Elim Hall in Christchurch Avenue was registered by Elim Foursquare Gospel Alliance from 1938 until 1954. The Elim Alliance then used the former Wesleyan chapel in King Street until 1974, when it began sharing East Finchley United Reformed church in East End Road.
The United Reformed Church formed in 1972 following the union of the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church in England and Wales. The United Reformed Church is a part of the historic Reformed tradition, whose member denominations make up one of the largest single strands of Protestantism with more than 70 million members world-wide. The Re-formed Churches of Christ joined the union in 1981, followed by the Congregational Union of Scotland in April 2000. The United Reformed Church also has over 400 local churches united with other denominations. The United Reformed Church is divided into 13 Synods and throughout England, Scotland and Wales there are around 1750 United Reformed Church congregations served by some 1100 ministers, both women and men. The Church is governed through democratic Councils.
The Presbyterian Church is composed of presbyters (elders), all of equal status, and deacons and trustees who manage temporal affairs. The presiding ministers and elders make up the 'session' or 'consistory', the first in the hierarchy of courts. Since both the minister and ruling elders are elected by the congregation, the Presbyterian polity is ultimately determined by the people. Appeal from the session may be made to the 'presbytery' or 'colloquy', the next highest court. The presbytery includes equal numbers of ministers and lay elders, and holds jurisdiction over church properties and ministers. The next court in the hierarchy is the 'synod' which exercises limited supervisory authority over both presbyteries and congregations. Finally there is the 'general assembly' which meets annually to supervise the interests of the entire denomination.
Saint Cuthbert's United Reformed Church, Elmcourt Road, West Norwood, Lambeth has now closed.
Feltham United Reformed Church merged with the Hanworth Road Methodist Church to form the United Free Church of Feltham.
This company, which went into voluntary liquidation in 1954 after the purchase of its property by the Cuban Government, incorporated a number of smaller Cuban railway enterprises.
Union Pension Services Limited (UPS) offer consultancy and information services for Trade Unions on state and occupational pension schemes. It was established in 1989 by its director, Bryn Davies, and is based in Brixton, London. UPS produce a survey of pension benefits offered by UK pension schemes titled Pension Scheme Profiles. This publication currently has four editions, produced in 1993, 1996, 2000 and 2003. UPS also offer advisory services to trade unions and produce other publications on pension matters.
UPS was initially a division of Pensions and Investment Research Consultants Limited (PIRC). Bryn Davies was a director of PIRC from 1984.
The United Nations Association came into being in 1948 with the help of money from the League of Nations Union, which continued as a parallel organisation. After the demise of the League of Nations Union, the UNA took over many of its functions and staff. The UNA describes itself as a "critical fan club of the United Nations" and has always reflected the concerns of the United Nations. Initially, it focussed on the issues of world peace and the danger of war through hunger, and whilst these have remained central issues, the agenda has expanded to include human rights, third world development and the environment as issues of major importance. The range of activities that the UNA undertake has also changed. Initially, it concentrated mainly on lobbying government and meeting civil servants and ministers. However it gradually expanded into campaigning in its own right and educating the public about issues of concern.
Education has become an increasingly significant part of the work of the UNA. It strives to educate the public about the role and activities of the United Nations and how the UNA is involved in these. It also publishes leaflets on various key issues.
The UNA itself is divided into various branches, which are largely independent of the centre, with co-ordinating regional officers who are in touch with both the centre and the branches, committees relating to single issues such as human rights, and a general council which meets once a year to debate issues raised by the branches. Information from the central organisation is sent out to the branches via the Branch Letter and campaign packs are sent out for the annual nationwide UNA campaign. The UNA Trust is the funding arm of the UNA. This body gives grants to projects that conform to the ideals of the UNA and the UN. It is a registered charity. UNA Youth is an organisation that is part of the UNA but has its own constitution and its own structure, which mirrors that of UNA. The UNA is also a members of other organisations that conform to its ideals, such as the National Peace Council.
