for Black academics and Artists visiting the capital from around the globe. Once established it became a venue for workshops, readings and lectures and the promotion of positive representations of Black people. The life of the publishing house was intertwined with the concerns of the community and reflected their problems, achievements and ambitions. The name of the bookshop became synonymous with campaigns for justice and equality. The publishing house was an integral part of the African and Caribbean communities in London. Campaigns and organisations which were supported and/or created by the Huntleys included Bookshop Joint Action, the Radical Black Book Fairs, Black Parents Movement, Greater Access to Publishing, Supplementary Schools and the Newcross Massacre Committee, also campaigns against police harassment, the underachievement of Black children in the school system and the killing of Mikey Smith in Jamaica. In addition to these were the international campaigns against Apartheid in South Africa and repressive governments in the Caribbean.

No overall logo defined the publishing house. In the 1980s three books stacked in front of a circle was used. In the 1990s three flying birds and the letters BLP. In 2000 a large sun behind the words Bogle L'Ouverture.

The expansion into markets in Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, improved conditions for Blacks in London and the wide range of community initiatives in which the Huntleys were involved and the beginnings of an economic depression led to the liquidation of Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications.

In 1991 Bogle-L'Ouverture Press was incorporated after the closure of Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications Limited and relaunched in 1993. The catalogues state that, 'Like its predecessor, the Press is committed to promoting an independent and strong voice; one with which we can set our own agenda. The Press aims to provide a window on the world of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and other countries which are euphemistically known as the Third World.'

Published Books They published books by Black authors for four decades which reflected their reality. The first book The Groundings with my Brothers was a collection of speeches and lectures given by Walter Rodney to ordinary Jamaicans. The second publication was the children's book Getting to Know Ourselves by Bernard and Phyllis Coard.

How Europe Underdeveloped Africa was Rodney's third book and Bogle's second publication by this author. It was reprinted four times and in several languages. After the initial printing, print runs were in excess of 20,000 copies. Howard University bought the American rights and it became an essential university text.

Andrew Salkey was a stalwart supporter and eventually a Director and shareholder of the company. Bogle produced nine of his titles and his work was also published by mainstream publishers such as Oxford University Press.

The Ananse Society was created from two 'Bookeater panel discussions' at Centerprise in East London, organised by the Black Literature Project in October 1995 and April 1996. A working committee was set up in 1996 and those individuals articulated the aims and objectives of the society. The founding members and steering committee of the organisation were: Jan Blake, Jean Buffong, Kadija George, Bonnie Greer, Ahmed Sheikh Gueye, Eric Huntley, Jessica Huntley, Earl Lovelace, Sonia McIntosh, Alex Pascall OBE, Paa 'C' Quaye and Jacob Ross.

The Patrons of the society were Baroness Amos, Dr Petronella Breinburg, Professor Merle Collins, Dr Walter Fluker, Professor Rex Nettleford, Dr Ato Quayson and Mavis Stewart. They were based at Centerprise, 136-138 Kingsland High Street, Hackney LB, where Kadija George was the literature officer. They used the Bogle-L'Ouverture Press post office box address.

The spelling of 'Ananse' was taken from the language of the Akan people of Ghana, Africa. It means 'a male born on a Wednesday'. The character is also known as Anansy, Anancy and Bro Anansi di Spiderman. It derives from West African countries; Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Mali, and travelled with enslaved Africans to become part of the oral tradition in the Caribbean and the Americas.

The Ananase Society Committee stated aims and objectives were to:-

• 'explore and collate the Ananse legend
• raise the self-esteem of our children through the ethics of storytelling and writing
• create a positive public focus on the creative; to enhance the impact that Ananse had had on lives and society, by using readings, seminars and discussions
• actively pursue raising and sharing literary skills, particularly storytelling, between Africans on the continent and the Diaspora
• produce information packs for use in research, education and other institutions as well as for general interest
• take Ananse from survival to action for the positive development of our mental, physical and spiritual selves
• provide an information and archival resource on Ananse stories and stories/folk tales form Africa and the Diaspora

• liase and consult with outer organisations and institutions on how to effectively use Ananse resources and information to achieve these aims and objectives.'

  The Ananse Society was launched between 25 -30 April, 1998. Key note speakers were Merle Collins and Dr Ato Quayson. Keith Waithe and the Macusi players performed an original commissioned composition for the occasion. Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications organised a symposium, 'Ananse in the Diaspora' held at Hackney Town Hall. Participants were Dimela Yekwai, storyteller and poet, Kofi Nyaako, lecturer, Charles da Costa, a graduate in film, Jean Buffong, novelist and Marc Matthews, storyteller.

  In 1999 the first edition of the Society's newsletter, 'Krick Krack', was produced and a fund raising event was organised to mark the first anniversary.

  In December 2001 Jean Buffong proposed the idea that the Ananse Society should be incorporated into African Writers Abroad. The Society would continue to set its own programmes, retain a Chair and a Secretary but share office space and fundraising efforts with this bigger group which was a member of International PEN. This merger was agreed and the Ananse Society was incorporated into African Writers Abroad in 2002

Work on a series of biographies on Caribbean individuals began in 1981 with letters to authors telling them about the series and asking them to write about specific individuals. The first meeting of the Caribbean Biographical Project committee was in September 1992. The group wanted to correct what they perceived would be a future imbalance in the record of the presence of Caribbean people in Britain and the Caribbean. The project was to be both autobiographical and biographical. Prominent individuals were asked to record or give interviews about their experiences and authors were requested to write biographies.

The biographies were aimed at eight to thirteen year olds and were to be a maximum of 8700 words interspersed with sketches.

The committee was sub-divided into core groups which then went on to hold their own meetings.

Core groups and leaders:
Arts: June Baden-Semple, Oscar Abrams
Education: Waveney Bushell, Winston Best
Faith and Community Care: Hewlett Anrew, Sybil Phoenix
Health Care: June Baden-Semple, Lennox Thomas
Publishing: Eric Huntley, Jessica Huntley
Supplementary School Movement: Cicely Haynes-Hart, Ansell Wong

These individuals were highlighted for biographies or autobiographies: Claudia Jones, C L R James, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Louise Bennett, Walter Rodney, Tubal Uriah 'Buzz' Butler, Cipriani, Marcus Garvey, Paul Bogle, Marryshaw, Mary Secole, Franz Fanon, Constantine, Maurice Bishop, Audrey Jeffers, Althea Jones-La Cointe, Grantley Adams.

The group were concerned by the lack of women on the initial list and Rhoda Reddock at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica sent a list of Caribbean women.

Academic, historian and political activist, Walter Rodney, was assassinated in Guyana on 13th June 1980, aged 37 years old. A close friend of Eric and Jessica Huntley, Walter Rodney had also published two books through Bogle - L'Ouverture publications, The Groundings with my Brothers which had been fundamental to the launch of Bogle - L'Ouverture in 1969 and How Europe Underdeveloped Africa in 1972. In the wake of his death the Huntleys organised a public memorial held on 25th July 1980 and also founded the Walter Rodney Memorial Trust on 29th July 1980.

