PETER J MASKELL

BEST OF HEALTH130 Years of BHSF 1873 - 2003

BEST OF HEALTH130 YEARS

OF

BHSF

1873 - 2003

Peter J Maskell

Published by BHSF Group Limited 2003

PREFACE

On 6 January 2003, the BHSF Board (formerly known as the ExecutiveCouncil) met to carry out the routine business of the Company. It was ofcourse a very special meeting since it marked the 130th anniversary of thefounding of BHSF, the inaugural meeting having taken place on 6 January1873 with John Skirrow Wright in the Chair and Joseph Sampson Gamgee asHonorary Secretary.

Much has happened in those 130 years. Previous publications have chartedthe history of the Fund - notably a "65 Year History of the BHSF 1873 - 1938","The Golden Years 1873 - 1973" and "Kewstoke Convalescence Centre inWartime". This new book builds on those previous and excellent historicalaccounts, and provides new information and illustrations not previouslycaptured. In his book, Peter Maskell the author and current Chief Executiveof BHSF, describes the social, political and economic changes that have takenplace during the life of BHSF - and how the direction of the Fund has bynecessity changed in order to maintain its relevance and contribution tosociety's medical and charitable needs.

I feel honoured to have succeeded Sir David Perris as Chairman of this greatorganisation. My involvement with the former Executive Council of BHSFdates back to 1988, shortly after I joined Cadbury Limited as their CompanyMedical Adviser. The Cadbury family have a long and prestigiousassociation with social infrastructure and healthcare in Birmingham. Duringthe inter-war years, when it was determined that a site should be found inorder to build a new hospital, it was Cadbury Brothers who in 1925 donated150 acres of land adjoining Birmingham University in order for the newhospital to be built. This is of course the site of the current Queen ElizabethHospital.

Long before that time, employees had been contributing to BHSF and theBournville Works Magazine of January 1914 records that: "At a recentmeeting of the Directors, it was agreed to increase the Firm's contribution in1914 to half the total contribution of office, men and women; previously theircontribution had been one third of the amount."

By then, the Cadbury business at Bournville had become established as thelargest contributor to BHSF amongst some 2190 firms in Birmingham.

Anyone who has had the privilege and the honour to be associated withBHSF can take pride in what has been achieved over its 130 year history.None of us associated with the Company today will ever forget the past, our

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BHSF 1873-2003

roots and the journey BHSF has taken to arrive at its current form and structure. As to the future, the ever-changing and dynamic environment inwhich our business operates will demand that we do not stand still. As inthe past, the challenge for us will be to ensure that we continue to be amongstthe very best at what we do; and that despite the need to operate in anincreasingly competitive marketplace, we will do so with the same high standards of professionalism and ethical behaviour that have served BHSF sovery well during its 130 year history. Long live BHSF!

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BHSF Chairman, Dr Paul Kanas

Enough history of Birmingham has beenpublished to fill a sizeable bookshelf.There is no doubt that the energy andenterprise of those who madeBirmingham the great City which it istoday were unrivalled and many of thefamous names of industry and commercehave their origins here. For instance, inthe commercial area, each of the big fourBritish banks has its roots in or very strongconnections with the City. HSBC, ofwhich Midland Bank was a majorcomponent, started life as the Birminghamand Midland Bank. Lloyds TSB began asTaylor and Lloyd’s Bank. Barclaysdeveloped out of the Birmingham Districtand County Banking Company Limitedestablished in 1836. Meanwhile Natwestincludes in its forerunners Rotten andScholefield’s Bank, formed in 1806.

However, Birmingham is probably moreimmediately known as the workshop ofthe world, or as the City of a thousandtrades. 19th century commentators werestruck by the quantity and diversity ofBirmingham’s goods. They were alsoimpressed by the sound of theirproduction. The French historian, AlexisTocqueville, explained in 1835 that thetown was "an immense workshop, a hugeforge, a vast shop" in which "nothing wasaudible because of the sound of labour",and 12 years later, Hugh Miller declaredthat nowhere else in the world were "themechanical arts more noisy". But nowriter bettered Charles Dickens inbringing to the ears of his readers theclamour of manufacture. He did sothrough the persons of Mr Pickwick andSam Weller when they entered "the greatworking town of Birmingham".

It was the singing of metal and the hissingof water which had given rise toBirmingham’s pre-eminence as amanufacturing centre. But the town’stransformation into a place ofinternational significance was effected notjust because of the craft of its workers. Itwas also due to the willingness of itsindustrialists to invest in each other’sinventions and businesses; and becausethey were able to send out their wares tothe markets of the globe via a goodtransport system.

In the shadow of all this industry andenterprise, the ordinary man and womanand their children often suffered a prettywretched existence. Living conditionsgenerally were very poor indeed in themiddle of the 19th century. The greatsocial changes to be initiated by JosephChamberlain did not begin until ratherlater and took time to be really effective.

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"As they rattled through the narrowthoroughfares leading to the heart ofthe turmoil, the sights and sounds ofearnest occupation struck moreforcibly on the senses. The streetswere thronged with working people.The hum of labour resounded fromevery house; lights gleamed fromthe long casement windows in theattic storeys, and the whirl of wheelsand the noise of machinery shookthe trembling walls. The fires,whose lurid sullen light had beenvisible for miles, blazed fiercely upin the great works and factories ofthe town. The din of hammers, therushing of steam, and the deadheavy clanking of engines, was theharsh music which arose from everyquarter.” (Charles Dickens, ThePosthumous Papers of Mr Pickwick,1837.)

VICTORIAN BIRMINGHAM

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BHSF 1873-2003

The Public Health Act was passed in 1848and Birmingham Corporation immediatelyrequested that an "enquiry into thesanitary health of the Borough be made inorder that a local Board of Health could beestablished under the powers of the Act".So it was that Robert Rawlinson visited thetown twice in 1849 and published hisreport. Although the picture he paintedwas not as black as that of Manchester,Liverpool or London, there was stillconsiderable room for improvement.

The population was 220,000 of whichalmost one quarter lived in 2,000 courts inthe town centre and it would be manyyears before this basic pattern waschanged. Most of the courts were "back-to-backs" or "tunnel-backs" with the smallproperties crowded together and oftenwith multi-occupancy. Public sewerswere few and in many places drainagewas non-existent. Those courts that hadprivies had too few of them and sewageoften found its way into the River Rea, thecanals and the streets.

Rawlinson’s report also identified anumber of other causes of ill-health apartfrom over-crowding and the lack of sanitation. One was the parlous state of the water as the underground water

supply and the River Tame were bothpolluted.

The enquiry by Dr Hill, Medical Officer ofHealth, into the conditions in the towncentre in 1875 prior to the implementationof the Artisans’ Dwellings Act showedlittle apparent improvement on thissituation: "… want of ventilation, want oflight, want of proper and decentaccommodation resulting in dirty habits,low health and debased morals on the partof the tenants.” The consequence of all thiswas a terrible mortality rate, particularlyamong children. From 1851 to 1861 therewere 34,517 infant deaths in a populationof 290,000. Even in 1875 the death rate inSt Mary’s Ward, at 26.82 per 1,000 wastwice the level in Edgbaston. Zymoticdiseases (smallpox, diphtheria, whooping-cough, diarrhoea and so on) were rife.Other social and health problems werereflected by a report that many of theinmates of the County Lunatic Asylumwere found to be suffering from post-nataldepression, epilepsy or alcoholism. Therehas probably never been an era whenthere was such a need for good medicalcare and yet it was not freely available. Itwas against this background that theBirmingham Hospital Saturday Fundcame into being.

Typical 19th century courtyard housing

JOSEPH SAMPSONGAMGEE

Gamgee was born in 1828 at Leghorn inItaly, the son of a prominent English vetwho was practising there. Followingeducation on the continent, he showed aninclination for veterinary surgery,publishing his first paper at the ageof 16 and on the advice ofhis father he became a veterinary student in1846 and qualified in1849. He went onstraight away toUniversity CollegeHospital to studymedicine and forquite a whileshared lodgingswith JosephLister, the founderof antisepticsurgery. WhileGamgee wasstudying medicinehe practiced as avet, believing thatthe two disciplines hadmuch in common. Hegained gold medals foranatomy, surgery and medicine,and was elected a Member of theRoyal College of Surgeons, London, in1854 and subsequently a Fellow of theCollege of Surgeons in Edinburgh. Beingmulti-lingual, he travelled widelythroughout Europe and for a while, as a

friend of Louis Pasteur, worked at theUniversity of Paris. He served as a surgeon at University College Hospital,and then took charge of the Anglo-ItalianHospital in Malta, tending the wounded

from the Crimean War. He was subsequently appointed Staff

Surgeon and PrincipalMedical Officer of the

British-Italian Legion.In 1857 Gamgee came

to Birmingham,allegedly attractedby the very large percentage of thetown’s populationthat came fromItaly. His electionto the medicalstaff of theQueen’s Hospital

in that year wasnot without some

controversy. Electioncandidates were not

allowed to canvass,unlike the position at the

General Hospital wherecampaigns were long, well

organised and expensive. Despite that,views were expressed in the press andeven from the pulpit of St Martin’s Church.Nonetheless his appointment at theQueen’s gave him a real opportunity tomake his mark in medicine and on society.

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The Queen’s Hospital was founded in1841. In 1941 it became the BirminghamAccident Hospital until 1993 when itclosed and its responsibilities were takenover by Selly Oak Hospital.

When Gamgee went to the Queen’sHospital, the number of operationsperformed in a year was well under100 and before any major surgerytook place the whole of the seniorstaff would consult as to whether ornot it was avoidable in view of thepost-operative mortality rate.Gamgee’s first outstanding operation was on a former coalminer when he successfully amputated the man’s leg at the hipjoint because of an enormous growth on the femur which was 48 inches in circumference and with a total weight ofmore than two thirds the weight of theman himself.

Birmingham’s other principal hospital ofthe time, the General Hospital, had beenfounded in 1779 in Summer Lane, whenthe population of Birmingham was 30,000,and it stayed there until it moved toSteelhouse Lane in 1897. It eventually

closed towards the end of the 20thcentury, and the buildings wererefurbished in order to house theBirmingham Children’s Hospital whichmoved from Five Ways.

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The Queen’s Hospital

HOSPITAL FUNDING

In those days there was no State or Civicmoney for hospitals whatsoever.