The United Nations Association came into being in 1948 with the help of money from the League of Nations Union which carried on as a parallel organisation. After the demises of the League of Nations Union the UNA took over many of its functions and staff. The UNA describes itself as a "critical fan club of the United Nations" and has always reflected the concerns of the United Nations. It began by focussing on the issues of world peace and the danger of war through hunger and whilst these have remained central issues for them they have expanded to include human rights, third world development and the environment as issues of major importance to them. The range of activities that the UNA undertake has also changed. In the beginning they mainly concentrated on lobbying government and meeting civil servants and ministers, however they gradually expanded into campaigning in their own right and educating the public about the issues that they are concerned about. Education has become a large part of the work of the UNA. It strives to educate the public about the role and activities of the United Nations and how the UNA is involved in these. It also publishes leaflets on various issues that it thinks is important.
The UNA itself is divided into various branches which are largely independent of the centre, co-ordinating regional officers who are in touch with both the centre and the branches, committees relating to single issues such as human rights and a general council which meets once a year to debate issues raised by the branches. Information from the central organisation is sent out to the branches via the Branch Letter and campaign packs are sent out for the annual nationwide UNA campaign.
In 1907 the Methodist New Connexion (formed in 1797), the Bible Christians Methodists (formed in 1815) and the United Methodist Free Churches (formed in 1857 by the union of the Wesleyan Association and the Wesleyan Reformers) united to form the United Methodist Church. The foreign mission activities of all three - the Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society, the Bible Christian Home and Foreign Missionary Society and the United Methodist Free Churches' Foreign Missions - were combined to form the United Methodist Missionary Society (UMMS), under the control of one committee.
The Methodist New Connexion (MNC) began its missionary endeavours in 1824, and established a mission in Belfast, Ireland, in 1826. The conference of 1836 resolved upon a mission to Canada, and in 1837 the Rev. John Addyman became the first MNC minister to be sent out on colonial work. In 1859, Revs. John Innocent and William N. Hall became the first agents of the MNC to be sent to China. They arrived in 1860, worked at Shanghai and eventually settled at Tientsin. By 1907 the mission in China had three circuits, in Tientsin, Shantung Province and in the neighbourhood of Kai-ping, north of Tientsin. In 1862, Rev. J. Maughan began a mission in Adelaide, Australia. A mission was also started in Melbourne. Three years later the Rev. C. Linley began work in New Zealand. In 1874 the Canadian Mission united with the Wesleyan churches, and in 1887 the Australian Mission took a similar course. In 1905 the MNC churches in Ireland united with the Wesleyan churches to form the Methodist Church in Ireland. The MNC Missionary Society was managed by a Committee, which consisted of a President, Treasurer and Secretary, with 16 ministers and 16 laymen appointed annually by the Conference.
The Bible Christian Connexion formed its Missionary Society in 1821. In 1831 it sent two missionaries to North America, Rev. John Glass being stationed in 'Western Canada' and Rev. Francis Metherall in Prince Edward Island. The work was successful, and at the time of the union of Methodist churches in Canada, membership of the mission stood at 7,000. In 1845 two missionaries were posted to commence a mission in the United States (Ohio and Wisconsin). In 1850, Rev. James Way and James Rowe were sent to begin work in Adelaide, South Australia, and in 1855 Rowe opened a mission in Victoria. A New Zealand mission commenced in 1877. In 1885 the Society sent two missionaries to Yunnan, China, under the auspices of the China Inland Mission. This included Samuel Pollard, who became the most famed missionary leader amongst the Flowery Miao, a minority nationality. The Women's Missionary league of the Bible Christian Missionary Society was organised as an auxiliary to the Society in 1892, with special reference to the work in China. The work of the Society was affected by the creation of an independent Canadian Conference in 1854, and likewise in South Australia in 1876 and Victoria in 1886. In Canada in 1884, the Bible Christians followed the example of the MNC in Canada and united with the other Methodist churches. In 1895 they united with the Wesleyans in Queensland, and in 1896 the same thing happened in New Zealand. In 1900 the Bible Christians were involved in another 'Methodist Union' in the South Australian Mission, and in 1902 this was repeated in Victoria.