The trust was established to serve as a memorial to Walter Rodney's "profound contribution to the growing awareness and emancipation of the Caribbean working class." Its primary objective was to promote, encourage and organise "the documentation of the history and activity of the black working class in Britain, Africa, the Caribbean, North America and other parts of the world" (LMA/4462/R/03/001).

Capita Hartshead is an independent provider of pensions administration services in the UK and Ireland, initially evolved from a team set up in 1974 to administer the Local Government Pension Scheme on behalf of the Water Authorities. It later acquired Hadrian Solway and, in 1997, became part of The Capita Group Plc (Capita), and is an operating division of Capita.

The Bedfordshire Pension Fund is managed by the County Council.

In 1990, when privatisation of the electricity industry occurred, most staff were either in, or retired from, a "final salary" scheme called the Electricity Supply Pension Scheme (ESPS) to which they paid 6% of their working salary whilst the employing board paid an amount equal to 12%. Although membership is not now compulsory, it was a condition of employment for almost all pre-1990 ESPS members and the pension arrangement was recognised to be part of the employment package.

Strenuous efforts were made to assure staff that their rights and conditions would be protected in the new organisation. Indeed, the Government issued a Statutory Instrument (S.I. 346 1990) for this purpose. A further S.I. (No.318 1990) set out the amendments which the Government required to be made to the ESPS pension scheme. This latter S.I. paved the way for the original single ESPS scheme to be split into 24 Group schemes, each of which is closely identified with one employer.

The idea of setting up the Muslim Women's Helpline was originally proposed by a group of approximately 8 Muslim women at a conference for Muslim women held at the Islamic Cultural Centre in 1987. They were extremely concerned about the difficulties/problems being faced by Muslim women, e.g. marital problems, depression, loneliness, generation gap difficulties between parents and children brought up in the UK. These women then formed a committee which first met at City University in December 1987. Imelda Ryan (who had five years experience with the Samaritans) was asked to lead the group which would work on setting up the Helpline. The Helpline acquired office space in November 1988 (through the generosity of Yusuf Islam who donated a ground floor room in one of his properties), and relocated to new office premises in North London in October 1991. The helpline began receiving calls in February 1989.

In addition to its works as a listening and counselling service, the Muslim Women's Helpline also produced a quarterly newsletter, 'ASK' (A Small Kindness) and contributes to discussions and debates in the Muslim community and in the mainstream on social issues. This has in the past included organising conferences, attending exhibitions and even staging plays. It was a member of the Telephone Helplines Association and affiliated to the Muslim Council of Britain.

Yick-Kwan Cheung was a member of the Chinese community in London.

Mr Can Tran is in his late seventies and is originally from Shunde, China. Tran moved to Saigon, Vietnam when he was in his late teens and where he lived until 1978. In 1980 Tran arrived in London with his family. Mr Tran has always been closely involved with the local community and is still a management member for a London based community centre.

May Matilda Hartle was born in Worcestershire on 16 September 1891. In 1901, at the age of 12, May moved to London. Her first job was working at a Chinese laundry on the Barking Road. In 1909, May married Archibald Flack and moved to Limehouse, East London. During the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, Limehouse had a large Chinese community. May set up a boarding house for foreign seamen and became a very prominent figure in the area. She saw first hand many of the changes to London's Chinatown in Limehouse.

In 1932, The People newspaper picked up on her story and proclaimed her the 'White Woman Ruler of Chinatown'. The story of her life in Chinatown was serialised weekly in the Sunday People.

May Flack died in 1954.

Mrs Ling was originally from Guangzhou City, China. In 1953, after attending school in Guangzhou, Mrs Ling left China to travel to the UK in order to join her husband who had arrived a few years earlier. She moved in with her in-laws, who owned a small laundrette in Birkenhead, near Liverpool.

In 1954, the Lings closed down the laundrette, opening a small restaurant instead. The restaurant traded for about 5-6 years.

Mrs Ling now lives in Kent.

The Chinese National Healthy Living Centre was founded in 1987 to promote healthy living, and provide access to health services, for the Chinese community in the UK. The Centre, based close to London's Chinatown, aims to reduce the health inequality between the Chinese community and the general population by providing a range of services designed to tackle both the physical and psychological aspects of health.

The Travellers' Club, 106 Pall Mall, London, was originally the concept of Viscount Castlereagh who spoke of establishing a club where men could meet socially with fellow travellers, visiting foreigners of distinction and diplomats. It has never been a political club like for example, the Carlton Club.

The club was founded by committee on 12 May 1819 and organisers included the Marquess of Lansdowne, the Earl of Aberdeen, Earl Beauchamp, Viscount Palmerston, Lord Auckland and Sir Archibald Macdonald and others. On 19 July the committee made the head of Ulysses the device of the club and on 18 August notices appeared in the major newspapers of the day to advertise its opening.

The original Travellers' Club was located at 12 Waterloo Place before moving to 49 Pall Mall in 1822. In 1829, Charles Barry was selected to design a new clubhouse at 106 Pall Mall. It was one of Barry's most acclaimed designs and was heavily influenced by his visits to Italy. The design is in the palace style of the Florentine republic and helped to establish Barry as the leading architect of the Renaissance Revival movement . The club moved into its new premises in 1832 and Barry became a member of the club himself in 1834.

In 1820, the first foreign travellers were invited to visit the club. Invitations were sent to Count Maurice Lewenhaupt, Count Rostopchin, Prince Liechtenstein, Prince Villa Franca, and Baron von Werden among others. One of the most famous regular visitors was Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, ambassador to the United Kingdom from France (1830-1834) and a handrail remains that was fixed to the staircase specifically to assist him.

Membership is restricted by election and to candidates who can demonstrate that they either resided or travelled abroad. It has counted among its members Prince George of Cambridge, the Duke of Wellington, 8th Duke of Devonshire, George Canning, Lord John Russell, 3rd Earl Grey, 2nd Earl Granville, Lord Raglan, Arthur Balfour, Stanley Baldwin, Sir Francis Beaufort, Robert FitzRoy, Colonel the Honourable George Anson, Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, and Sir Wilfred Thesiger among many others.

The focus of the club is travel and the majority of the library's publications are devoted to voyages and travel abroad. The club also provides a domestic setting for members and guests to socialise, dine, drink and smoke. The club also has 18 bedrooms for member and guest accommodation.

In 1290 anti-Jewish feeling in England led to the expulsion of all Jews from the country. In the seventeenth century a small number of Jews arrived in London, fleeing persecution by the Inquisition in Spain. They outwardly behaved as Christians while holding secret prayer meetings; and began to petition Protector Oliver Cromwell for the official re-admittance of Jews to England. Eventually their petition was successful and the first official Jewish place of worship was opened in Creechurch Lane, London, in 1656. This building soon became too small and in 1695 work began on a new synagogue, to be situated on Bevis Marks Street, around the corner from Creechurch Lane. The building was opened in September 1701.

Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries immigrants joined the Congregation, coming from Portugal (known as Marranos) or from Jewish communities elsewhere including Spain, Holland, France, Italy and North Africa, the Middle East, Egypt, Lebanon and Iraq. The congregation began to leave the City of London and the East End to settle in the west of London, leading to the establishment of a branch synagogue: situated on Wigmore Street in 1853; moved to Bryanston Street, Marble Arch in 1861; and finally Lauderdale Road, Maida Vale, in 1896. Another synagogue was constructed at Mildmay Park in North London in 1883 and in Wembley in 1962. The Beth Holim hospital and old people's home was moved to Wembley in 1977.

In 1657 the Congregation opened a cemetery, known as the Velho (Old), in Mile End Road, East London. The Velho Cemetery closed in 1735 and the Novo (New) Cemetery was opened further along Mile End Road, and was used until 1918. After this a third cemetery was opened in Golders Green in north west London. The Novo cemetery was partly cleared in the 1970s in face of a compulsory purchase order. Re-interments were carried out at Brentwood, Essex, where all the names are recorded on plaques.

The Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation was led by a small group (Mahamad) consisting of two Wardens (Parnassim) and a Treasurer (Gabay), chosen annually front among the Elders. In the mid 19th century this body became an elected Executive. The Mahamad compiled the first Laws of the Congregation (Ascamot) which were intended to maintain a pious, united and ordered community. The Mahamad levied taxes on members, selected and paid the Haham (Chief Rabbi) and other officials, received offerings and legacies, authorised the solemnisation of marriages and distributed charity (both money and goods such as matzot, coal and blankets).

The synagogue also established various charities to help its members. These included an orphanage; the Shaare Tikvah (Gates of Hope) School for boys, founded in the seventeenth century; the Villareal School for girls; Dower Societies which provided assistance for brides to set up their homes; the Welfare Board offering assistance to people in need; and medical provision in the Beth Holim, now an old people's home but formerly a hospital founded in 1747.

Famous members of the Synagogue include Sir Moses Haim Montefiore, (1784-1885), financier and Jewish community leader, who devoted much of his wealth to charitable causes and travelled widely campaigning on behalf of Jewish interests; and boxer and prize-fighter Daniel Mendoza (1763-1836) who created a new style of boxing which led to the development of the modern sport. Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) was circumcised at the synagogue, although a later quarrel between his father and the synagogue Elders led to the family leaving the congregation and the children being baptised as Christians in 1817 (thus allowing Disraeli to enter Parliament).

The Synagogue is still used for regular worship as well as for special services organized by British Jews in general.

Source of information: Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation website at http://www.sandp.org/history.htm (accessed March 2010).

The Society of Pension Consultants (SPC) was formed in 1958 by the Insurance Brokers Organisation and is the representative body in the UK for the providers of advice and services needed to establish and operate occupational and personal pension schemes and related benefit provision. SPC's Members include accounting firms, solicitors, life offices, investment houses, investment performance measurers, consultants and actuaries, independent trustees and external pension administrators. Slightly more than half the Members are consultants and actuaries. The SPC is the only body in the UK to focus on the whole range of pension related functions across the whole range of non-State provision, through such a wide spread of providers of advice and services.

Source of information: www.spc.uk.com.

The Black Experience Archive Trust (BEAT) is a national project working in partnership with local groups. Each local project feeds into the central project.

The West Green BEAT project was launched in 2006. It was a collaboration between filmmakers Migrant Media, the Park View Academy in West Green, and the London Metropolitan Archives. Pupils from the Academy were trained in digital media skills by staff from Migrant Media Limited, and encouraged to explore their community history, particularly the contributions of black people. They then conducted filmed interviews with members of the community, discussing their experiences of coming to and living in Britain.

BEAT Projects have included:

'music BEAT': ran from October 2008 - October 2009 at Highgate Wood School in North London. Students on the project learned research, filmmaking and journalistic skills and produced a 20 minute film on the history of black music in the UK as well as a series of exhibition panels. They explored how the music produced related to the struggles on the street that the black community engaged with over four decades (see 'Sounds of the Streets' LMA/4536/02/002).

Taken from the website: http://web.me.com/musicbeat/Site/musicBEAT.html

Rio Tinto plc was formed in June 1997 with the merger of The RTZ Corporation PLC and its' 49% owned associate company CRA Limited (of Australia).

The Rio Tinto-Zinc Corporation Limited was formed in March 1962 on the merger of The Rio Tinto Company Ltd (Inc 1873) and The Consolidated Zinc Corporation Limited(Inc 1949). After the merger, the operations of the Rio Tinto Company and The Consolidated Zinc Corporation were restructured, with the parent company, RTZ, housed in London.

Rio Tinto's existing public company in Australia, Rio Tinto Mining Company of Australia Limited was renamed Conzinc RioTinto of Australia Limited in 1962. Conzinc RioTinto was used as a vehicle for restructuring RTZ's Australian assets. Part of the shares were Australian owned and there were a majority of Australian directors on the board. This was a pattern that was followed in subsequent developments around the world. In August 1980 Conzinc RioTinto became known as CRA Limited. This name was changed to Rio Tinto Limited in June 1997.

The Rio Tinto Company Limited was formed in 1873 by a consortium of banks to acquire the Spanish copper mine of Rio Tinto in Huelva, Spain. Headed by Hugh Matheson, the consortium agreed to pay 92,756,592 pesetas (equivalent to £3,500,000) for the freehold of the mines. The first instalment of 3422,680 was paid towards the purchase price as well as 9 pagares, or promissory notes, the last of which was due for payment in 1883. Matheson became the chairman and the company was registered on 29 March 1873 in London. A railway between Huelva and the mines was constructed together with a pier at Huelva. In 1954 the Rio Tinto Company sold the mines to the newly formed Compañía Española de Minas de Río Tinto (owned by a consortium of Spanish banks), retaining only a one-third interest. The remaining interest in was divested in 1990. The proceeds of the sale in 1954 were invested on projects in Africa such as Big Ben, Patchway, Sandwana, Empress Nickel and Palabora, in Australasia such as Mary Kathleen and in Canada on the Rio Algom mines.

The Consolidated Zinc Corporation Limited was incorporated in 1949 to acquire the interests of The Zinc Corporation Limited (formed 1911), The Sulphide Corporation (reg 1898), The Broken Hill Corporation Limited (registered 1947) and The Imperial Smelting Corporation Limited (inc 1929). The Zinc Corporation Limited was formed to treat the tailing dumps from the Broken Hill mine in New South Wales Australia. The Broken Hill Corporation Limited held a substantial interest in the New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited mine. The Sulphide Corporation Limited was a producer of sulphuric acid, superphosphate and cement. The Imperial Smelting Corporation based in the United Kingdom was the sole zinc producer in the country mainly from raw material from the Broken Hill mines, it also produced sulphuric acid, chemicals, fertilisers and fluorine and fluorine compounds in plants in Avonmouth, Avon, Swansea and West Glamorgan. In 1955 Consolidated Zinc discovered the huge Weipa bauxite deposits in Queensland, the basis for the development of a major integrated aluminium industry in Australia and New Zealand.