The General Hospital had uniqueassistance towards its funding. In its earlydays one-off musical events had been heldwhenever the hospital’s finances had beenin particular need of help. However, in1784 the Birmingham Triennial MusicFestivals began specifically to supplementthe income of the hospital, and in that year£703 was contributed. The Festivals wereheld at either the Theatre Royal in NewStreet or St Philip’s Church, nowBirmingham Cathedral. However, the Festival scheduled for 1832 was delayed

by two years to allow all the musicalevents to take place in the new purpose-built Birmingham Town Hall. The 1834Festival was a considerable success andthe Town Hall became the venue for allsubsequent Triennial Festivals. Such wasthe fame of the Festivals that the world’sbest musicians and composers queued totake part and there is an impressive list ofmusical works which were given their firstperformances at one of them. Theamounts raised were substantial until theearly part of the 20th century when, indecline, the last of the four-day Festivalswas held in 1912, with Sir Henry Wood asprincipal conductor.

BIRMINGHAMHOSPITALS

At the Queen’s Hospital, there had beenvarious fund-raising activities. In 1847there was a "subscription of artisans". In1856 and 1857 the first fetes at Aston Hallwere held to benefit the Queen’s – thisinvolved a trip out to the country, forAston Hall was then on the very edge ofthe town. In 1859, Dr Miller, Rector of St Martin’s Church, started the HospitalSunday Fund and this grew to involveother churches with all the collectionsbeing donated to the Queen’s and otherhospitals. Many people made a specialeffort to attend the services on those days,even when they were not normallychurchgoers. However, the income of theQueen’s Hospital was still very meagre,and largely derived from voluntarydonations by wealthy and public-spiritedcitizens, the in-patient maintenancecharges, and registration fees. Theseregistration fees were paid byout-patients and variedbetween 6d and 2s 6d – inreturn the hospital secretaryissued a ticket entitling the patient to hospital treatmentfor a stated period.

The ticket system wasintroduced in an effort toprovide an improved servicewhen free treatment causedcomplete blockage of the out-patient department. On theother hand it often resulted inhardship and neglect ofillness because of poverty.

Gamgee was interested not only insurgery but in all hospital matters andmedical politics. Ten years after he wentto the Queen’s Hospital, he published a

pamphlet on hospital reform in which hedeplored the system of the out-patientdepartment where people queued up to beseen at the rate of one a minute, or wereleft waiting for hour after hour in the cold.He complained that the waiting roomsallowed a minimum amount of air spaceper patient, there were no toilet facilitiesaccessible from those rooms and nopossibility at all of isolating contagiouscases. Dressing rooms were small, darkand badly ventilated and the dispensarywas merely a passageway.

Gamgee decided to involve the workingmen of Birmingham in the building of anew out-patient department at theQueen’s by means of voluntarycontributions. He called a meeting in hishouse at 22 Broad Street and broughttogether 14 working men and severalmanufacturers. He persuaded them that

with regular small donations a newhospital wing could be built and theywould therefore have a say in the runningand management of the hospital.Gamgee’s enthusiasm was infectious and

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The Triennial Music Festival in 1846 held at Birmingham Town Hall when Mendelssohn’sElijah received its first performance. (From the Illustrated London News.)

the idea was taken up wholeheartedly. Ata meeting in the Town Hall on 16 January1869, chaired by George Dawson, the ideawas translated into "A Working Men’sFund for the Extension of the Queen’sHospital". The Mayor, Alderman ThomasAvery and Mr George Dixon becameTrustees. Councillor William Radford andMr Henry Hadley became cashiers.Charles Hobbs became Vice-Chairmanand Robert McRae, Honorary Secretary tothe Birmingham Trades Council, becameSecretary. The Committee consisted of 800workers’ representatives. £4,000 wasraised by those employed in factories andstreet collections plus some moresubstantial donations including £100 fromQueen Victoria in appreciation of theworkers’ efforts.

The foundation stone was laid on 4December 1871 by the Lord Lieutenant ofthe County, Lord Leigh, and by allaccounts this was a big day for the town.There was a huge procession consisting ofthe trade, friendly and other societies andbodies of work people, the local MasonicLodge, divisions of the police, post officeletter carriers, firemen in uniform andmany others. There was even a printingpress on a carriage drawn by two horses toenable views of the new building to bedistributed along the line of the march.There were several brass bands, one ofwhich, Messrs Synyer and Gilmer’smilitary band, accompanied a choir of1,000 voices in the singing of a hymnspecially composed by the ReverendCanon Kingsley. There was a luncheon atthe Great Western Hotel at 4 pm, ticketsfor which were quaintly described as"gentlemen’s tickets 5s; ladies’ tickets 3s6d (exclusive of wine)". In the eveningthere was a soirée for contributors to the

Working Men’s Fund in the Town Hallfollowed by dancing until midnight.

Hence there is no doubt of the importanceof this project to the people of the area.

The funding having been completed, theCommittee advised the Board of theQueen’s Hospital and referred to theeffort which had been made in thefollowing terms:

"The Working Men’s Committee hasendeavoured to do a useful work in a mannerwhich may stimulate their fellows to similarand greater exertions, of which the fruits maynot be immediate, but are nonethelessanticipated with hopeful reliance."

The Board replied by recording their"appreciation of the good sense and goodfeeling which the working men on theExtension Committee had ever manifested intheir dealings."

From all the money subscribed thereremained a small balance and at the finalmeeting of the Working Men’s Committeeit was resolved that this sum, £25, shouldbe used for the benefit of the medicalcharities of Birmingham generally. AnArtizans’ General Medical Charities Fundwas then organised with John SkirrowWright as Chairman, Robert McRae asSecretary and a very influential committee.However, in spite of its excellent intentions,this fund was not successful and soonceased to operate.

The extension cost £10,000 of which £4,000was contributed by the working men ofBirmingham. It was formally opened byAmbrose Biggs, the Mayor, on 7November 1873.

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HOSPITAL SATURDAYGamgee feared a loss of financial aid for thehospitals and appealed to the Mayor,Ambrose Biggs, "to convene a public meetingto consider the propriety of organising anannual Saturday collection throughout theindustrial establishments of the town insupport of its medical charities". Hundreds ofsignatures were obtained in support.Strangely, the largely-defunct Artizans’General Medical Charities Fund at firststrongly objected but, after carefulreconsideration, they amalgamated with theHospital Saturday movement.

The first meeting of the Hospital SaturdayFund was held on 6 January 1873. JohnSkirrow Wright was in the chair, SampsonGamgee became Honorary Secretary andRobert McRae the paid assistant. AmbroseBiggs, as Mayor, accepted the office ofPresident. Of the Committee that wasassembled at that first meeting, two members,Councillor William Cook (later to become SirWilliam Cook) and Lawley Parker (Gamgee’sbrother-in-law) were destined to be for manyyears not only a part of the Hospital SaturdayFund but also extremely active in the publiclife of Birmingham.

At that first meeting, Gamgee suggested that,in addition to street collections, the workpeopleof Birmingham be invited to work overtimeon one Saturday afternoon in the year,especially to donate their earnings to theHospital Saturday Fund for distribution to the

voluntary hospitals. Meetings were held in allthe large factories and the campaign wasreceived with great enthusiasm.

Saturday 15 March 1873 became the firstHospital Saturday. The collection amountedto £4,215 2s 5d. Expenses totalled £470 but aprominent Birmingham citizen, G F Muntz,gave a cheque for £500 which more thancovered the expenses, doing so "as a mark ofesteem for the noble effort and independentspirit shown by the working men". Thismeant that the whole of the £4,215 could bedistributed to the medical charities ofBirmingham. In an age when wages rangedfrom 15s to 20s per week, this result was trulyremarkable and surpassed all expectations.The principal donations were made asfollows:

£ s dGeneral Hospital 1,811 7 7Queen’s Hospital 1,199 18 3General Dispensary 466 4 2Children’s Hospital 390 11 5Eye Hospital 253 6 7Dental Hospital 4 4 7

The Committee was delighted with thesuccess of the appeal. The invaluable servicesof Gamgee, the originator of the movement,were rewarded by presenting him with a goldwatch, a sum of 400 guineas from theprincipal residents of Birmingham and anilluminated address, plus a diamond braceletfor his wife in recognition of the greatassistance she had given her husband.

The hymn composed by Reverend Canon Kingsley for the occasion of the foundation stone laying at The Queen’s Hospital extension, to music composed by Mr G J Rankilor.

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Accept this building, gracious Lord,No temple though it be;We raise it for our suffering kin,And so, good Lord, for Thee.

Accept our little gift, and giveTo all who here may dwell,The will and power to do their work,Or bear their sorrows, well.

From Thee all skill and science flow;All pity, care, and love;All calm and courage, faith and hope;Oh, pour them from above.

And part them, Lord, to each and all,As each and all shall need,To rise, like incense, back to Thee,In noble thought and deed.

And hasten, Lord, that perfect day,When pain and death shall cease;And Thy just rule shall fill the earthWith health, and light, and peace.

When ever blue the sky shall gleam,And ever green the sod;And man’s rude work deface no moreThe Paradise of God. Amen

Programme for the opening ofthe Queen’s Hospital extension, 7 November 1873

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GAMGEE’S LEGACY

Gamgee had worked enormously hard onthis brainchild and out of HospitalSaturday grew various other contributoryschemes and hospital savings associations,the pattern being copied all over theMidlands and beyond. It was said that hisidea had given the greatest impetus to theco-operation of the working classes insupport of our medical institutions.

It was a matter of great regret when inSeptember 1873, having worked sountiringly and successfully for theHospital Saturday Fund, Gamgee found itnecessary to resign his position asHonorary Secretary. His services wereacknowledged by the presentation of apublic testimonial.

In 1882, when aged 53, Gamgee becameseverely ill with nephritis and he could nolonger remain on the active list at theQueen’s Hospital. This was a great blowbut worst of all was the fact that he had nosavings and his liabilities wereconsiderable. He had earned well but hadoften been over-generous and providedevery luxury for his wife. In retirement, hecontinued to consult, write, lecture andtake part in many professional activities, asbest he was able.

Four years later, in August 1886, whileenjoying a holiday with his two sons at hisfavourite resort, Dartmouth, he fell in thestreet and fractured his femur. He wastaken home to Birmingham where twosurgeons were sent for; they gave himether, thoroughly examined him, andpacked him up with splints and sandbags.However, he did not recover. His oldkidney trouble was to prove too much of ahandicap and after a few days of acuteillness he died on 18 September at the ageof 57.

His funeral was held at Handsworth Old Church in Birmingham and thousands ofmen, women and children lined the streetsto bid him a last farewell. He was greatlyloved and many fine tributes were paid tohis professional work, his skill in surgery,his teaching and his devotion to hispatients. Gamgee left no money but hiswidow and children were well cared forby Lawley Parker, his brother-in-law.

Gamgee had been President of theBirmingham Medical Institute and to thisday an annual lecture, sponsored byBHSF, is held at the Institute in hismemory.

He is also remembered in connection withGamgee tissue, a surgical dressing ofabsorbent cotton wool and gauze, whichhe patented and which is still in use.

