Collection LMA/4592 - ALEXANDRA ROSE CHARITIES

2.00 linear metres

LMA/4592 1902-2002 Collection 2.00 linear metres Alexandra Rose Charities

Alexandra Rose Charities works for small charities, helping them to raise money. "The Charity was launched in 1912 with the Alexandra Rose Day, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Queen Alexandra to the United Kingdom. The Queen's admirers insisted that the day should be celebrated in a special way, and a processional drive through the streets of London seemed an obvious choice, but Alexandra wanted an occasion that would help the sick and needy. She had heard of a priest in Copenhagen who had provided much needed funds for the orphans he looked after by selling the beautiful roses he had grown in his garden and following a visit to him, she developed the idea of selling artificial wild roses which would benefit the funds of London Hospitals and which were to be made by the disabled from the John Grooms Society in Clerkenwell. The day was to be called 'Alexandra Rose Day', and the initial drive swept Londoners off their feet."

"The first event raised £32,000 (the equivalent of over £2 million in today's money). The funds raised were a great benefit to hospitals, and the annual drive became an institution, one of the chief attractions of London's summer."

After Queen Alexandra's death in 1925 HRH Princess Victoria became the Alexandra Rose Day president (1926-1935) and then HRH Princess Marina (1936-1968). The current President is HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy.

The original organiser of Alexandra Rose Day was Miss C May Beeman (1869-1935) who worked tirelessly to raise funds not only for Alexandra Rose Day, but also for the British Red Cross's 'Our Day', The Anzac Buffet, London and the Nations Fund for Nurses among others.

Two related charities are 'Our Day' and 'Their Day', these were charity days where the flag day collections were organised by Alexandra Rose Committees. 'Our Day' was organised by Miss Beeman on behalf of The British Red Cross Society and 'Their Day' flag days were run on behalf of 'Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Help Society' and 'Soldiers and Sailors and Airmen's Families Association'. The Chairman of 'Their Day' was the Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield and again the organising secretary was Miss Beeman. The fund itself provided financial help to serving men and women in unforseen eventualities such as further assistance when on extended compassioante leave or on discharge and in domestic difficulties such as arrears of rent, rates and hire purchase, house repairs, sickness, confimements and the care of children.

Alexandra Rose Day was originally run from the home of Miss Beeman in Bolton Gardens, Kensington. Later premises in Barnes were sold in 1996 and Alexandra Rose Charities are now based in Farnham, Surrey.

Alexandra Rose Charities has helped thousands of charities in the United Kingdom to raise funds for themselves, providing them with assistance in making a collection, obtaining licences, supplying equipment and giving advice on everything from the legal aspects to planning the day and engaging volunteers. Alexandra Rose Charities have also run their own fund raising events such as the long running Rose Ball and the annual Rose Raffle.

Source for background history taken from the website www.alexandrarosecharities.org.uk

Deposited in June 2010.

Papers of the Alexandra Rose Charities, including minutes, correspondence, membership details, advertising and publicity material, photographs of patrons, staff and flag day events, artefacts such as collecting tins and an early 1912 artificial rose. Related charity records include a minute book of 'Their Day' charity and a set of printed reports for 'Our Day' charity.

Arranged as follows:-

LMA/4592/01 Minutes;

LMA/4592/02 Correspondence;

LMA/4592/03 Membership and address books;

LMA/4592/04 Printed material;

LMA/4592/05 Photographs;

LMA/4592/06 Audio-Visual;

LMA/4592/07 Artefacts;

LMA?4592/08 Related Charities.

Available for general access.

Copyright of this collection rests with the depositor.

English.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

See also papers of John Grooms Association for Disabled People, reference LMA/4305.

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

February 2012 Organizations Nonprofit organizations Disadvantaged groups Disabled persons Charitable organisations Moral concepts Ethics Charities administration Charities Charity (concept) Social welfare Charity Agricultural products Plant products Flowers Cultivated flowers Roses Charity minutes Charity records Documents Information sources Alexandra , 1844-1925 , consort of King Edward VII x Princess Alexandra of Denmark Alexandra , 1844-1925 , Queen consort of Edward VII John Groom's Association for the Disabled x John Groom's Association for Disabled People Associations

Deposited in June 2010.

Papers of the Alexandra Rose Charities, including minutes, correspondence, membership details, advertising and publicity material, photographs of patrons, staff and flag day events, artefacts such as collecting tins and an early 1912 artificial rose. Related charity records include a minute book of 'Their Day' charity and a set of printed reports for 'Our Day' charity.

Arranged as follows:-

LMA/4592/01 Minutes;

LMA/4592/02 Correspondence;

LMA/4592/03 Membership and address books;

LMA/4592/04 Printed material;

LMA/4592/05 Photographs;

LMA/4592/06 Audio-Visual;

LMA/4592/07 Artefacts;

LMA?4592/08 Related Charities.

Available for general access.

Copyright of this collection rests with the depositor.

• anglais

• latin

English.

See also papers of John Grooms Association for Disabled People, reference LMA/4305.

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

• anglais