Rio Tinto Company Limited head office: Plantation House, Fenchurch Street, City of London (1947);
Rio Tinto plc head office: 2 Eastbourne Terrace, Westminster (2011).

Sir John Herbert Parsons was born in 1868 in Bristol. He qualified in medicine in 1892, and became assistant in Department of Physiology at University College, and was engaged in general practice in Finchley. His interest developed in ophthalmology. He gained a position of clinical assistant at Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital (Moorfields Eye Hospital) where he later became curator and librarian. He was elected to surgical staff there in 1904 and continued as consulting surgeon.

He became ophthalmic surgeon to University College Hospital and also Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street. He was also a scientist carrying out and producing major research on the physiology of the eye and optics and became a world authority in ophthalmic pathology. Between 1904-1908 his work The Pathology of the Eye was published in four editions, alongside other extensive contributions during his career.

He was based at 26 Bryanston Square, Marylebone, Westminster during 1950s. Parsons died in 1957.

Mrs Dorothea Middleton-Joy, compiler of the scrapbook, lived in Leeds in 1945. A letter of condolence shows she was based at 26 Bryanston Square, London in 1957. She does not appear in the list of attendance at the memorial service.

Designed by architects Henry Tanner, F.J. Wills and W.J. Ancell, the Regent Palace Hotel was built in 1914 on Glasshouse Street, Piccadilly Circus, and at the time of its opening on 16 May 1915 was the largest hotel in Europe with 1028 bedrooms. Initially the responsibility of Morris Salmon, the hotel later came under the remit of Douglas Gluckstein and Rex Joseph, with Mr Frederichs and Mr Delaloye forming part of the management team.

At its height, the hotel employed more than 1000 staff, some of which were accommodated in the adjacent Annexe and its 160 bedrooms. This building also contained a complete laundry service for all of the Strand group hotels in London, and was linked to the main building by a bridge and underground passage constructed in the 1930s. The Regent Palace Hotel additionally supplied meat to all the Strand hotels and Cornerhouses in the form of pre-cut steaks which were butchered onsite in specially designed kitchens in the basement of the hotel.

During the First World War, the hotel's accommodation was requisitioned by the government, and later in the Second World War, two separate bombs caused minor damage to the building, including the staff Annexe.

The hotel was owned and operated by Strand Hotels Limited, a subsidiary of J. Lyons and Company Limited, until 1977 when the Stand Hotels group was acquired by Trusthouse Forte. It was subsequently run by Grenada, Compass and Travel Lodge, and finally closed in December 2006.

Emanuel Mendes da Costa was born 25 May 1717 in London to John, alias Abraham, and Johanna Mendes da Costa. A Sephardic Jewish merchant and public notary operating in the City of London, he engaged in the trade of goods including books and geologic specimens. He was interested in the study of natural science and served as Clerk to the Royal Society of London.

Emanuel Mendes da Costa's siblings included brothers Jacob, alias Philip, David (who was involved in the supply of bread to British troops in Flanders) and sister Sarah (married to Abraham Fernandes Nuñes).

Other family members included Abraham, alias John, Mendes da Costa, who refers to his brother Jacob the 3rd, (died 3 March 1752) in his will, and Moses, alias Philip, father to Abraham and grandfather to Emanuel, Philip, David and Sarah.

Emanuel was married to Elizabeth Skillman. Members of the Skillman family were living in Hendon during the 18th and 19th centuries as evident from the admission of Richard Skillman (recorded 5 May 1761) and Elizabeth Mendes da Costa, formerly Skillman, (1767). Elizabeth also figures in the apprenticeship of William Skillman, nephew of John Skillman, serving a carpenter in Hendon (1799).

In the 19th century, descendants included Emanuel Mendes da Costa Skillman (died 1903, aged 76), married to Caroline (died 1906, aged 73). They had a daughter, Amelia Jane Skillman, born at 1 Landseer Road, Upper Holloway in December 1871. Emanuel Skillman, a carpenter by profession, resided later at 54 Kingsdown Road. He and Caroline eventually resided at 7 Cromartie Road, Islington at their time of death and were buried at Islington Cemetery.

Following the enactment of the Financial Services Act 1986, the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation was one of a number of Self Regulatory Organisations established to regulate companies dealing in investments as a means of protecting investors. Its responsibilities were transferred to the Financial Services Authority in December 2001, following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's decision to merge banking supervision and investment services regulation.

Information available at http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/About/Who/History/index.shtml (accessed October 2010).

The role of the Accounting Standards Committee was to set and issue accounting standards through a process of consultation. The work of the Committee was taken over by the Accounting Standards Board in 1990, with the standards previously issued by the Committee designated 'Statements of Standard Accounting Practice'. While some of these standards remain in force, others have been superseded by the Board's 'Financial Reporting Standards'.

Information available at http://www.frc.org.uk/asb/about (accessed October 2010).

Part of the Prudential Group, The Prudential Assurance Company Limited provides life insurance and pensions to approximately seven million customers. Prudential was founded 30 May 1848, offering loans and life assurance to the middle classes. Upon acquiring its main rivals The British Industry Life Assurance Company and The Consolidated Life Assurance Company in the 1860s, the business changed its name to The Prudential Assurance Company in 1866. Overseas agencies for general and life insurance were established during the 1920s and 1930s, and the Group now provides financial services in Asia, the US and the UK.

Information available at http://www.prudential.co.uk/prudential-plc/aboutpru/ourhistory and [http://www. pru.co.uk/about_us](http://www. pru.co.uk/about_us) (accessed October 2010).

The Prudential Staff Pension Scheme comprises company contributions and optional employee contributions which are then matched by the company. The Scheme is contracted into the State Second Pension, and includes benefits such as the ability to take part of the pension as a tax-free lump sum.

Information available at http://www.prudentialstaffps.co.uk (accessed October 2010).

United Biscuits was established in 1948 following the merger of McVitie and Price and MacFarlane Lang. In 1960, the company added to its portfolio with the acquisition of Crawford Biscuits and MacDonald's Biscuits. Subsequent acquisitions include:

1967 - Meredith and Drew (crisp manufacturers);
1968 - Kenyon Son and Craven (nut manufacturers);
1974 - Keebler Company (US cookie and cracker manufacturer);
1982 - Terry's of York (confectionery company);
1988 - Ross Young's (frozen food);
1990 - Verkade (Dutch biscuit and confectionery company);
2004 - Jacob's Biscuit Group.

Since 2000, United Biscuits has sold several parts of its business, including UB Hungary (sold to Danone in 2000) and UB Southern Europe (sold to Kraft Foods Inc).

Information available at http://www.unitedbiscuits.com/about-us.php?rnd=GideVfWTaODtyf5CAIKYqEUr3zy1exP8%2BSheEM0Lo%3D (accessed October 2010).