Further, Gamgee’s name will be familiarto those who know the works of J R RTolkien. Tolkien was not born until sixyears after Gamgee’s death but he movedto Birmingham as a child and waseducated and lived much of his life in theCity. He would have been aware ofGamgee and gave one of the principalcharacters in “The Lord of the Rings” thename Sam Gamgee.

THE SMEDLEY YEARS

To succeed Gamgee, William T Smedley, aChartered Accountant, was appointedHonorary Secretary on 15 January 1874.At first he continued along the linesalready laid down, but as time went on hisvision and flair helped to shape andexpand the influence of BHSF.

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The second annual collection was held on14 March 1874. The Treasurer, JosephBeattie, with a staff of clerks, received thecontributions at the Birmingham JointStock Bank, Temple Row West (withwhose successor, Lloyds TSB, BHSF stillbanks). The collection totalled £4,132 andafter expenses, the amount actuallydivided amongst the hospitals was£3,800.

After that, the amount collected annuallysteadily decreased until 1879. Experienceproved that the collection was dependentupon the state of the local economy andwhen trade conditions were poor, theworking of overtime was out of thequestion. Smedley pressed for a change inthe procedure and the Committeeconsented to the systematic canvassing ofall firms to replace the annual collectionwith contributions of 1d per week all yearround. It was felt this would be less of aburden on the contributor and at the sametime produce a greater result than an effortmade on any one day. The change was asuccess and collections increased year byyear. In 1891 £10,867 was collected.

Each hospital received a donation inproportion to the amount of its annualexpenditure. In 1883 the hospitals agreedto the appointment of a Hospital Saturdayrepresentative to their governing bodiesand these people were able to report onthe extent of the care and economyexercised in the financial management ofeach hospital.

In 1884 a street collection was organisedon Hospital Saturday and this raised£67 15s 6d, setting the pattern for anumber of years ahead in order to swellthe funds available.

Smedley had visions far beyond the merecollection and distribution of money,though.

Over 18 years, £107,304 had beencollected and disbursed as originallyintended, which seemed to establish theFund simply as a collecting agency for thehospitals. Smedley’s vision was tocontinue this good work but to extend thesphere of usefulness by opening aconvalescent home, setting up a nursingservice and establishing a surgical aiddepartment. At first the Committee didnot take to these ideas with enthusiasm,but eventually saw the wisdom ofproceeding in this way. The localhospitals were originally apprehensivethat their income might be diminished butwere assured by the Fund that they couldrely upon at least £10,000 per annum, andmaybe more, because collections wouldincrease year by year as subscribers wereattracted by the convalescence service.

The Fund could not own property withoutbeing incorporated. Hence, on 29December 1891 the Fund was registeredunder the Companies Act as a company"not for profit" to be known as "TheBirmingham Hospital Saturday Fund".The Memorandum and Articles ofAssociation were published and everycontributing group was given the right toappoint a delegate member to the Board ofDelegates which met several times a yearin addition to the annual general meeting.The management of the business was inthe hands of an Executive Committee, 40strong, with various sub-committees.Important matters were reported by theExecutive Committee to the Board ofDelegates, maintaining a feeling of closecontact with the contributors.

Smedley provided the motive power thatgot the organisation under way and inthe early stages much of the direction washis also. His was a mission of heroicproportions and his involvement for 30years laid the firmest of foundations forthe future.

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Sadly his move to Londonmade it necessary for him toresign in 1904. TheCommittee profoundly regretted the loss of one whohad been both architect andmainspring of BHSF. He waselected a Vice President, a posthe retained until his death in1934 at the age of 83. It isremarkable that no civic ornational honours were awardedto recognise his outstandingcontribution, but at BHSF hisname is remembered withpride.

Later Honorary Secretaries,Messrs W S Aston and H CAston were William Smedley’snephews. They were articledto him professionally, andundoubtedly schooled by himin the field of voluntaryendeavour and public service.This family link therefore continued for BHSF’s first 72years.

Interestingly, Smedley wrotein August 1931 when agedalmost 80, that some of hisdevelopments were in the faceof quite staunch opposition. For instance,he claimed that for several years there wassevere and unfair criticism conductedprincipally through the BirminghamGazette opposing strongly the weekly collection which he introduced and whichwas the foundation of BHSF’s funding.He also referred to another battle over theestablishment of the first convalescenthome and the registration of BHSF as acompany not for profit. A member of theExecutive Committee, Leonard Brierley

opposed the convalescent home idea andMr G J Johnson, the Honorary Solicitor,opposed the not for profit idea. Theseissues, combined with the apprehensionof the local hospitals about funding,could have scuppered the whole idea butSmedley seized the opportunity of thebreakdown in health of the Chairman,Alderman Cook (who had been orderedabroad, to Egypt for the winter) andhe carried through these milestonedevelopments.

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William T Smedley

TYN-Y-COEDThe convalescence service was launchedwith the acquisition of Tyn-y-Coed, abouttwo miles from Llandudno. This was asolid house built of local stone in a 33 acreestate including a small farm, which BHSFstill owns, with six cows – and soonafterwards a calf – plus poultry and a horse.

The intention was to borrow the purchasemoney on the best possible terms when amost generous offer came from MissHenrietta and Miss Sarah Stokes ofEdgbaston, Birmingham, to pay the fullamount of £7,500 in memory of theirbrother, the late Mr Alfred Stokes, awealthy and highly-respected merchant ofBirmingham. Tyn-y-Coed was thereforenamed the Alfred Stokes Memorial Home.

Stokes had never taken an active part inpolitics or public affairs but throughouthis life he used his wealth for the benefitof less fortunate citizens in causes toonumerous to mention. For instance, hewould donate a guinea (£1.05) to over1,000 charities annually. In addition he

was a big supporter of local hospitals and many other good causes. Stokes was abachelor, living unpretentiously with hissisters until his death in 1890.

The first AGM of the new Board ofDelegates, held in the Council Chamberon 14 February 1892 and presided over bythe Mayor of Birmingham, gratefullyaccepted the gift from the Misses Stokesand commissioned an illuminated albumfor presentation to them. There was afacility for the Board to elect as lifemembers any persons who had renderedspecial service to BHSF, and this powerwas first exercised in so appointingHenrietta and Sarah Stokes.

Tyn-y-Coed was converted and equippedto accommodate 41 male patients and thenecessary staff. There were manygenerous gifts including a magnificentdonation of £1,500 from the Misses Stokesso that Tyn-y-Coed could be opened freeof debt. The ladies were present at theofficial opening by the Mayor of

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The official opening of Tyn-y-Coed, 21 May 1892

Birmingham, Alderman Lawley Parker, on21 May 1892.

Tyn-y-Coed was an instant success.Patients and their employers oftenexpressed appreciation of this great boonto the City. Sick workers recovered andreturned to work much sooner after a stayat Tyn-y-Coed and many of the men madenew friendships and developed a deepsense of comradeship.

The first matron, Miss F E Melson, whoremained at Tyn-y-Coed for 32 years,accepted the post at a salary of £40 perannum plus free board and lodging, andher deputy received £25 per annum.There was no mention in the records of a

40 hour working week andholidays with pay! Thematron had supremeresponsibility over thewhole establishment. Abailiff was employed towork the farm, and agardener took charge of thegardens and vineries,supplying much of theproduce used at the house.The cost of maintaining apatient worked out at 1s perday, and for the whole weekincluding all overheads, theaverage cost was 16s 6d.Daily reports of all thattranspired had to be sent tothe office in Birminghamand the ExecutiveCommittee had monthlystatements of costs toensure that every care wastaken with the finances.

Tyn-y-Coed was availableto men who lived or wereemployed within a radius offive miles of BirminghamTown Hall. Preference was

naturally given to applicants whoregularly subscribed to the Fund. Patientspaid 10s (50p) towards the return rail fare.They were met at Llandudno and taken toTyn-y-Coed by horse drawn omnibus fortheir stay which normally lasted twoweeks. The men were responsible fortheir own social arrangements. Therewere many happy fishing trips, leisurelydrives with carriage and horses, cricket,bowls, gentle walks and musical evenings.One of the patients would be appointed"Captain" and he would arrange all theseactivities and entertainments. He wouldhave assistants, two of whom bore theextraordinary title of "Slipper" – theslipper would ride outside the horse busand, before going downhill, his duty was

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Toast list at the luncheon at the opening of Tyn-y-Coed

to insert under one of the wheels akind of iron shoe or slipper whichacted as a brake by stopping thewheel revolving. This contraptionhad to be retrieved and stowed awayat the bottom of the hill.

In December 1893 Henrietta andSarah Stokes generously gave £2,000for the purchase of 12 neighbouringacres of land which were previouslyonly rented and when in 1899 it wasdecided to enlarge Tyn-y-Coed toaccommodate 64 patients, theydonated a further £5,100 to cover thecost. In total these generous ladiesgave £17,010 to make it all possible.Even after their lifetime thereremained a legacy in the form of aninvestment of £2,500, the incomefrom which was to assist withrepairs.

In following years Tyn-y-Coed wastwice extended to a final capacity of125 patients. In 1927, after an extension, the building was reopened bythe Right Honourable NevilleChamberlain, MP, who was at that timeMinister of Health. During almost 78years of service, 130,000 patients werecared for at Tyn-y-Coed.

So much depended upon the success ofTyn-y-Coed that Smedley missed noopportunity to personally supervise anddirect this service to the highest standardsand to make sure that every potential contributor in Birmingham knew of theadvantages available for such a modestpremium. Smedley visited the homefortnightly and thus personally met everypatient. A "home club" was formed forex-patients and monthly meetings wereheld where men could renew friendshipsand spend social time together. Theinterest fostered in this way did much to

widen the influence of BHSF and build upits reputation of service. However, such was the success of the home club that itbecame impossible to find adequateaccommodation for the monthlymeetings which were abandoned infavour of an annual social meeting at theTown Hall where Smedley would give anenthusiastic address and an update ofprogress made by BHSF. Smedley alsoedited a monthly magazine whichpromoted the work of BHSF by reportingcurrent activities and encouragingsupport for further plans of which hisagile brain never seemed to be short.This magazine, "Forward", was veryaptly named and did much to advancethe work of BHSF during the nine yearsof its publication up to 1901, the earlyissues being heavily subsidised bySmedley himself.

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Mr Alfred Stokes

CONVALESCENCE FORWOMEN TOO …..