The Missionary Society of the United Methodist Free Churches was formed in 1857, by a union of the Wesleyan Association with certain churches of the Wesleyan Reformers. At the time of the union in 1857, the Wesleyan Association had several missions in Jamaica and the Australian colonies, which were continued by the new body. Following the amalgamation of the two churches a special Foreign Mission Fund was started, and as a first step Rev. Joseph New was sent to Sierra Leone. In 1860 a Foreign Missionary Committee was formed to develop the overseas work. Additional men were sent to strengthen the work in Jamaica and Sierra Leone, and entirely new missions were undertaken in East Africa, Tasmania and Australia. In 1864, Rev. W. R. Fuller was sent to China to begin work in the city of Ningpo. In 1865 the Jamaica Mission undertook work at Bocas del Toro, on the Isthmus of Panama, in order to minister to the Jamaicans who had settled there in search of employment. In 1878 the work in China was extended to Wenchow. In 1892 the UMFC Missions in Australia and Tasmania formed two independent 'Assemblies'. In 1896 the UMFC joined with the Bible Christians and Wesleyans in New Zealand to form the Methodist Church of New Zealand, and in 1902 the same three Churches entered upon a similar union in Australia. In 1912 there was a union in Jamaica, between the UMFC and the Wesleyan churches. This extended to Bocas del Toro.
Women's work in the United Methodist Church was represented by the United Methodist Women's Missionary Auxiliary. This organisation incorporated the Ladies' Missionary Auxiliaries of the United Methodist Free Churches. These auxiliaries are first mentioned in the UMFC Annual Report for 1898, which reports that 'the last Annual Assembly laid special emphasis on better organisation in our Sunday Schools, and the creating of ladies' missionary auxiliary societies as a means to this end'. The Annual Report of 1900 devotes a section to these Ladies' Missionary Auxiliaries, reporting the spread of the movement within the denomination and the formation of district branches.
In 1932 the United Methodist Church joined the Wesleyan Methodists and the Primitive Methodists Church to form the Methodist Church of Great Britain. The Uniting Conference was held on 20 September 1932. The work of the UMMS merged with that of the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists to form the Methodist Missionary Society (MMS).
Further reading: A S Hopkins, Trail Blazers and Road Makers: a History of the East African Mission of the United Methodist Church (1928).
The Medical Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals reunited as the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals (UMDS) in 1982. The new institution was then enlarged by the amalgamation of the Royal Dental Hospital of London School of Dental Surgery with Guy's Dental School on 1 August 1983.
In 1990 the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals (UMDS) began discussions with King's College London and, following formal agreement to merge in 1992 and the King's College London Act 1997, the formal merger took place on 1 August 1998. The merger created three new schools: the Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Biomedical Sciences.
The United Law Clerks' Society was founded on 14 April 1832 at a meeting of law clerks in the Southampton Coffee House, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane. Its purpose was to make mutual provision against the hardship of fellow law clerks who were overtaken with sickness and infirmity, and, on their death, the poverty of their dependants.
There were two funds, the General Benefit Fund, with assured benefits in sickness, old age and payments on death, and the Benevolent Fund (or Casual Fund) which was for discretionary grants.
The society developed its role as the oldest friendly society for law clerks becoming a health insurance society after the National Health Insurance Act was passed in 1911. Membership of the society was at first restricted to law clerks residing in London but in 1924 the society's operations extended to the whole of England and Wales.
The society was based at the Southampton Coffee House between 1832 and 1839, at which time it removed its meetings to the Crown and Anchor Tavern (at the corner of Arundel Street and the Strand) until 1847. Between 1847 and 1874 it used the Freemasons Tavern, Great Queen Street. By 1874 it had grown large enough to move into its own office at 3 Old Serjeant's Inn, Chancery Lane, and in 1900 it moved to its more permanent home at 2 Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn.