Until 31 October 2007, the United Biscuits Pension Plan was a final salary scheme; from 1 November 2007, however, it was converted to a Career Average Revalued Earnings scheme.

BTWSC was formed in April 2002 and named after the successful 'Beyond The Will Smith Challenge' writing competition and publication, which was a Council for Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO) Millennium Awards project.

As a pan-London voluntary organisation based in Brent, BTWSC has aimed to use the creative arts to raise aspirations and promote social inclusion, and promoted education or employment within the music and entertainment, and event planning, industries. BTWSC has worked mainly with minorities, socially excluded persons, and disadvantaged groups.

James Hall was a Fellowship Porter of 32 Hollybush Gardens, Bethnal Green. He was born c 1861. A a 'fellowship porter' was a specific class of market porter who was a member of the Fellowship of the Porters of Billingsgate, the fish market.

The World Markets Company (also known as the WM Company) provide investment administration and pension fund performance measurement services, based in Edinburgh. Established in 1967 within the computer division of Wood, Mackenzie and Company, who initially operated as stockbrokers but now provide research services about the energy industry, it became a separate company in 1984. It became a subsidiary of Banker's Trust in 1987.

Source of information: http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/edinburgh-firm-is-coy-about-identity-of-investor-worth-several-billion-pounds-wm-company-lands-big-fish-1.425820 and http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-4805160.html [accessed 18 May 2010].

London International Financial Futures Exchange is a futures exchange operating in London, trading in a range of interest rate and stock index futures and options contracts. It was established in September 1982. In 1993 it merged with the London Traded Options Market and was renamed the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange.

The Occupational Pensions Defence Union Limited (OPDU) provides insurance cover and risk management services to pension fund trustees, administrators and employers to protect pension schemes. It was launched in 1997, after a group of pensions managers and lawyers recognised that operators of occupational pensions schemes had an increased need for protection as demands were made for regulatory measures to safeguard the benefits of pension fund holders in the wake of the Maxwell scandal.

Initial meetings facilitated by the National Association of Pension Funds led to the formation of a Steering Committee established by Jonathan Bull, chaired by Alan Herbert. This Steering Committee worked with the insurance provider Thomas Miller and Company Limited to develop an insurance facility for pension schemes trustees and administrators. The Steering Committee was replaced with an Advisory Council of members in 1998. In 2011 over 750 pension schemes and £180 billion of pension fund assets were insured by OPDU, who also provides its members with advisory and claims services, and offers training in risk management for trustees. In July 2015 Jonathan Bull retired from OPDU.

Source of information includes: http://www.opdu.com/ [accessed 6 Jun 2011]

Clapham Film Unit, a collective of film-makers, was founded through constitution in November 2007 and registered as a charity on 25 February 2009 with the aim 'to train and equip local people to tell our own stories on film'.

The Unit has organised screenings, hosted work by members, and provided film-making advice to the local community. Projects have included the 'Uganda to London' documentary, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and completed in 2011.

George Miles was grocer and tea dealer of Gracechurch Street, City of London and Joseph Rushton was apprenticed to him for five years from 1802.

The Pensions Management Institute (PMI), based at Artillery Lane in the City of London, is a professional membership institute providing educational services for those working in the pensions industry. It offers a set of qualifications for pension managers and trustees, training and support services for its members, as well as running two Conferences and producing a number of publications, including PMI News, PMI Technical News and Pensions Terminology. It also produces responses to Government consultative papers, although it is not a lobbying organisation.

Established as the Institute of Pensions Administration in 1975, the Institute was initially sponsored by four pensions industry representative bodies (the National Association of Pension Funds, the Society of Pension Consultants, the Life Offices' Association and the Association of Consulting Actuaries) who each provided four representatives to sit on the Institute's Council. The Institute was incorporated as the Pensions Management Institute in 1976.

The Institute was initially run by a Council and four committees: Constitution and Membership, Education, Public Relations and Finance and Services. Nowadays the Institute is managed by a Board, made up of the President, two Vice Presidents, the Chief Executive and Financial Director. The Advisory Council advise the Board on the strategic direction of the Institute and provide technical input and expertise on industry issues. The Council is now made up of 16 fellows, elected by the members of the Institute. There are also four governance committees - Education, Finance, Membership and Commercial Development - and a number of other committees overseeing the Institute's work.

The Institute's President serves a two year term, and chairs the Institute's Examiner's Liaison, Officers and Disciplinary Committees as well as sitting on the Board and Council. In 2002 a Management Committee was introduced, answering to the Council and chaired by the President. The Management Committee includes three members of the Council and four senior Secretariat members.

The day to day running of the Institute is carried out by staff in eight departments - membership, qualifications, commercial development, finance, central office support, business development, professional standards and IT - overseen by the Chief Executive. This replaced the Secretary General position in 2005.

The Institute's members are divided between various grades of membership: elected fellows, associate, diploma, certificate, student and affiliate. The associate, diploma and certificate memberships are dependent on qualifications. The Institute also operates a network of eight Regional Groups across the UK and a Trustee Group to support individual trustees and Trustee Boards. The Institute sponsors the Association of Professional Pension Trustees (formerly the Independent Pension Trustee Group), a network established in 2003 which aims to 'encourage and promote the highest professional standards in those who practise as professional pension trustees' and 'promote the role of professional trustees'.

The Pensions Management Institute is the holding company for PMI Services Limited, originally Armagret Limited, a service company for the Institute. Another registered company, PMI Trustee Limited, is trustee for the Institute's staff pension scheme.

Set up in 1924 by royal warrant, the Royal Fine Art Commission (RFAC) acted as an advisory body to the government on all things architectural and aesthetic about the city. Although it lacked statutory powers, the Commission worked to influence and encourage decisions made about the built environment, urban design and the use of public space and amenities. These duties were extended in 1933, enabling the Commission to attract the government's attention to any development which impacted national urban design or the aesthetics of the public character. With increasing influence on planning permission submissions, the Commission's reach was further extended in 1946 by giving it the power to make inspections and request information on prospective projects. In post-War London, the Commission played a strong role in the planning and reconstruction of the city, from the design of new buildings to the alteration and re-use of existing ones. By the time it was decommissioned, the RFAC was an important influence on and part of the design process for the rebuilding and construction of new buildings nation-wide. It also had a major influence on the placement of memorials and statues, the style and use of street lighting and the construction of roads and motorways.

In 1999, the RFAC's functions were taken over by the newly established Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), which continued to act in this independent capacity until 2011.

Source of information:http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details/AssetMain?iaid=C35 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http://www.cabe.org.uk/about/what-we-do

The Association of Consulting Actuaries (ACA) is the representative body for consulting actuaries. The Association was first formed as the Society of Consulting Actuaries in November 1951, and re-named as the ACA in March 1952. The members of the Association are all individual actuaries who work in the consulting sector, and are mainly qualified through membership of the professional body for actuaries, the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.