The Fund’s income for 1892 increased byover £1,000 and Smedley raised thequestion of a home for women. However,there were many obstacles to overcomebefore a plan was adopted by theExecutive Committee in 1893. This led tothe renting of Marle Hall standing in 34acres of land, with an option to purchasewithin three years. The Hall nearLlandudno Junction had been ravaged byfire and only partially restored. 22 bedswere available in the habitable portionwhich was opened on 5 May 1894.This was seen as a better alternative thanconverting Tyn-y-Coed to accommodateboth men and women. However,accommodation was so restricted anddemand increased so rapidly that in June1897 a nearby house – Yr Erw – wasaccepted rent free for two years toaccommodate 27 more patients. Even thisproved insufficient and it was eventuallydecided to purchase Marle Hall, restore it and fully equip it. This was completedby 1903, when 80 patients could be accommodated.

"MARLE HALL, LLANDUDNOTHE BIRMINGHAM HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND’SCONVALESCENT HOME FORWOMENOn behalf of the subscribers to the Fundthroughout the City of Birmingham, thisopportunity is taken by the ExecutiveCommittee of permanently recording theirhigh appreciation of the splendid servicesrendered to the Movement by William TSmedley during the past twenty-eight yearsas Honorary Secretary. The Committee feelthat it is impossible to over-estimate the valueof the enthusiasm and self-sacrifice displayedby Mr Smedley in the development of theMovement, and in the originating of theFund’s Convalescent Homes at Llanrhos,towards the establishment of which he hasbeen so generous a contributor." 9 May 1903

The Plaque unveiled on the reopening of Marle Hall in 1903

The attractive woodlands in the grounds became a problem to tend and eventuallyan arrangement was made with the

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Marle Hall as it stood in 1965

Forestry Commission to lease them thewoodlands, thus ensuring expert attentionand beautiful surroundings.

Much later, due to increased demand, StAnn’s Orchard at Malvern Link wasacquired in July 1916, mainly through thegenerosity of Ansell’s Brewery whopresented BHSF with the freehold of theproperty and Mr Edward Ansell who gave£6,000 towards the cost of alterations. Thehome accommodated 24 women and twoyears later was extended to accept 50.

Still later, more accommodation wasneeded for women and in 1928 BHSFopened a small home, St Tudno, on the seafront at Llandudno. This was used mainlyfor elderly or infirm women of limitedmobility.

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Yr Erw

St Tudno

….. AND FOR CHILDREN

In 1896 William Smedley developed theidea of a convalescent service for children,who would become the contributors of thefuture! The average weekly wage of afamily man at the time was little morethan £1. Families tended to be large andthere were many under-nourished andsickly children. Smedley felt that BHSFshould extend a helping hand to themand while the Executive Committeeapproved the idea in principle, it wasnot regarded as urgent. However,Smedley felt very strongly andtherefore obtained the consent of theCommittee to experiment with ahouse near Marle Hall, Bryn Marle,which was rented in 1896, furnishedand equipped as a convalescent home for25 children. He did this entirely at hisown expense and for 12 months he borethe full cost. In view of the successachieved, the Committee were happy totake over the responsibility of Bryn Marlein 1897 on a seven-year lease.

Over the following years therewas a lot of discussion about Bryn Marlewhich many considered too far fromBirmingham for the children to travel,thereby causing anxiety to parents.The Committee found alternativeaccommodation at Great Barr, north ofBirmingham, renting "The Red House" on

a 21 year lease. This was a successful move and when the lease expired in 1923it was agreed that the Fund should have

its own children’s

convalescent home. It was decided topurchase The Uplands at Blackwell, nearthe Lickey Hills, still a local beauty spot.Blackwell was within easy reach of

Birmingham and The Uplands waswell equipped for 25 child patients.There was a field in which they couldromp and play, swings and otheramusements, a large play-hut forwet or cold days and beautifulgrounds. The usual length of staywas a month, and with care, goodfood and rest, the children quicklyresponded and usually vastlyimproved in health.

Much later, in 1938, the facilitiesfor child patients were re-

examined. It was decided that one ofthe houses for women, St Ann’s Orchard,would be temporarily allocated for girls,leaving The Uplands available for boys.However, there were drawbacks at StAnn’s Orchard due to the lack of a proper playground. The small lawnbecame so badly worn that it had to beasphalted over. Enquiries were made

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Bryn Marle

The Red House, Great Barr

when a field opposite St Ann’s Orchardwas offered for sale but it transpired thatthe field could only be purchased with thehouse it adjoined, Fairfield. It was agreedthat this property would be far superior toSt Ann’s Orchard and wouldaccommodate 50 or more children.However, financial commitmentsremaining on Kewstoke which had beenopened in 1933 meant the Committeewere reluctant to incur furtherdebts. On the other hand theydid not want to lose thisopportunity and efforts weremade to interest public-spiritedindividuals. One such manresponded wholeheartedly – MrJ Hugh Sumner – who amplyrealised the splendid workcarried out by BHSF and wasmost concerned about the healthand welfare of children where,as he put it, "the foundations ofthe future are laid". HughSumner most generouslypresented £10,000 for thepurchase, conversion andequipping of Fairfield, whichwas re-named the Hugh Sumner

Convalescent Home for Children. MrSumner said he would consider himselfamply repaid if, over the course of theyears, large numbers of youngstersimproved in health as a result of theirconvalescence at the home, and this wascertainly the case.

At this point St Ann’s Orchard revertedagain to a home for women patients.

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The Uplands, Blackwell

The Hugh Sumner Convalescent Home, Malvern

KEWSTOKEKewstoke is unique in being the onlyconvalescent home actually built by BHSF.The continuing increase in demand forconvalescence, particularly from womenapplicants, brought about the decision tobuild Kewstoke as a convalescent homefor women. After many years of puttingthis objective into the background, mainlyto increase aid to hospitals, in June 1930the Committee was authorised to proceedwith the purchase of a site at Sand Bayadjoining Kewstoke Woods near Westonsuper Mare. In September 1931 the foundation stone was laid by Sir CharlesHyde.

In spite of building delays and difficultiesSir Charles performed the openingceremony on 1 July 1933. This was BHSF’sDiamond Jubilee year and it was fitting that in this special year such a special

project should become a reality. The totalcost was £60,000.

Kewstoke accommodated 111 womenpatients and although it took several yearsand many special efforts to finally clearthe debt, it remained a show place andis to this day still serving theconvalescence needs of BHSF.

CONTINUED FUNDRAISING

The convalescence service established itselfas what was to become the centrepiece ofBHSF’s activities. Nonetheless the primeobjective remained the support of thevoluntary hospitals, which gave rise toother important activities, all of whichseemed to grow naturally in that fertileperiod of voluntary endeavour as the 19thcentury gave way to the 20th.

The objective for the 1892 collection was£12,500 so that £10,000 could bedistributed amongst the medical charities,£1,000 for the convalescent home, £1,000to start a home nursing service and anestimated £500 for the expenses of thecollection. It did not quite reach that totaland so the home nursing service did not emerge. The allocation to the medical

charities and the convalescent home took place and the balance of £573 3s 3d wasretained to be dealt with at a later date –this figure became very significant 69years later as will become apparent.

In 1892 posters were displayed for the firsttime and were prominent in publictransport. Also for the first time the ladieswho organised the street collection held aCommittee meeting, the Mayoress beingPresident and Mrs Smedley, the HonorarySecretary. Five of these ladies wereappointed to represent their Committeeon the Board of Delegates. The 1892 streetcollection yielded £503 and as in manyyears to follow, this annual effort by theladies was greatly appreciated. By 1901,however, many hospitals were organising

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Kewstoke

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Hospital Saturday 1893 – the collectors are seen setting up a stall inCorporation Street, near its junction with New Street, Birmingham

Two picture posters to encourage contributions

their own individual street collections.This caused confusion and BHSFdiscontinued its street collection fromthat year.

BHSF was well established in so manyworkplaces with its penny-a-weekcontributors, but a large section of themedical profession did not approve.There was a fear that contributors woulddemand treatment "as a right" eventhough they might be well able to pay forit. Also that the charitable principles ofthe voluntary hospitals would beundermined. There was even thecomment that contributors would objectto the use of the word "charity" inconnection with themselves. Nonetheless,the doctors were compelled toacknowledge the financial aid given byBHSF to the voluntary hospitals withoutwhich their work would not haveproceeded. However, there wereinvestigations by a committee of enquirybut there was little evidence to show thatthe voluntary hospitals were used bypeople who could be described otherwisethan poor.

The working men of Birmingham gavetheir contributions as a free gift towards

the maintenance of the hospitals and most of them neither expected nor received anybenefits in return. The workers generallyprovided for their own needs by thepurchase of tickets, which were boughtdirect from the hospitals and dispensaryby the Hospital Saturday Committees inthe various workplaces and issued tocontributors as required. In the first 19years £11,379 was contributed to theBirmingham General Dispensary alone,and nearly half the patients there weretreated on Hospital Saturday tickets.From 1873 the whole of the increasedexpenditure by the voluntary hospitalshad been provided in this way.

HOSPITAL SATURDAYMAY 12th 1888

Come lend a helping hand, my friends! we’ve got our work to do,The Hospitals exist, you know, for folks like me and you,

And while we’ve got the health and strength to labour day by day,We’re not the men, when Duty calls, to shirk or turn away.

And who can tell whose fate ,twill be, ere daylight dawns again,

To join those hapless ones who lie bowed down with grief and pain?It may be yours! -- It may bemine! -- Then let us gladly shareThe burden cast on those who work in love and mercy there.

L.B.

HOSPITAL SATURDAYMAY 12th 1888

Come lend a helping hand, my friends! we’ve got our work to do,The Hospitals exist, you know, for folks like me and you,

And while we’ve got the health and strength to labour day by day,We’re not the men, when Duty calls, to shirk or turn away.

And who can tell whose fate ,twill be, ere daylight dawns again,

To join those hapless ones who lie bowed down with grief and pain?It may be yours! -- It may bemine! -- Then let us gladly shareThe burden cast on those who work in love and mercy there.

L.B.

SURGICAL AIDS DEPARTMENT

In 1893, £150 was used to commence asurgical aids department for the provisionfor contributors of surgical appliances,medical aids, artificial limbs and so on.Applications were made throughDelegates and considered by theApplications Sub-Committee. By specialarrangement with suppliers, the necessaryaids could be obtained at little more thancost price. In the case of needy applicants,payment from as little as 6d per week forthese articles would be accepted over aperiod of time. This service continueduntil the 1940s.

HOME NURSING

The home nursing service began on1 January 1893. BHSF agreed to pay to theDistrict Nursing Association the amountof £62 10s 0d per quarter and on therecommendation of the Delegate, theAssociation would arrange for a trainednurse to visit the home of any contributorwithin certain areas of the City. This wasa 12 month trial and any increase in cost tothe Association as a result of visits tocontributors would be met by BHSF.Maternity cases were excluded. However,the Executive Committee was disappointedin the lack of success of this arrangementand by the end of the trial period only 66applications had been dealt with. It dideventually become more widely used, butwas never a great success. Even so, BHSFcontinued to make an annual donation tothe District Nursing Association.