The society still exists as a registered charity providing grants and annuities in cases of distress to persons employed in the legal profession in England and Wales, and the widows and children of such persons. It is managed by a voluntary committee of trustees.
United Lankat Plantations Company was registered in 1899 to acquire Tjermin and Brahrang estates and the Lankat Plantations Company Limited (registered in 1887). In 1920 it sold 28,000 acres of its tobacco estate. In 1961 it was acquired by London Sumatra Plantations Limited (CLC/B/112-110).
The last area developed before the First World War was around Sudbury station, where the railway crossed the Harrow road just west of Wembley. The Copland sisters contributed by building a church, vicarage, and school on their estate, just west of the station. By 1852 there were nine buildings on the Harrow road between the 'Swan' and Sudbury station. Although as early as 1866 land in Alperton was offered to builders as being near Sudbury station, it was not until the end of the century that the area around the station was sold for building. After the death of General Copland Crawford in 1895, the Copland estate, then called Harrowdene estate, was open to development, mainly by the Conservative Land Co., and by 1897 many roads had been laid out on both sides of the Harrow road.
From: A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 4: Harmondsworth, Hayes, Norwood with Southall, Hillingdon with Uxbridge, Ickenham, Northolt, Perivale, Ruislip, Edgware, Harrow with Pinner (1971), pp. 198-203 (available online).
The United Kingdom National Committee of Comparative Law (UKNCCL) was probably established in 1956 (earliest colloquium recorded in the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Library). Its object is to advance education by promoting and encouraging the study of Comparative law. Its membership is open to law schools that provide for the teaching of Comparative law, and institutions and organisations that are concerned with the promotion of the comparative study of law. It arranges regular colloquia on Comparative law; most colloquia papers have been published. The Committee is run by a Council overseen by an elected Chairman. Business is carried out by two joint honorary secretaries and a treasurer.
The United Kingdom Life Assurance Company was based at 8 Waterloo Place, Pall Mall (in 1852). It was established in 1834 and acquired in 1862 by the North British and Mercantile Insurance Company Limited, which became a subsidiary of Commercial Union Assurance Company in 1959.
The United Hospitals' Club, the second oldest medical dining club in London, was established on 14 February 1828, shortly after the separation in 1825 of the formerly united medical schools of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals. The rules stated that the club "shall consist of Physicians, Surgeons and Apothecaries, in actual practice, who have been educated either at St Thomas's or Guy's Hospitals". The number of members was limited to twenty-five. Four meetings were held a year at which each member could introduce not more than two professional visitors. Originally most of the members were former students, but by 1936 the club was "made up of equal numbers of the staffs and general practitioners of St Thomas's and Guy's" (from F.G. Parsons, The History of St Thomas's Hospital, vol. III p.68).
A history of the United Hospitals' Club was written in 1928 by Cuthbert Golding-Bird.
The Shakespear Lodge was constituted on 15 February 1757. Then known as the Parliament Street Coffee House Lodge, it met at the Parliament Street Coffee House, Parliament Street, Westminster. In 1772 the Lodge moved to the Castle Tavern, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden and in 1773 adopted the name Castle Lodge. Later in 1773 the Lodge moved to the Shakespear Tavern, Covent Garden Piazza and was subsequently renamed Shakespear Lodge. This name has been retained to date despite additional movements of the Lodge: Freemasons Tavern, Great Queen Street; Albion Tavern, Aldersgate Street; Savoy Hotel, Thames Embankment; Princes Restaurant, Piccadilly; Criterion Restaurant, Jermyn Street/ Piccadilly; Hotel Splendide, 105 Piccadilly; No. 96 Piccadilly; The Cafe Royal, 68 Regent Street; The Constitutional Club, St James Street/ St James Palace; Bakers Hall, Harp Lane, Lower Thames Street; and Mark Masons' Hall, 86 St James Street. The number of the Lodge, centrally registered with the Grand Lodge, has undergone several revisions, although it has remained as number 99 since 1863.