The ACA was first proposed by Reginald Maudling, senior partner of Watsons, and James Bacon, senior partner of Bacon and Woodrow, as a way of ensuring that independent consulting actuaries were represented to both employers operating pension schemes for their staff and the government. In the 1950s independent actuaries were competing with large insurance firms to provide advice to employers, and collecting together as an association was seen as a way of raising independent consultants' status and making employers' aware that they were a source of disinterested professional advice. An association would also be able to provide a collective voice for consultant actuaries to government, who were increasingly interested in monitoring and controlling pension schemes in the 1950s. Maudling and Bacon were made joint Presidents at the ACA's foundation.

The ACA continues to promote the services provided by consulting actuaries and provide independent advice to decision makers on the need for and implications of legislative change in relevant areas, including responding to government consultations and publishing Parliamentary Pension Briefs for the benefit of MPs. The ACA also acts as a forum for exchanging relevant information among its members and exchange information with other organisations operating in the same fields. The ACA also publishes regular surveys of the pensions industry.

The ACA hold regular 'ordinary' or 'sessional' meetings of members, traditionally held at St. Ermins Hotel, Westminster, where matters of common interest are discussed.

The ACA is run by a Chairman and committee. Sub-committees, or technical committees, were set up to carry out specific tasks or monitor a particular area affecting actuaries. Since 1992 a secretariat has been employed to provide administrative services for the ACA. The ACA have been based at the following locations: Norfolk House, Wellesley Road, Croydon (1991); 1 Wardrobe Place (1992-2001); Wanford Court, 29 Throgmorton Street (2005-2008); St. Clement's House, 27-28 Clement's' Lane (2009-2013); and 45 King William Street (2013-).

The London Schools Swimming Association was created in 1893 and promotes aquatic sports for all primary and secondary schools in the thirty two boroughs of London and the City of London.

Members of the Grand Priory of the Hospital Order of St John of Jerusalem in England saw a need to find a way to assist accident victims quickly since untreated injuries often led to death or disability. They decided to train ordinary people in first aid so accident victims could be treated quickly and on the spot and, in 1887, they set up St John Ambulance to do this. Classes were set up across the country, particularly in workplaces and areas of heavy industry but also in villages, seaside towns and middle class suburbs.

In 1887, trained volunteers were organised into a uniformed Brigade to provide a first aid and ambulance service at public events. In many parts of Britain, St John was the first and only provider of an ambulance service right up to the middle of the 20th century, when the National Health Service was founded. When there were far fewer doctors and hospital beds than today, St John nurses looked after the sick and injured in their own homes.

There were originally three charitable Foundations of the modern Order. One, which became The St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Foundation, was established in 1882. The St John Ambulance Association, which was concerned with training the public in first aid, was established in 1877. The third was The St John Ambulance Brigade, which provided first aid care to the public. It had its origins in 1873 and became a Foundation in 1887. The St John Ambulance Association and The St John Ambulance Brigade were amalgamated in 1974 to form the present St John Ambulance Foundation.

St John Ambulance was originally divided into two fields, teaching first aid to workplace employees via the St. John Ambulance Association and providing uniformed medical volunteers to cover public and private events via the St. John Ambulance Brigade. However, these two entities merged in 1968 to form a single unified St. John Ambulance, providing both training and first-aid cover.

For further details please see the website www.sja.org.uk

Founded in 1921, the Association was initially entitled the City of London Wholesale Linen Trade Association. Membership consisted of buyers and agents within the wholesale linen trade who paid an annual subscription to join. In order to reflect changes in the industry, this was later expanded to include those from the manufacturing and retail sectors. By 1962, the name had been changed to the City of London Linen Trades Association (CLLTA). Further changes in the trade led to greater links with soft furnishings and a further name change in 1992 to the City of London Linens and Furnishings Association (CLLFA).

The aims of the Association were: 'to encourage and maintain the feeling of good fellowship amongst the membership and the trade' and 'to enable interchange of views between buyers, agents and manufacturers in their mutual interest and of the trade as a whole'.

Committee meetings were held monthly, initially at offices of the members (first meeting at 25 Noble Street. Other addresses include 16 Little Britain and The Guildhall Chambers, City of London. The Association was run by a management committee enrolled at the publically held Annual General Meetings in January of each year. A Benevolent fund, administered by 5 trustees, was established in 1926. This fund was set up to support members, former members and their dependents with financial assistance in times of hardship or ill health and was registered with the Charity Commission in 1962 as the City of London Linen Trades Association Benevolent Fund (later the City of London Linens and Furnishings Association Benevolent Fund).

Membership peaked at over 300 members (in the mid-1990s). Annual golf days, snooker, cricket and bowls events were organised for the benefit of members and to raise funds.

In 1979 a vote was passed to accept female members and the first (and only) female President, Jean Biggs, was elected in 1985.

Owing to a decline in linen manufacturing, membership began to reduce and in 2011 the Committee and Trustees made the decision wind up the Association as of 31 December 2011.

The Guinness Trust (London Fund) was established to provide working class housing 'for the amelioration of the conditions of the poor labouring classes of London'. The Trust was made possible by a gift of £200,000 from Edward Cecil Guinness [Lord Iveagh], the great grandson of the founder of the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. The organisation was formed by Deed of Trust on 4 February 1890 and enrolled into the Charity Commission under Working Classes Dwellings Act 1890. The Guinness Trust (London Fund) was incorporated and registered as a general charity on 28 February 1902 under the Charitable Trustees Incorporation Act (1872).

A further fund known as the Dublin Fund was established by Deed of Trust on 2 April 1890 for working classes in Dublin, Ireland. The Guinness Trust managed both the London and Dublin Funds until June 1903 when a bill for amalgamation of the Guinness Trust Dublin Fund and Dublin Improvement (Bull Alley Area) Scheme received royal assent. A new trust known as Iveagh Trust was formed to manage the Dublin Fund and 'all documents connected with the [Dublin Fund] were handed over accordingly' (see LMA/4656/A/02/002 page 85).

The following estates were purchased and developed with Guinness Buildings for working classes built from 1890s to 1930s in the Inner London area:
Brandon Street, Walworth;
Columbia Road, Bethnal Green;
Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith;
Kennington Park Road, Kennington;
Kings Road, Chelsea;
Lever Street, Finsbury;
Holloway Road, Islington;
Marlborough Road [later renamed Draycott Avenue] and Cadogan Street, Chelsea;
Pages Walk, Bermondsey;
Snowsfields, Bermondsey;
Stamford Hill, Stoke Newington;
Vauxhall Square [Vauxhall Walk], Lambeth.

In 1938 a Holiday Home was built at South Heighton, Newhaven, Sussex for tenants to use. Also Avenue Road Residential Club was developed in 1950s.

Later estates built post Second World War (post 1945) include:
John Street, Stratford, Newham [later the Lord Gage Centre];
Kennington Road, Lambeth;
Loughborough Park and Loughborough Road, Brixton, Lambeth.

From 1970s the Trust developed estates in outer London including Mortlake, Richmond and estates in the south and home counties.