AMBULANCESIn these early days, ambulances were fewand were horse-drawn. In 1895 BHSFpresented four specially-designed cycleambulances made by Alldays and OnionsLimited of Birmingham. These consisted of a detachable canvas stretcher setbetween two bicycles which were joinedby weldless steel tubes and the resultingquadricycle measured about four feetacross and eight feet in length. They wereconsidered speedy, light and comfortableand were particularly useful at the sceneof an accident because the injured personcould be laid upon the detachablestretcher with a minimum of movementand, once at the hospital, the stretchercould be lifted onto a hospital bed withoutunduly disturbing the patient.

These appliances were regarded as a boon,and kept at the principal police stations,with factories being notified where theycould be found in the event of accidents.

In 1932 an ambulance service under theauspices of the Birmingham HospitalsContributory Association was voluntarilyoperated by members of the St JohnAmbulance Association. Contributorscould use an ambulance, day or night, forthe nominal charge of 2s 6d (121/2p). BHSFthought this development was soprogressive that they presented anambulance, bringing the St John fleet toseven, and also contributed £500 towardsthe first year’s working. This donationwas repeated annually, and was increasedto £5,000 per annum in 1939 when twofurther ambulances were also given.

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In May 1936 300 volunteers were enlistedby BHSF’s night volunteer motor servicefor the hospitals. The object of the servicewas to provide speedy transit to hospitalsfor relatives of dangerously ill patientsand for blood donors between 11 pm and6 am. The service operated within aradius of 25 miles from the centre ofBirmingham. The slogan used to recruitvolunteers was "A car, a telephone and adesire to serve". Within the first few

months 184 calls were made and at theend of the following year there were 388 volunteers and 502 calls had beenanswered from 29 hospitals. Relatives andpatients alike were deeply grateful for thefacility and the hospitals concernedexpressed their unreserved appreciationfor this humane and invaluable work,which operated until inevitable restrictionsfollowing the start of the Second WorldWar made it impossible to continue.

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In May 1895 the Fund presented four specially designed ‘cycle ambulances’made by Alldays & Onions Ltd., Birmingham.

The great objection to the horse ambulance was the maintenance cost of a horse and attendant.The quadricycle required no balancing and offered a speedy, light, and comfortable

means of conveying injured persons to Hospital.

The Hospital Saturday ambulance – a page from "Forward" – May 1895

CONSULTATIVE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL INSTITUTION

Early in 1900 the Board of Delegatesagreed to co-operate in the setting up of aConsultative Medical and SurgicalInstitution and a first instalment of £400was paid towards the cost of furnishingconsulting rooms and for working capitalduring the experimental stages. ThisInstitution was not exclusive to BHSF’scontributors, but was available to all who couldafford to pay the fee of half a guinea (521/2 p) for private consultation. Many prominent medical menwere openly hostile andbitter controversy raged.However, the Institutionquietly and steadily progressed throughout itsfirst year as people tookadvantage of the specialisedskill and attention madeavailable to them. Then,although the need for suchan Institution had beendemonstrated, the objections of many doctors prevailed and its activities wereforced to cease.

FUNDINGDEVELOPMENTS

As BHSF’s services became more popular,costs increased but never once was the£10,000 allocation to the medical charitiesfor the local hospitals missed. From 1904special arts and industries exhibitionswere held at Bingley Hall, Birmingham.These and other efforts were to aid the Marle Hall Building Fund and in 1907 theoutstanding debt on that home wascleared. No regular collection money was

ever used to purchase buildings whichwere always acquired through extraendeavours, generous gifts or an "extrapenny a week".

In 1907 the collection amounted to over£20,000 and a silver cup was presented tothe Chairman, Sir William Cook, incommemoration.

ROMSLEY HILLSANATORIUM

In 1908 the death occurred of Sir WilliamCook, a founder member of the HospitalSaturday Movement and for 28 yearsChairman of BHSF. It was agreed that hiswonderful service should be commemoratedby providing a sanatorium for thetreatment of those suffering fromconsumption (tuberculosis). A specialappeal was launched and workers wereinvited to contribute 2d per week for 26weeks towards this goal. The site was tobe on the southern slope of Romsley Hill,in 25 acres of partially-wooded land andwas presented by a donor who remainedanonymous.

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These athletic looking chaps are at the starting line for a race from Droitwich toBromsgrove and back in aid of BHSF

THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

In 1912 the first National Insurance Actcame into force and this resulted in somuch confusion that many firms stoppedtheir BHSF contributions. However, whenit was pointed out that the benefits offeredby BHSF were quite separate and distinctfrom those provided under the InsuranceAct, most of the firms concerned resumedtheir membership.

With the start of the Great War in 1914,many thousands of contributors left theCity for war service. However, confidencein BHSF was so widespread that most ofthe new war-workers became contributorsand collections actually increasedenabling a gift to the medical charities in1916 of £12,000 instead of the customary£10,000.

The foundation stone was laid in 1911 bythe Lord Mayor, Alderman Bowater, andthe sanatorium was opened in 1913 toaccommodate 50 patients who wouldhave up to 10 weeks of treatment.However, in the meantime, the InsuranceAct had come into force making thetreatment of consumptive cases theresponsibility of the local authority. It wastherefore arranged to include the sanatorium in the City of Birmingham scheme, butstill under BHSF management. For 12years the sanatorium was successfully

operated in this way, with bed accommodation being increased over theperiod to 140.

Ultimately, however, it was thought bestto transfer the sanatorium to the CityHealth Committee who also acceptedresponsibility for clearing the £25,659 debtstill remaining on the building. It was alsoarranged that all BHSF patients sufferingfrom consumption should be treated atRomsley Hill. Up to that time, 1926, 7,346patients had benefited under the period ofBHSF’s management.

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A football match procession to collect money for BHSF, March 1910

However, the Great War took its toll andthe resources of the hospitals werestrained to the utmost. The BHSFCommittee realised that with the endingof war work, many of the new contributorswould be permanently lost. In November1918, therefore, there was unanimousapproval of an increase in the contributionrate to 2d per week. In 1919, even thoughthe full effect of the increased contributionhad not then been felt and it was followedby a period of bad trade conditions,£20,000 was given to the medical charities.Despite the fact that there had been noimprovement in the state of trade, in 1921the grant to the medical charities wasincreased to £27,500, so urgent was theirneed.

HIGHFIELD HOSPITAL,DROITWICH

Another of BHSF’s activities was thearrangement of brine baths for contributors.Droitwich in Worcestershire had becomethe centre for rheumatoid ailmenttreatment following an outbreak ofcholera throughout the country in 1830. Aperson from Droitwich with cholera wasordered to take a hot bath immediatelyand in order to save time he was bathed inhot brine, as there was no hot water in thehospital at the time. The patient recoveredand the treatment was given to othersufferers with great success. The healingpower of brine became known anddoctors flocked to the town to investigateand experiment with the brine, which ledto amazing results especially in thetreatment of rheumatism.

Demand for treatment increased year byyear and in 1917 BHSF acquired HighfieldHospital for the treatment of male patients.In 1918 a new wing was opened forwomen and a further extension in 1927allowed 47 men and 31 women to receivetreatment. Great benefit and relief fromsuffering more than justified the acquisition

of Highfield where the equipment wasalways kept up to date and includedelectrical, radiant heat and gymnasiumtreatment. There was no need for patientsto be able to swim as the brine was sodense that a patient just floated close tothe surface.

The hospital was handed over to theMinistry of Health in 1948 and treatmentscontinued until 1982 when the brine bathswere closed due to lack of use.Nonetheless Highfield Hospital continuesas a specialist centre for rheumatoid care.

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Highfield Hospital, Droitwich

Droitwich brine baths – the aeration baths

THE INTER-WAR YEARSIt was recognised that there would bemuch advantage to be gained if thevoluntary hospitals co-operated in theirpolicy and procedures and BHSF instigatedthe formation of a Hospitals Council. Aconference was held at which the LordMayor presided and in 1919 the Councilwas established with representatives fromthe hospitals, Birmingham University andthe City Council and later members of theHospital Officers’ Association. BHSFChairman, Alderman Sir David Brooks,was appointed Chairman and the BHSFHonorary Secretary, Mr W S Aston,became Honorary Secretary to theCouncil.

Following the Great War attention wasgiven to the seriously overcrowdedvoluntary hospitals. Normally, patientswho were admitted to Dudley Road andSelly Oak Hospitals were assessedaccording to their financial means andrequired to pay a maintenance charge.BHSF came to the assistance of itscontributors and in 1924, arranged that allBHSF cases would be covered by thepayment of £500 per year by BHSF. Thispayment was doubled in 1926 and laterchanged to a payment per patient,irrespective of the length of stay. Over aperiod of 12 years, the cost of in-patienttreatment for BHSF contributors rose from£500 to nearly £30,000.

The need for enlarged and improvedhospital facilities was most urgent. In1925 both the General Hospital and theQueen’s Hospital contemplated extensionsbut the BHSF Committee proposed thatinstead of building further within thesmoke, grime and noise of the City Centre,attention should be focused on open landin the suburbs. The idea received so muchsupport that a special committee wasappointed and this resulted in a scheme tobuild a Hospitals Centre incorporating ageneral hospital, special hospital and a

medical school in Selly Oak and this isnow the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The150 acre site was generously donated byCadbury Brothers.

The increased cost of running thevoluntary hospitals put pressure onestablished procedures. Some hospitalsdemanded registration fees andmaintenance charges and "extra tickets"because the value of basic tickets fellbelow the cost of treatment being given.At first these affected non-contributorsbut gradually the procedure affectedBHSF contributors too. As a result, in theworkplaces these registration fees, extratickets, maintenance charges and so onwere being paid out of the collectionsmade for BHSF for distribution amongstall the hospitals. In some factories morethan half the funds were being used in thisway.

In December 1924 the Delegates proposedthe abolition of the ticket system,believing that the hospitals would soonmake good any loss of income suffered atthe outset and also that this would savemuch working time by patients who oftenhad to travel far, sometimes withdifficulty, in their search for the necessaryhospital tickets.

While the implications of this proposalwere being evaluated, it also seemed toBHSF that some means needed to beestablished so that money collected forBHSF should not be drawn upon for otherpurposes, and a conference was called bythe Hospitals Council. One of theresulting suggestions was that the variousagencies collecting on behalf of thehospitals should be amalgamated alongthe lines of the contributory schemeswhich were then being formed in someother towns. BHSF made it clear,however, that it was not prepared toconsider being absorbed into any new

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movement nor amalgamate with othercollecting agencies such as the varioushospital leagues, hospital guilds and soon. Nonetheless, BHSF was prepared tocooperate in establishing new procedureswhich would assist hospitals generallyprovided that it could retain its separateidentity. The Hospitals Council tried toformulate a scheme, but there were greatcomplications and conflicting interestsand it took several years before an agreedarrangement was produced. The mainpoints of this contributory scheme werethat the BHSF practices which had been sosuccessful in factories and industrialestablishments should be extended tooffices, shops, domestic servants, districtleagues and local committees.