The Mornington Lodge was founded in 1877.
The Masonic Lodge was founded in 1905 as number 3116, and was based at Keyser's Hotel on Victoria Embankment or Mansion House. From 1930s it was based at Mansion House and Guildhall. Since 1905 over 70 Lord Mayors have been Masters of the Lodge.
United Dominions Insurance Company Limited was founded as Credit Assurance in 1897. It dealt with United Kingdom and overseas accident and credit guarantee insurance, and general insurance from 1902. The company had offices at 62 King Wiliam Street, 13-14 Abchurch Lane, and 10 King Willliam Street. The name was changed to British Dominions Insurance in 1902; to United Dominions in 1911; and it was acquired by British Dominions General in 1915. British Dominions Marine Insurance Company was formed from the marine department of British Dominions Insurance Company in 1904, and later expanded to become Eagle, Star and British Dominions.
United Cocoa Development Company Limited was registered in 1955 to acquire and develop land in Malaya as a cocoa estate for commercial growing. Harrisons and Crosfield (Malaya) Limited (CLC/B/112-071) acted as managing agents for the company in Malaysia. Harrisons and Crosfield Limited (CLC/B/112-001-016) acted as a London secretary. In 1975 United Cocoa Development Company Limited went into voluntary liquidation.
This company was established in 1915 to cover motor, fire, accident, marine and employer's liability insurance. In 1919, at which time its address was 19 Royal Exchange, it became a subsidiary of Motor Union Insurance Company (CLC/B/107-16), which in turn merged with Royal Exchange Assurance (CLC/B/107-02) in 1927.
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.
United Associations Limited was set up in 1923 to provide administrative services and premises for societies and associations who wished to reduce their overheads. Its principal clients, who held two-thirds of its shares, were the London Cattle Food Trade Association (CLC/B/103-05) and the London Oil and Tallow Trades Association (CLC/B/103-04). Originally based at 84 Leadenhall Street, it subsequently moved to the Corn Exchange Building, Mark Lane (in 1923) and 5/7 Houndsditch (1959).
No further information
Unite Against Fascism (UAF): Unite Against Fascism is an anti-fascist pressure group in the United Kingdom. UAF was established in 2003 following the electoral successes of the British National Party, beginning as a coalition that included the Anti-Nazi League, the National Assembly Against Racism, the Trades Union Congress, Unite – the Union, and UNISON.
UAF aims to raise awareness nationally of the potential affects to the UK and British society if fascist and far right groups (including the British National Party and the English Defence League), gain seats in local, national and European elections.
Love Music Hate Racism: Love Music Hate Racism is a music-orientated campaign established in 2002 by the Anti Nazi League and Unite Against Fascism in response to the perceived increase in support for the far right and the British National Party.
The campaign involves concerts aimed at communicating an anti-racist message. It follows in the tradition of the 1970s Rock Against Racism campaign, which also involved the Anti-Nazi League.
Anti Nazi League:The Anti-Nazi League (ANL) was established in 1977 on the initiative of the Socialist Workers Party (with sponsorship from some trade unions) to oppose the rise of far-right groups in the UK. It was brought to a close in 1981, but re-launched in 1992. In 2003 it merged with Unite Against Fascism.
Rock Against Racism: Rock Against Racism (RAR) was a campaign set up in 1976 by Red Saunders, Roger Huddle and others, including the Anti Nazi League, as a response to an increase in racial conflict and the growth of white nationalist groups such as the National Front. The campaign involved musicians from a range of genres playing at concerts with an anti-racist theme with the aim of discourage young people from embracing racism.
UNISON is a trade union for public sector workers such as those working in local government, the National Health Service, the police, education, utility companies, transport companies, and the voluntary sector. The union was formed in 1993 after the merger of the National and Local Government Officers Association, the National Union of Public Employees and the Confederation of Health Service Employees.