In 1972 the Trust provided 3500 low-rented dwellings including special accommodation for the elderly and for younger working people. By 1979 the Trust had employed a Supervising Officer based at Roman Road, Bethnal Green for increased building work and by the early 1980s a Chief Estates Managers Department was formed to take control of matters relating to the estates. By 1985 the Trust had opened Area Offices for London and South East, South West, and Northern Regions.

In the mid 2000s the Guinness Trust Group was made up of The Guinness Trust, Guinness Housing, Wycombe Friendship (Charitable), Clapton Community Housing, Kennet Housing (Charitable) and Guinness Developments, Guinness Care and Support (Charitable) and Parchment Housing Group Limited. In 2012 the housing properties and operations of The Guinness Trust were combined with those of the other main housing divisions to form a single charitable community benefit society known as The Guinness Partnership Limited. By 2014 the Partnership was providing housing and services across England with more than 60,000 homes with 120,000 residents.

The Secretary handled most matters concerning the estates on behalf of the Trustees. The Trustees included members of the Guinness Family. By 1950s the Secretary's position became known as the Manager and Secretary. Secretaries included: Lee Knowles MP, Honorary Secretary based at Local Government Board, Whitehall (1889); Captain Thomas H Vickers (1890s); E W Winch (joined 1889; Secretary 1905-1935); Percival Laurence Leigh-Breese (Assistant Secretary 1931-1935, Secretary from 1935, Manager and Secretary by 1958); Ronald A W Lear (before 1980). Patrons included Lady Diana Princess of Wales.

Registered head office addresses: 5 Victoria Street (1891-1949); 11 St James's Square (1949-1967); 5 Iveagh House, Ormond Yard (1967-circa 1975); 4 Corporation Street, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire (circa 1975-); 17 Mendy Street, High Wycombe (2000s - 2015).

In-depth histories concerning the development of the Trust's work, personalities and life on the estates can be found in series LMA/4656/B/01/05, LMA/4656/F/01 and LMA/4656/F/03.

Prior to 1975 the firm imported and exported goods such as children's clothes to the Middle East. However from 1976, the firm began to specialise in importing greeting cards. The company had a storeroom in Paddington, later moving to the Avon Trading Estate in Kensington

Audrey Dewjee, one of the joint founders who at the time was based in Greenford, recounts:

"After a trip to America in 1975, Hussein and I started to import Black Greeting Cards in 1976 because we felt that everyone should have access to cards that reflected their ethnicity and lifestyle. Our company was called Westways Import-Export and later Westways Greetings. When we realised that Gay Greeting Cards were also available in America, we started to import them as well, from a company called Lip Productions Limited in Chicago [United States of America].

Like many of the best (but smallest) Black Greeting Card companies, Lip didn't survive for very long. While it flourished we imported cards from them and sold them wherever we could in London - to Gay's The Word and several of the leather shops. We also sold them from a little stall at the CHE [Campaign for Homosexual Equality] conference in York (I think that was in 1980). That was great because it felt like we were witnessing history in the making and we had played a tiny part! At Christmas Lip produced a beautiful range of designs, in colour, which quickly sold out.

When Lip ceased trading, we stopped selling Gay Cards because we couldn't find another 'respectable' supplier. By then, times and tastes were changing. There were more outlets and UK producers came on the scene, so there was no need for us to continue."
Audrey Dewjee 12 April 2016 (produced with kind permission of Audrey Dewjee).

The Greene Sisters, stage names Judy, Gertie and Jeanette were a close harmony singing trio. The girls were three of five children born to Rebecca Lazarus and Jacob Greenbaum in the East End of London; Gillian (1912-2000), Marcus (1914-1983), Janetta (1921-2007), Juliet (1922-2008) and Sylvia (1928- 2009).

Their father Jack worked in the leather trade and encouraged his daughters singing career over the years.
Rebecca their mother was the daughter of Jacob Lazarus a founding members of the staunchly orthodox Machzikei Hadath Synagogue in Spitalfields.

The trio were discovered by Sidney Phillips, bandleader and arranger in the late 1930's. They spent their early years touring Britain appearing on stage in Bradford, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Dundee to name but a few, and on the London Stage including Empire, Finsbury Park and the London Coliseum. They also performed in fundraising concerts in 1941 in aid of General Jewish Hospital (Shaare Zedek) Jerusalem and in aid of 10th London and 33rd Middlesex Battalions, Home-guard Welfare Fund.

They were a hard working trio moving from live stage performances to radio and latterly Television broadcasts, but they were probably most well known as performers on the popular radio series 'Hi Gang!' 'Hi Gang!' featured Ben Lyon and his wife, Bebe Daniels the Jewish Hollywood couple. Along with Vic Oliver, the well-known entertainer, they broadcast 'from the heart of London”'each week between May 1940 until 1949 to a home and forces audience.

Sadly the trio never made it in America as their father prevented them crossing the Atlantic to perform on Bing Crosby's wartime show. However the Sisters continued performing and in 1954 appeared on 'Showcase' where Benny Hill introduced artists and acts new to Television.

Sylvia was a gifted composer and wrote and arranged music for her sisters as well as occasionally performing with them or on her own. She also wrote a musical play 'A Great Guy' which was never performed but was published and copies of the play and the music also written by Sylvia survive in the collection.

The family moved to North West London in the 1940's to a home named 'The Harmonies' and although none of the children married they remained close.

Drivers Jonas and Company were chartered surveyors, estate management agents, valuers and auctioneers, and later property consultants. The firm was founded in 1725 by brothers Samuel Driver (1692-1741) and Charles Driver (1699-), bakers and nurserymen and landowners. The company remained as an independent partnership until the firm was acquired by Deloitte LLP in January 2010, and renamed Drivers Jonas Deloitte. Drivers Jonas was dropped from the name in 2013.

From the late 18th century the firm branched out into auctioneering and estate management for landed estates. Long-standing clients included: Chamberlayne Settled Estates (Southampton, Hampshire); Trustees of the Corporation of Trinity House (Wallace Falkner, House and Estate Agent and Collector of Taxes of 23 Trinity Street, Southwark managed the estates until 1 Jan 1948 when management passed to Drivers Jonas); Earl and Countess of Ilchester (Holland Park Estate, Kensington); Greenwich Hospital Department of the Admiralty; Grosvenor Settled Estates Trustees (Belgravia and Mayfair); Speer Trustees, Viscount Bertie of Thame, Surrey, Colonel Abel Smith, Sir Ronald Gunter (Earls Court and West Hampstead), Reverend George Pollen's Trustees (including Old Burlington Street, Savile Row, Westminster) and James Kent's Estates (including Hoxton and City Road area).

From 1935 the firm partnered G J Brown and Son, surveyors and estate managers of 34 Great George Street, Westminster (1907); 11 Little College Street, Westminster (1923). G J Brown and Son was closed and clients transferred to Drivers Jonas in 1953.

In the later 20th century the firm became leading property consultants specialising as managing agents of commercial property advising landlords and tenants of offices, shops and industrial space on service charges, rents and other costs. In 2007 the company's core values and brand were 'to add value for our clients by giving high quality property advice' as 'leading commercial property consultancy'.