The BHSF Delegates met early in 1927 andas it was found that BHSF’s interests hadbeen fully protected and it could lendassistance by the extension of its ownproven methods, it was in the commoninterests to do so. A further meeting washeld later in that year when all pointsraised were cleared up satisfactorily andthe proposed constitution was approvedwith BHSF acting as the industrial sectionof the Contributory Scheme. It alsoprovided for the abolition of hospital ticketsand in return the hospitals were to be paidas much as possible towards the cost oftreating contributory patients. Further,BHSF would continue to have representationon the governing bodies of the hospitals,the standard contribution of 2d per weekshould be payable by all contributorswithout exception, and employers shouldbe invited to contribute 25% of the annualcollection raised by their workpeople forthe Contributory Scheme.

Here was an entirely new scheme and avery encouraging start was made withmost of the leading firms in the City joiningin the first year. Individual hospitalsagreed to cease making any appeals toworkers direct. The collection for 1927,the last year prior to joining the

Contributory Scheme, amounted to£66,797. In 1928, the first year of the newscheme, it was £140,943.

The depression which hit this country andmany others caused financial difficultiesfor the voluntary hospitals and in 1931there was a danger of wards having to beclosed. The appeal for the HospitalsCentre and the new convalescent home atKewstoke were necessarily deferred.There was an overriding need to increasethe contribution rate from 2d to 3d perweek but because of the trade depression,many doubts were expressed about thelikely success of such an appeal. However,BHSF believed that if contributors couldrespond then they most certainly would.A carefully reasoned appeal – "the case forthe extra penny" – set out in detail:

•the overwhelming need of the voluntary hospitals for more money tomeet current expenditure;

•the promised support to the newHospitals Centre;

•the much-needed support for the newconvalescent home at Kewstokewhich had previously been deferred infavour of the Hospitals Centre.

It was agreed that from 1932 until 1936 theextra penny should go to the voluntaryhospitals but at the discretion of theCommittee of the Contributory Scheme,some could be paid as a donation to theHospital Centre and from 1936 10% of thisextra money was to be paid to BHSF forconvalescent home purposes.

The income for 1932 showed a substantialincrease but not the full 50% that could beexpected following the raising of the contribution rate. The shortfall was dueentirely to the depression in trade andshort time working in many factories.However, in 1933 the full 50% increasewas shown and both the hospitals and the

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City recognised and expressed admirationfor the devotion shown by BHSF and thebold and resolute way in which the workershad so successfully responded to theappeal.

THE BRITISH HOSPITALSCONTRIBUTORYSCHEMES ASSOCIATIONThe Government had set up the VoluntaryHospitals Committee in 1921 and theytook certain financial and other steps toaid the voluntary hospitals. Nonetheless,the hospitals continued to look to organisations like BHSF for their solidsupport. In 1930 the management committee of the Birmingham HospitalsContributory Scheme, containing 10 BHSFrepresentatives, took the initiative to call aconference to inaugurate a national bodyat which the problems of individualschemes could be addressed. Some 49 delegates, representing 19 schemesattended and a National Association wasestablished. A Committee was formedwith the Association holding its firstannual conference at Rugby in 1931. ThisAssociation is the predecessor of theBritish Health Care Association which isthe trade body representing the interestsof a number of not-for-profit health cashplan providers including BHSF.

THE SECOND WORLDWARIn 1939 as the clouds of war gathered, theBHSF convalescent homes were equippedand prepared for emergencies. All exceptSt Tudno were inspected by Ministry ofHealth officials and listed as suitable foremergency hospitals. A proportion ofbeds was reserved by the Ministry for theuse of the military and civilian populationand BHSF was reimbursed for these reservations and for any special workundertaken.

Marle Hall was the first of the homes to beutilised in the war effort when 30 childrenfrom a Manchester sanatorium were caredfor until they could return to their owncity. Later, sick soldiers from trainingcamps in the area were nursed back tohealth. When in 1944 Marle Hall reachedthe 50th anniversary of its opening as aconvalescent home for women, it wasbeing occupied by men owing to the requisitioning of Tyn-y-Coed.

The war time role of Tyn-y-Coed was ofnecessity cloaked in silence, because forsome time it housed hundreds of workersengaged upon the construction of thefamous Mulberry Harbours which contributed so much to the successfulinvasion of occupied Europe on D Dayand thereafter. Some units were made andlaunched at Morfa on the Conway Estuaryabout two miles from Tyn-y-Coed andwork proceeded around the clock. Themen worked under guard in shifts andwere conveyed to and fro in buses. Thematron, Miss C L Kenwrick, supervisedthe running of Tyn-y-Coed to provide a 24hour buffet service and all else that wasneeded for the men’s welfare and wellbeing. The Minister’s recognition by letterat the close of this period came as awelcome reward for the endeavours ofBHSF and the staff at Tyn-y-Coed.

The Hugh Sumner Home at Malvernbecame an auxiliary unit for BirminghamChildren’s Hospital. On the other side ofthe road, St Ann’s Orchard Home

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A Mulberry Harbour

accommodated the nurses. This arrangementgreatly assisted the Children’s Hospitaland after a while an isolation block for 20beds was erected. Many of the patients,when fit enough, were taken to TheUplands Home at Blackwell to completetheir recovery. These services continueduntil the end of 1943 by which time 2,550youngsters had received attention. TheHugh Sumner Home then accommodatedwomen patients who could no longer besent to Marle Hall as it was required againfor war use, this time for the care ofwounded members of the forces.

Highfield Hospital atDroitwich received46 military woundedin 1940, many ofthem from Dunkirk.However, this did notinterfere with thetreatment of therheumatic cases whowere boarded out butcontinued to haveaccess to the brinebaths. Later, Highfield took under itswing patients from the Birmingham Earand Throat Hospital which was then ableto continue its work and performoperations away from the dangers ofbombing.

In 1942 another small convalescent home,High Pastures at Deganwy in NorthWales, was purchased with accommodationfor 24 patients.

Kewstoke was commandeered by theMinistry of Health for conversion into afirst-grade emergency hospital and thebuilding was soon coated in camouflagepaint. The control of the hospitalremained in the hands of BHSF and veryquickly and efficiently, additional bedswere put up to provide for 230 patients.An operating theatre and x-ray unit wereinstalled and extra medical and nursingstaff were appointed. Some of the nurseswere only 18 or 19 years old and awayfrom home for the first time. Early in thewar, 40 expectant mothers evacuated from

London were cateredfor and an independentmedical staff andmidwives wereappointed for thisadditional work. Aboarding house inWeston was reservedto accommodate themothers until itbecame necessary toadmit them to thehospital. On 30

October 1941, the Rt Hon Ernest Brown,then the Minister of Health, visitedKewstoke and expressed his gratitude toBHSF for placing such wonderful facilitiesat the disposal of the country.

In June 1942 Kewstoke was slightlydamaged in an enemy attack when over200 incendiary bombs landed on the flatroof and one entered the hospital througha wall. Patients had only just beenremoved from that ward and taken downto the cellar corridor. Even woundedsoldiers helped to move other patients.Wet debris had to be swept from the fireareas and bed linen and pillows whichwere burning were thrown from thewindows. It was due to the courage of thehouse surgeon, the matron, and thenursing staff that the damage was notmuch greater. They were still able toattend to air raid casualties from thelocality, many coming from the 8th Army

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Christmas party for children evacuated from WinfordOrthopaedic Hospital 1940

High Pastures Convalescent Home, Deganwy

Division which was stationed at theAtlantic Hotel on the seafront. Gratefultribute was paid to the endeavours of thematron, Miss B Hickey, SRN, and her staff.

Some unhappy times which Kewstokestaff experienced include nursing woundedand shell-shocked soldiers arriving backfrom Dunkirk and the later D Daylandings. One of the saddest incidentswas the death of a colleague, a lovelyyoung girl from a farm in Devon, whocaught TB from a patient.

There were also Americans on the staff –two orderlies, a physician and a surgeon –and they were all very generous with theirLucky Strike cigarettes! For all herstrictness, Miss Hickey was respected andcompassionate. However, the nursescertainly did not look forward to thepreparations for the quarterly visits fromBHSF officials and they had to scrub andclean every nook and cranny, with thematron swinging the lights to see if theymade any dust rise!

The black-out was always strictly enforcedat Kewstoke with the corridors lit byhurricane lamps giving just a low light.One of the staff recorded being on dutyand seeing a hospital ship, blazing withlight and with a large red cross on the side,steaming up the channel towards Bristolin the summer of 1943 with everythingaround in total darkness. Others recalledthe views from the roof at night, especially

the glow when the steel furnaces acrossthe bay in Wales were opened as thesecould not be blacked out.

There was a great sense of camaraderieamongst the Kewstoke nurses and manyof them married patients. The nurses heldreunions for many years after the war, atfirst in their own homes and then from1989 at Kewstoke itself. On the 25threunion, a commemorative cherry treewas planted in the Kewstoke grounds.

It is not practicable to relate all of thevaluable work carried out at Kewstokeduring these years. Statistics do not fullyreflect the never-ending working hours ofthe staff without whose endeavours littlecould have been accomplished. However,the scale of the war-time activity meritsbeing recorded:

Military patients - 1,640Civilian patients - 4,680Operations performed - 3,469Out-patients - 4,224Maternity cases - 76

It is little wonder that at the end of the warthe Government was reluctant to restoreKewstoke to BHSF and a very delicatesituation arose requiring many months ofcareful handling and the intervention ofBirmingham MPs before Kewstoke wasde-requisitioned in April 1946. Aftercomplete renovation it re-opened its doorsto women convalescence patients inAugust 1947.

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Men’s ward, now the convalescent centre lounge

Kewstoke camouflaged

During these war years, convalescenceaccommodation was very restricted andthere were long waiting lists. TheCommittee did all it could to makealternative arrangements. In appreciationof BHSF’s war efforts, the Ministry ofHealth accommodated many convalescencepatients in their auxiliary hospitals inorder to relieve the situation.

At the helm of BHSF through this periodwas Henry Crisp. He had served asOrganiser from 1928 until hisappointment as Assistant Secretary in1937 and Joint Secretary in 1942. Hebecame Secretary in 1946 until hisretirement in 1964.