Unirea S.A.R de Petrol, a wholly owned subsidiary of Phoenix Oil and Transport Company, was registered in Bucharest in 1920. Into it went the assets of several small English companies partially destroyed during the First World War. Phoenix Oil and Transport Company held the capital of Unirea through a nominee, Arbanash (Roumania) Oil Company. Unirea amalgamated with Orion S.A.R. de Petrol in 1935 and with Roumanian Consolidated Oilfields Limited in 1938.
The Unione Ticinese was originally founded as a mutual aid society by Ticinesi immigrants mainly form the Alpine valleys of Blenio and Leventina in Switzerland's Italian speaking area of Ticino.
In June 1939 the Ladies section was formed, and in 1954 these two sections merged, creating the basis of today's continuing society.
The Unione Ticinese's aims and objectives are:
- To foster among members of the society and particularly among its younger ones, the spirit of Ticinese character and strengthen the bonds of friendship and fellowship.
- To promote and encourage social cultural and educational activities of a general nature which embrace common values and traditions of the Ticino and of its neighbouring regions.
- To encourage the development of youth activities and to enable new arrivals from Italian speaking Switzerland to integrate easily into the English way of life.
- To maintain close ties with the 'Pro-Ticino' movement, with the 'Organisation of the Swiss Abroad' in Bern and with other Swiss and European organisations whose overall aims are in the interest to the membership of the society.
- To celebrate each year and in an appropriate manner, the anniversary of the foundation of the organisation.
- To assist members in case of grave need.
The Union Surplus Lands Company was a subsidiary of Underground Electric Railways Company of London Limited. It appears that they managed premises owned by the parent company. The Union Surplus Lands Company was transferred to the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933.
According to tradition, the Union Society of London was founded in 1835 by members of the Oxford and Cambridge Unions. Its stated object was the promotion of debate and its laws were analogous to those of the two University Unions. Debates were conducted in accordance with House of Commons principles. The Society originally met at the members' private houses in rotation. However, by 1844 it was meeting in Lyon's Inn, Wych Street. It subsequently held meetings at the Alpine Club, St. Martin's Place, 1865-8; Dick's Coffee House, 7 Fleet Street, 1869; the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, 1 Adam Street, 1870-86; and the Century Club, 6 Pall Mall Place, 1886-7. It was amalgamated with the Mansfield Debating Society in 1886. In February 1887, it was removed to the Inner Temple Lecture Hall where it remained until the beginning of the First World War, when attendances sank so low that meetings were held in members' chambers. From 1916 to its demise, ca. 1958, the Society met in the Middle Temple common room. Its membership comprised mainly members and students of the legal profession in addition to members of the Oxford and Cambridge Unions. Distinguished visitors were also invited to attend debates and the Society's annual dinner.
The Union of Synagogues was a predecessor to the United Synagogue, in that it was a union between the main City of London synagogues - the Great, New and Hambro synagogues. The alliance was formed in 1825.