Name changes reflected changes in partnership including:

A P Driver

E and G N Driver

Samuel and Robert C Driver

R C Driver and Company (1863)

Driver and Company, 'Surveyors, Valuers, Land Agents and Auctioneers' (1866)

Drivers and Company (1870s-1890s), 'Surveyors, Land Agents, Timber Valuers and Auctioneers' (1895)

Drivers Jonas and Company (from before 1907), 'Chartered surveyors, land agents and auctioneers, town planning consultants' (1968), 'Chartered Surveyors and Planning Consultants' (1984)

Drivers Jonas Deloitte (trading name for Deloitte LLP) (2010-2013)

OFFICES: Samuel Driver at Wandsworth and Charles Driver at Rotherhithe (1725-1741); Kent Street Road (later Kent Road), Southwark (1741-1816); 13 New Bridge Street, Blackfriars, Southwark (1816-1826); 8 Richmond Terrace, Parliament Street, Whitehall, Westminster (1826-1850); 5 Whitehall (1850-1863); 4 Whitehall (1863-1898); 23 Pall Mall (1898-1919); 7 Charles Street renamed Charles II Street, Saint James's Square, Westminster (1919-1956); Hertford Street (1956-1959); 7 Charles II Street (1959-1969); 18 Pall Mall (1969-after 1979); 16 Suffolk Street (before 1984-1997); 6 Grosvenor Street (from 1998); Drivers Jonas Deloitte (trading name for Deloitte LLP) registered at 2 New Street Square (2010-2013), head office: Athene Place, 66 Shoe Lane, City of London (2010-2013).

The company had branch offices:

1945: The Cross, Chester, Cheshire and 5 Rockstone Place, Southampton, Hampshire

1968: Evershot, Dorset and Southwark.

1979: Aberdeen, Scotland

1984: Norwich, Norfolk ['East Anglia' office], Aberdeen, Scotland and Toronto, Canada; and Glasgow, Scotland (by 1986), 30 Watling Street, City of London (from 1987); Mayfair, Westminster and Montreal, Canada (by 1989); Boston, United States of America (by 1990); Vancouver, Canada (by 1991); Germany (by 1992); Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (by 1993); Manchester (by 1994). Other places in Germany and United States of America; Birmingham (from 1998); the European network of offices expanded to Paris, France (2002), Frankfurt, Germany (2003) and Madrid, Spain (2007).

Customs and Excise Officers, including coastguards, did not have protection in case of death, injury, illness and old age. In response to this the Customs Annuity and Benevolent Fund was established by the Customs Office in 1816. The Fund was formed as a mutual insurance fund, to provide conditional benefit to widows, children and other immediate relatives of civil servants. Any person aged 16-65 was able to effect an Insurance upon their lives, answerable to their respective cases. The Fund was to be raised by subscription, both annual and occasional.

Initially named the 'Civil Fund' but 'Customs Annuity Fund' was substituted shortly after foundation, resulting from extension of the same benefits to all other departments under the Crown. Operated as 'Customs Annuity and Benevolent Fund' from 1879, 'Customs Fund' from 1893 and from 1896 it was incorporated by Act of Parliament as 'The Customs Annuity and Benevolent Fund Incorporated' but referred to as the 'Customs Fund'.

The Fund was based at Customs Office, London initially at City Gate House, Finsbury Square and later at Kings Beam House, Mark Lane, City of London.The organisation continued to operate as a Life Assurance and Pensions Mutual Company until it was acquired by National Friendly (National Deposit Friendly Society (NDFS), established in 1868) in 2004. The Customs Fund Division continued under NDFS.

Rotax Limited, manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment was originally based in 43-45 Great Eastern Street, City of London concentrating on equipment for motor cars. The firm moved its registered office and works in 1916 to Rotax Works in Willesden Junction, North Acton where it remained until at least 1970s, opening a factory in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire in the post-war period. Since 1920s Rotax developed links with Joseph Lucas Limited and later became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lucas. From the late 1930s Rotax became solely involved in the production of equipment for aircraft. Rotax Limited later came under a holdings company, Rotax (Holdings) Limited. Rotax Limited was renamed Lucas Aerospace Limited in 1971 reflecting Joseph Lucas group of companies reorganisation of aerospace-related activities.

First incorporated in 1957 as the Earls Court Standfitting Company Limited, the company changed its name to Showprops Limited in 1988. This company was a stand fitting and exhibition furniture rental business owned by Earls Court and Olympia Limited and later operated as a subsidiary under P&O Exhibition Services Limited.

Dissolved in 2004.

Registered offices:

1 Old Burlington Street, London Borough of Westminster (2004)

Company No. 00580792

Incorporated on 18 January 1993 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Granada Group PLC. The main trading object of the company was the provision of security services.

In 1994 the parent body changed when Sterling Granada Contract Services were acquired by Securiguard Services Limited, a member of the Rentokil group of companies.

In 2006 ownership again changed when the MITIE Group PLC acquired Initial Security Limited and all of its subsidiary undertakings from Rentokil Initial PLC.

The company never traded and was dissolved in 2012.

Registered Offices:

Felcourt, East Grinstead, West Sussex (1993 - 1997)

Garland Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex (1997 - 2012)

Company No. 2780369

Paul R. Dawson worked within the Pension Technical Information Service at Noble Lowndes and Partners Limited during the late 1980s and early 1990s providing information to staff, consultants, technicians and administrators on subjects including the 1989/1990 Social Security Bill, 1989 Finance Act, equalisation of pension ages and National Association of Pension Funds' annual surveys.

Noble Lowndes set up his own brokerage firm in 1934, which would later became Noble Lowndes and Partners, initially specialising in Estate Duty. Lowndes' first pension scheme was set up in April 1936 and was based on individual endowment contracts. In 1949 Noble Lowndes and Partners became a limited company.

Lowndes was particularly active in assessing suitable areas for international expansion and overseas development began in 1947 when the Irish Pensions Trust Limited was set up in Dublin. Noble Lowndes and Partners continued to expand, becoming an international business specialising in the design of company pension schemes, insurance broking, and life assurance with established subsidary companies in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as a network of branches throughout the United Kingdom. By 1960 Noble Lowndes had expanded into Europe, the Far East and the United States and had become one of the largest pension consultant firms in the world with a quarter of British companies having a pension scheme devised by Noble Lowndes.

Noble Lowndes retired in 1966 and the firm was later acquired in 1969 by the merchant bankers Hill Samuel.

Registered office address: Sackville House, 143-149 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 6BP.

Nicholas Wakelam's longest accounting appointment was at Thorn EMI where he was involved with the Pensions Fund Trust.

Thorn EMI was a major British company involved in consumer electronics, music, defence, retail and television broadcasting and was the successor to Thorn Electrical Industries Limited and EMI. On 16 August 1996, Thorn EMI shareholders voted in favour of demerging Thorn from EMI and the company was split into EMI Group plc and Thorn plc.