BIRMINGHAM ACCIDENT HOSPITAL

In 1941 the Queen’s Hospital changed itsname and function to become theBirmingham Accident Hospital with avery ambitious scheme to specialise in thetreatment of accident victims and theirsubsequent recovery. Very often thevictims of accidents were afterwards unable to follow their normal occupationsso a rehabilitation centre was incorporatedto re-equip them to earn a living. Thiswork greatly appealed to BHSF whichmade a donation of £1,000 towardsequipping the rehabilitation centre.

Birmingham Accident Hospital eventuallyclosed in 1993 with its functions beingtransferred to Selly Oak Hospital. The

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VE Day

The foundation stone from The Queen’s Hospital extension

The unveiling of the re-sited foundation stone by the LordMayor of Birmingham, David Roy and Sir David Perris in 1995

commemorative foundation stone wasremoved and was reinstalled at the BHSFoffices where it was unveiled by the LordMayor, David Roy and BHSF Chairman,Sir David Perris on 13 September 1995.Behind it was placed a time capsulecontaining a number of items of currentand historic interest, including newspapersof the day and also those reporting thelaying of the foundation stone in 1871 andthe official opening of the Queen’sHospital extension in 1873.

THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICEIt took a long time to get back to normalafter the war. There were staff shortagesat convalescent homes and this limited thenumber of admissions for a time. Foodrationing continued and administrationcosts had increased astronomically. Overall this hung the uncertainty about thefuture because the National HealthService was due to take over responsibilityfor the running of hospitals. The Ministerof Health felt that convalescent homesshould be classed as hospitals. The BHSFview was that the homes had been providedby the generosity of Birmingham peopleand by much hard work and they ought toremain separate.

To clarify the position, a conference wascalled in 1946 of the 15 Birmingham MPsbut only four were able to attend alongwith six BHSF delegates including theVice-Chairman, Albert Simmons, and theSecretary, Henry Crisp. Mr Simmons presented the BHSF case and emphasisedthat the convalescent homes could continueto be maintained by voluntary effort. Healso made reference to the sterling workperformed through the convalescenthomes during the war. After a furthermeeting later that year, it was agreed thatthe BHSF convalescent homes were nottransferable under the terms of theNational Health Act and BHSF was free tocontinue its own convalescence service.However, Highfield Hospital at Droitwichwas taken over by the NHS.

In July 1948 the Birmingham HospitalsContributory Scheme ceased operationsand presented a £10,000 contribution toBHSF to meet capital expenditure. Itsremaining funds were used to inauguratethe Birmingham Amenities and WelfareTrust to assist hospital patients, the sickand the aged in the City. BHSF wasrepresented on the Trust which continueduntil the end of 2001 when its affairs weremerged with the W E Dunn Trust.

From 1873 to July 1948, £7m had beencollected and given to the voluntaryhospitals which were now taken over bythe Ministry of Health. The AmbulanceService, so liberally supported by BHSF,passed to the Local Health Authoritiesand the provision of surgical aids was alsotaken over by the National Health Service.

THE POST-NHS CONVALESCENCE SERVICE

The NHS relieved BHSF of its originalfunction, the raising of funds for local hospitals. However, the National HealthAct made local authorities responsible forproviding convalescence which was notavailable under the NHS. The BHSFconvalescence service was provided at acontribution rate of 1d per week and therewere eight homes in July 1948. TheBirmingham Health Committee soughtthe support of BHSF in satisfying its ownconvalescence obligations by means of anarrangement to accept non contributorswho met medical requirements at anagreed charge rate.

Many employers readily agreed to continuetheir support for the BHSF convalescenceactivities. By December 1949 the employeesof 3,619 firms were covered, with 420,130contributors and a further 4,027 individualcontributors who registered direct. Manyemployers added 25% to the employees’contributions and the total collected forthe year amounted to £111,866.

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Additional accommodation was neededbut the cost of building would have beenprohibitive and there would have been aconsiderable delay in obtaining a buildinglicence. It was therefore decided topurchase Montrosa, a private hotel inWeston, a town which medical opinionfavoured as being particularly suitable forthe relief of chest complaints. Also, beingclose to Kewstoke, fresh garden producecould be supplied from there and existingbusiness contacts could usefully serveboth premises. Montrosa opened as aconvalescent home for 40 male patients in1951 bringing the total to nine freeholdproperties which could accommodate 510patients.

This was the heyday of the convalescenceservice, which was then accommodatingover 7,000 people per year. However, itsoon became apparent that there would bea decline in convalescence demand.Advances in medicine brought aboutspeedier recuperation. Pre-natal care andfollow-up treatment, plus better foodswere having a marked effect on the incidence of children’s ailments. Also socialadvances which were unconnected with thefield of medicine and health brought aboutimproved working conditions, reducedhours, more mechanisation of heavy workand increased holidays with pay. All thesehelped the general improvement and well-being of the nation and a reduced demandfor convalescence services.

The first casualty of the decline was StAnn’s Orchard. There were fewer patientsby 1955, but the wages bill andmaintenance costs spiralled upwards.St Ann’s Orchard became a financialburden which BHSF could not afford tocarry and, with regret, it closed in 1955.Staff and equipment were dispersed andthe property was sold in 1957 to theRegional Hospital Board.

By the early 1960s the downward trendwas confirmed, and there were manyfewer applications. Another factor washigher wages, but on the other hand therewere also many who admitted that theycould not afford even free convalescencebecause of their financial commitmentsespecially having been absent from workthrough illness. Some people became"choosy" and did not want the large, airydormitories, which to them appearedinstitutional, and they wanted to be nearthe sea. BHSF did everything possible tomeet these changing demands. Whereverit could be managed, the large rooms weredivided into smaller cubicles to take one,two or three beds. Wash basins wereinstalled in bedrooms. At Llandudno,where Tyn-y-Coed, High Pastures andMarle Hall were some distance from thesea, weekly coach trips were arranged totake patients to Llandudno and Conwayand no effort was spared to modernise thehomes and improve the facilities but disappointingly the decline in the numberof applications continued.

In 1964 BHSF became re-affiliated to theBritish Hospitals Contributory SchemesAssociation and it learned from otherschemes that the steady decline inconvalescence demand was nationwide.Other schemes were reporting the closureof their homes.

BHSF appealed to Delegates to makeconvalescence work better known, but itwas to no avail. The Hugh Sumner Homewas disposed of, and as one would expect,Mr Sumner was most kind in agreeing,with regret, that the home which he had so

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Montrosa Convalescent Home

generously established and where over10,000 children had gained untold benefit,had become surplus to requirements. Itwas sold in 1965 but with the ExecutiveCouncil pledging to perpetuate the nameof John Hugh Sumner in some futuredevelopment. The Uplands Homebecame redundant and was sold in 1966ending the convalescence service forchildren which had begun with BrynMarle in 1896. The few children whoapplied for convalescence wereaccommodated in privately-run homesuntil even those closed down.

The Llandudno homes which, apart fromSt Tudno, were some distance from the seabecame less appealing. On the other handKewstoke and Montrosa had greaterappeal, perhaps because they were closerto the sea and probably too becauseWeston was easier to reach fromBirmingham.

In August 1966, after 72 years, Marle Hallbecame a white elephant and was onlybeing fully used for a few weeks in thesummer. Following its closure, itremained unsold until it was finallydisposed of in 1969. Tyn-y-Coed wasanother sad story. It was rarely more thanhalf full even at peak periods. Apart fromall other considerations, Tyn-y-Coed hadgreat sentimental value and BHSF wereloath to face the implications of thedownward trend. It was closed for a timewhile the patients’ lounge was completelyredesigned and refurnished on modernlines and carpeted. A new matron wasappointed but, within a few weeks of

re-opening, there was no-one wanting togo there. An unexpected enquiry wasreceived from a commercial concern whowere interested in acquiring the propertyfor their staff and laboratory accommodationand after much heart-searching by theExecutive Council, Tyn-y-Coed was soldin 1970. Throughout all its happy anduseful 77 years, Tyn-y-Coed hadaccommodated 130,000 patients. Much ofthe equipment and stock and some of thenursing and domestic staff transferred toWeston. The neighbouring Tyn-y-CoedFarm was let on a tenancy agreement andthe houses provided by BHSF for formeremployees were sold.

A search for a suitable site on the southcoast on which to build a new convalescenthome was unsuccessful and eventuallyBHSF purchased an uncompleted building,originally intended as an hotel, at Weston.This had already been named Sandpiperand it was decided to retain the title.Many alterations were necessary to meetthe BHSF requirements and this causeddelay and additional expense. Sandpiperwas opened on 11 May 1968 by the Mayorof Weston, Councillor C D Curtis, who atthe same time unveiled a plaquecommemorating the generosity of Mr JHugh Sumner to whom the library wasdedicated. Sandpiper had accommodationfor 35 patients, mostly in twin-beddedrooms with en-suite facilities.

Shortly afterwards Severn Croft, a neighbouring property also facing thepromenade, was purchased rather thanextend Sandpiper as had been proposed atone stage. This enabled three small homes– St Tudno and High Pastures in NorthWales and Montrosa in the Knightstonearea of Weston – to be closed in theautumn of 1971 with the furnishings andequipment transferring to the newpremises. St Tudno was bought by acouple from Solihull who still run it as asmall but fine hotel. The staff of Montrosaand the nursing staff from High Pastureswere transferred to Sandpiper and SevernCroft. Severn Croft was extensivelyimproved and was opened by the LordMayor of Birmingham, Alderman F T D

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Sandpiper Convalescent Home

Hall, on 10 June 1972, dedicated to MissHenrietta and Miss Sarah Stokes, thesisters of Alfred Stokes, in whose memoryTyn-y-Coed had been provided. It wasthought fitting that this last home shouldperpetuate the names of those who had sowillingly founded the first home.

Convalescence was now being providedat three properties in Weston – Kewstoke,Severn Croft and Sandpiper. Nonetheless,the downward trend in demand continuedresulting in longer periods of winterclosure and many months of only partialoccupancy. With regret, the decision wastaken in 1999 to close Severn Croft andSandpiper in order to use Kewstoke morefully. In 2001 the site which embracedSevern Croft, Sandpiper and some flatswhich stood between them was sold toRoyal British Legion who also acquiredthree neighbouring properties with theintention of building a new convalescenthome for their members, to replace anexisting facility in Weston, which nolonger met their standards, and to developa large number of sheltered-housing units.

THE MOVE INTOHEALTH CASH PLANSBy 1960 it became obvious that withcontinually - rising costs, the very low rateof contribution, which had not changedsince 1948, would need to be reviewed.Indeed, without the constant support of

the employers who added a percentage tothe contributions, the convalescenceservice could not have been maintained atthe 1d per week rate, despite the incomeon the investment reserves. It wasreluctantly decided that the contributionrate needed to be increased, and at such alow denomination, anything less thandoubling the contribution to 2d per weekwas impracticable. At the 1963 AnnualGeneral Meeting, two proposals were putbefore Delegates and approved:

• 2d per week would provide access toconvalescence, with free travel byluxury coach and a cash grant of £2 toeach adult patient. The Council alsoagreed to provide as much single-room accommodation as possible andto welcome patients recovering fromsome ailments which had previouslyprecluded admission.