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The sisters Anna Maria (1828-1914), Mary (1830-1914) and Margaret (1817-1905) Priestman were daughters of Rachel Bragg, religious worker and anti-slavery campaigner, and Jonathan Priestman. They were born into Liberal and Quaker family networks, being sisters-in-law of John Bright (1811-1889) and friends of his sisters, including Priscilla Bright McLaren (1815-1906). All three Priestman sisters were born in Newcastle. In 1846 Margaret married Daniel Wheeler and moved away. Daniel died within a few years and she then married Arthur Tanner. Meanwhile, her sisters had moved to Bristol and Margaret also went to live there after the death of her second husband in 1869. All three were active in the suffrage campaigns and signed the 1866 suffrage petition and Anna Maria and Margaret were also involved in the Enfranchisement of Women Committee, 1866-1867. The sisters went on to be members of the Bristol and West of England Women's Suffrage Society, and the Central National Society for Women's Suffrage. They were also instrumental in founding the Women's Liberal Association in Bristol in 1881, the first in the country, and were involved in temperance and social work and in anti-Contagious Diseases legislation agitation. The Union of Practical Suffragists was formed within the Women's Liberal Federation in c.1896. Three years previously, Anna Maria Priestman had moved an amendment at a Women's Liberal Federation meeting to the effect that potential Liberal parliamentary candidates should be questioned about their support for women's suffrage before selection. The amendment was defeated but the 'test question' issue remained a live one for the Federation in subsequent years. In 1894 Anna Maria Priestman became president of a small organisation of those in sympathy with her position and by 1895 this group called themselves 'practical suffragists'. In 1896 they merged with a pre-existing Union of Practical Suffragists within the Women's Liberal Federation with the objective: 'to induce the Women's Liberal Associations to work for no Liberal candidate who would vote against Women's Suffrage in the House of Commons.' Mary Priestman was a member of the organisation's executive committee and Anna Maria Priestman was President from 1898-1899. Other members included Ursula Bright, Annie Leigh Browne, Louisa Martindale and Mary Kilgour. The Union was wound up in 1903 after it seemed that it had won its objective, although two years later the debate within the Women's Liberal Federation was re-opened. Margaret Priestman died in 1905, but both Anna Maria and Mary Priestman joined the Women's Social and Political Union in 1907 and carried on active support for suffrage activities in the Bristol area. They died, within a few days of each other, in October 1914.
The Union of Post Office Workers was formed in 1919 on the merger of several smaller organisations. In 1980 it became the Union of Communication Workers and in 1995 the Communication Workers' Union.
The Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues (ULPS) orignated as the Jewish Religious Union (JRU). The JRU was founded in 1902 by Lily Montagu, the daughter of Samuel Montagu who founded the Federation of Synagogues, and Claude Montefiore, theologian, scholar and philanthropist. Montagu and Montefiore initially intended to encourage a revival of interest in Judaism within the existing religious organisational framework. In 1910 it was decided to set up the movements' first separate congregation following disagreements with both the United Synagogue and the West London Synagogue - the leading Reform congregation in London. The Liberal Jewish Synagogue was opened in 1911.
Further Liberal congregations were established throughout the twentieth century; by 1991 there were nearly 30 affiliated synagogues. In 1944 the name of the movement was changed to the Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues.
Founded in 1892, the Union of Graduates in Music aimed to oppose the granting of spurious music degrees by 'Universities' which were not bona-fide. Its presidents included Sir Frederick Bridge (1844-1924), Sir Charles Parry (1848-1918), Sir Charles Stanford (1852-1924), Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) and Sir Donald Tovey (1875-1940). The Union was dissolved in 1972.
The Union Marine and General Insurance Company, established in Liverpool in 1863 with an authorized capital of two million pounds, was formed by a syndicate of underwriters of that port, taking over the marine insurance business of two existing firms of Liverpool underwriters. Agencies were set up in both Manchester and Glasgow, while the Ocean Marine Insurance Company acted as London agents. In 1911, the Union Marine was acquired as a subsidiary of the Phoenix Assurance Company. See Centennial story: The Union Marine and General Insurance Company Ltd 1863-1963 (privately published, Liverpool, 1963).
The Union Lighterage Company Limited was founded in 1876 and is listed in London directories at 16/17 Philpot Lane, EC from 1876-1962 and then at Beagle House, Leman Street E1 from 1963-71.
Lighters were flat-bottomed barges used for the shipment or unloading of cargo.
In 1885 the General Credit and Discount Corporation of London Limited amalgamated with the United Discount Corporation Limited to form the Union Discount Company of London Limited. It soon became the largest London discount house in terms of turnover and deposits; a position it held until the 1980s. In 1891 it acquired the discount houses of Harwood Knight and Allen, and Green Tomkinson and Company. An office in Edinburgh was opened in 1975. The company became the Union Discount Company of London PLC in 1994.
The company was based at 38 Lombard Street (1885-90) and 39 Cornhill (1890-). In 1973-9 the company moved temporarily to 78-80 Cornhill while its main offices were undergoing renovation work.
The Union Construction Company based at Feltham were a subsidiary company of the Underground Electric Railways Company of London Ltd. They constructed tube and tram cars for the Company, including the classic 'Feltham' tramcar. They were taken over by the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933.
The Union Club was founded in 1799-1800, in honour of the Acts of Union 1801 which united the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland. The first club-house was Cumberland House on Pall Mall. Early members included the Duke of Bedford, the Duke of Norfolk, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Charles James Fox and Sir Francis Burdett. The club moved several times, in 1824 to a custom built club-house on Trafalgar Square designed by Robert Smirke (now Canada House). It moved again in 1924-1925 to 10 and 11 Carlton House Terrace, and from there to 86 Saint James' Street in 1951. The club closed in 1964 and members were admitted to the United Service Club.
Information from The London Encyclopaedia, eds. Weinreb and Hibbert (LMA Library Reference 67.2 WEI).
The Union Chapel was situated at the corner of Ravenna Road and Upper Richmond Road, Putney.
The Natural History Museum Staff Association was inaugurated at a general meeting on 18 October 1918, with Mr Fagan, the Museum Secretary, as the first Chairman.The Association was open to all officers and assistants in the Museum, and was a grade group of the Society of Civil Servants. It was concerned with pay and conditions of its members, the status of the Museum, and organised regular scientific reunions and less formal tea parties. The Association was affiliated to the First Division Association in 1945, transferring its affiliation to the Institute of Professional Civil Servants in 1950, at which point it was renamed the British Museum (Natural History) Scientific Officers Association, following the name change of the assistant class.
The Museum's attendants set up the Natural History Museum Clerks Association in 1919, and became affiliated to the Civil Service Federation in 1920. In 1921 they became the Natural History Museum Branch of the Civil Service Clerical Association, and transferred to the Institute of Professional Civil Servants in 1946. In 1950 it was renamed the British Museum (Natural History) Experimental Officers Association, following the name change of the attendant class. The attendants had had a number of disputes with management before the formation of the branch, documented in the petitions and other papers in items 14-21.
This company was established as the Union Fire Office, in 1714 at Blackwell's coffee house on Queen Street. During 1715 it held meetings at Blacksmiths' Hall and Brown's coffee house, before settling in offices on Gutter Lane in 1716. In 1754 it moved to 11 Maiden Lane, and in 1800 to 81 Cornhill, where it remained. It was renamed in 1813 when it expanded its London fire insurance business to include life insurance in the United Kingdom and overseas. It became a subsidiary of Commercial Union Assurance in 1907 when it was restyled Union Assurance Company.
The Unilever website provides the following historical information: In the 1890s, William Hesketh Lever, founder of Lever Bros, wrote down his ideas for Sunlight Soap, a revolutionary new product that helped popularise cleanliness and hygiene in Victorian England. Although Unilever wasn't formed until 1930, the companies that joined forces to create the business were already well established before the start of the 20th century.
Unilever's founding companies produced products made of oils and fats, principally soap and margarine. In the 1920s, with businesses expanding fast, companies set up negotiations intending to stop others producing the same types of products. But instead they agreed to merge - and so Unilever was created.
See http://www.unilever.co.uk/aboutus/ourhistory/ for more information.
Brissago is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. During World War Two it was the site of a camp for refugees and later survivors from Theresienstadt concentration camp.
Cholera was endemic in London during the nineteenth century, and epidemics were a regular feature of life. An epidemic broke out in London in 1853, where a total of 10,675 people died of the disease. There was another outbreak of the disease in 1854, with the worst hit areas being Southwark, Lambeth and Soho.
Possibly the Unicorn Bookshop in Brighton, owned and run by Bill Butler, a US beat poet and occultist.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was founded in 1950, the successor to the earlier United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. The UNHCR is an impartial humanitarian organisation mandated by the United Nations to lead and co-ordinate international action for the world-wide protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. Based in Switzerland, UNHCR has two basic and closely related aims: to protect refugees and to seek ways to help them restart their lives in a normal environment. In the UK the UNHCR's London office offers both legal and information services.