• 6d per week would in additionprovide cash grants towards thecost of spectacles, dentures, specialistfees, home help, nursing home andhospital in-patient treatment, and amaternity grant. Hospital in-patientpayments would include dependantson a reduced scale. Where anemployer could not or would not arrange the 6d deduction rate,but wished to continue deducting forthe convalescence service only,contributors would be able to paythe extra 4d per week direct to BHSF.

The extended benefit scheme proved sosuccessful that over the four succeedingyears it was possible to improve and extend the benefits without any increasein the contribution rate. However, thetime eventually arrived when furtherenhancement was not possible at the samerate. This coincided with the necessity toplan for the introduction of decimalcurrency.

Following an opinion poll in 1968, a greatlyimproved scheme for 1s per week – a sumwhich would readily convert to 5 newpence per week – was agreed. Also, there

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Severn Croft Convalescent Home

was a promise to retain the convalescenceservice at 2d per week which on decimalisation in 1971 would become 1p. The proposals were approved at the1969 AGM and the new rates came intoeffect in January 1970.

The extended benefits scheme was basedupon the sound principle of mutual aidand many employers and employeesrecognised the advantages. It is interestingto compare the cash benefits which wereavailable in 1972 for 5p per week:

• Hospital and nursing home in-patient:Contributor - £1.20 per day,

maximum of £109.20Dependant - £0.70 per day,

maximum of £63.70• Maternity benefit - £5 per birth• Home help grant - Up to £15 per year• Specialist fees - Up to £5 per year

plus £5 per year for each dependant

• Spectacles or repairs - £4 once in three years• Dental benefit - £5 once in three years• Convalescence benefit

The pattern for the future was laid downin this way, and shortly afterwards theMemorandum and Articles of Associationwere altered to remove the geographicalrestrictions which had been in place.Originally, benefits could only be claimedby contributors who resided or workedwithin five miles of Birmingham TownHall but as the City spread, this radiushad been extended to 25 miles. Asemployers moved, amalgamated and developed their businesses in other parts,the geographical restriction was removedaltogether enabling BHSF to operate in allparts of the UK.

BHSF MEDICAL CHARITYAND WELFARE TRUSTWith the passing of the Charities Act in1960, BHSF applied for registration withthe Charity Commission and with theLocal Authorities in those places where

the various properties were situated. Itwas established that the Fund was quasi-charitable by reason of its early activitiesin aid of the voluntary hospitals but it didnot qualify for registration. As negotiationscontinued, and discussions took placewith other similar organisations, it becameapparent that registration as a charitycould involve complete alteration ofBHSF’s structure and control by theCharity Commission. BHSF did not wantto relinquish control of its own affairs andit conducted further investigations toestablish its position under the terms ofthe Charities Act. Counsel’s opinion wasthat BHSF was not a charity but that thesum of £573 3s 3d from the 1892 collection– and referred to on page 21 – could beregarded as a balance of charitablemonies. The Charity Commission finallyagreed that BHSF had no charitable statusand the Executive Council decided thatthe sum of £573 3s 3d should form thenucleus of a new charity, the BHSFMedical Charity and Welfare Trust, towhich further donations would be madeby BHSF over the years.

The Executive Council of BHSF wouldappoint Trustees and the objectives wouldinclude financial aid to further medicalresearch, convalescence provision andhelping needy cases amongst contributors.

After lengthy discussions, it was proposedthat the operations of the convalescenthomes should be transferred to the Trust.These proposals, aims and objects wereagreed at an extraordinary general meetingof Delegates on 10 October 1972. TheTrust operated from 1 January 1973 sincewhen total grants and donations haveexceeded £2m. The largest single grantmade by the Trustees was in 1980 when£100,000 was made available to theInstitute of Occupational Health atBirmingham University, recognising thestrong link between BHSF’s origins andgood health in the workplace, and as aresult the first Chair in OccupationalMedicine was established at the Institute.

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MODERN TIMESBHSF had occupied 8/9 Ludgate Hill inBirmingham as its offices since 1951, towhich it had moved from 43 NewhallStreet, its offices since the first world war.Ludgate Hill had for many years been apublic house called the Grand Turk andlater a nurses’ home belonging to the Earand Throat Hospital. This was a threestorey building with a solid oak counter asmany people paid their cash into theoffices in this way. There was also aninterview room for convalescencecandidates, much like a doctor’s waitingroom. By the late 1960s the need for newoffices was recognised and pressure wasbeing put on BHSF to vacate as theproperty was required for redevelopment.Various abortive searches took place untilthe present site on the Ladywood/Edgbaston border was agreed.

The foundation stone was laid on 27 June1975 by the Chairman, Alderman John HLewis and the builders were Maddox andWalford. The building was opened on 9April 1976 by Joseph Leonard Gamgee,the grandson of our founder in whose

honour the building was named GamgeeHouse. There were originally two storeysbut in 1980 a third was added and thiswas let to tenants for many years.However, business expansion requiredthe gradual absorption of the additionalspace by BHSF which was completedwith a full refurbishment of the wholebuilding in 2001-2002.

Following the retirement of Henry Crispas Secretary in 1964, Edgar Sherlock wasappointed General Secretary, havingalready served 13 years as Treasurer.In his time, considerable rationalisationand development of the business tookplace. When BHSF celebrated itscentenary in 1973, Edgar Sherlock wasthe author of its history "The GoldenYears". Eric Gurmin succeeded him asChief Executive in 1977 and Peter Peerssucceeded him in 1987, serving until hisown retirement in 1999. Throughoutthese years BHSF evolved towards whatwe see today, with health cash planbusiness becoming the main platform ofthe operation as the convalescence servicedeclined.

The growing demands of the business ledto the installation of the first computer in1978, an IBM System 3 and throughsucceeding years further generations ofIBM computers have followed.

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BHSF 1873-2003

BHSF offices from 1951 to 1976 in Ludgate Hill, Birmingham

The official opening of Gamgee House on 9 April 1976

For most of its existence, BHSF, in thesame way as similar organisations set upin other parts, served the people of itslocality, principally through local employers.As many businesses became bigger andmore diverse, they expected theirproviders of health cash plans and otherinsurances to be able to grow with theminto their new territories. This, togetherwith competitive pressures, steadily risingcosts and the need for more professionalmanagement, had led large numbers ofsmall Hospital Saturday Funds and similarorganisations to merge. In the 1990s thisconsolidation process continued at agreater pace. There was also the entry intothe health cash plan market of largecommercial insurers whose profit motivesput them in a class apart; this and theirhigh running costs made it impossible forthem to offer the same sort of value formoney as traditional providers, butnonetheless their high profiles and thepower of their brand names brought themsuccess.

One small competitor organisation, theStratford-upon-Avon Patients’ Aid Fundclosed down on 30 June 1969 and 450 of itsmembers accepted transfer to BHSF whichalso acquired the residual assets of thatFund. However, a much bigger mergeroccurred in 2001 when The HealthScheme, based in Hull, merged its businesswith BHSF and 85,000 of its customerstransferred.

Peter Maskell became Chief Executive in1999 and he oversaw the acceleratedmodernisation of BHSF. The Memorandumand Articles of Association were re-worked in order to reduce the possibilityof hostile takeover. New products andmore advanced technology wereintroduced. The Health Scheme’s businesswas merged. A new management teamwas assembled. The Executive Council,which had served BHSF well since 1873 byits generations of volunteers, was replacedby a Board of Directors with a structure ofcorporate governance which was more inkeeping with the demands of the 21stcentury.

Having served BHSF as an HonoraryOfficer for 25 years, 10 of them as Vice

Chairman and 15 as Chairman, Sir DavidPerris retired in 2000 at the age of 71. Theradical steps which were then being takento modernise BHSF were begun under hischairmanship. Sir David provided thebridge between the old and the new.Having been a passionate believer in allthat BHSF had been for so many years, hebecame a powerful supporter of there-shaping of the organisation, a batonwhich he handed to his successor, thepresent Chairman, Dr Paul Kanas. SirDavid was then elected Vice Presidentthereby retaining an important link withBHSF.

THE HEALTH SCHEMEIn December 2001 the business of TheHealth Scheme, based in Hull, wasmerged with BHSF.

Sadly, the blitz on Hull during the SecondWorld War destroyed most of the recordsof the business and it is therefore almostimpossible to trace the origin of TheHealth Scheme. However, there is amention of contributions made in 1861called "donations from operatives" in ahistory of the Hull Royal Infirmary. It isalso clear that there was a HospitalSunday Fund which suggests either thatHull churches, like those in Birmingham,donated their collections on a particularSunday each year to help fund localhospitals, or alternatively that subscriptionsfrom workers were collected on Sundays.

It is known that the Hull VoluntaryHospitals Council was formed in 1929 bythe Working Men’s Committee. The objectof the Council was to raise funds insupport of local hospitals. Later, theHVHC Contributory Scheme was formedto continue the work of the originalscheme and also to provide free treatmentfor contributing members and dependantsin participating hospitals. The contributionsat that time were 1d, 2d and 3d, coveringchildren, pensioners and familiesrespectively. Amongst the benefits offeredto those who paid the 3d rate were twoweeks at a selected convalescent home,home help, free physiotherapy or £1towards a full set of dentures.

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In those days the staff consisted of anOrganising Secretary and one assistant.The office which was in use in May 1941was destroyed by enemy action and alternative accommodation was providedat the Royal Infirmary. The advent of theNational Health Service in 1948 resulted inthe Council being wound up and theassets were transferred to the newNational Health Scheme. Included in thelist of those assets was an outstandingclaim on the Board of Trade for officefurniture and fittings valued at £260destroyed by enemy action.

Countrywide, many similar schemesclosed down, since all medical serviceswere now to be "free". However, in Hullthe Council was reformed in an effort tocover those areas where the NationalHealth Service did not operate. Eventhough they had no money in the bank,Council members were confident thattheir newly-formed scheme would prosper.They accumulated funds from contributorsat the same rate as previously, and paidcash benefits to hospital in-patients, alsogiving assistance in various other healthfields. The title was changed to includeYork and The East Riding.

Mr W G Nevin was Secretary of the HullVoluntary Hospitals Council for a numberof years. He became the first HonoraryTreasurer of the British HospitalsContributory Schemes Association (1948),standing down in 1956 when he was madean Honorary Member.

A benevolent fund was formed in 1949.From then until 1958 charitable grantsseem to have been confined to cases ofhardship and distress arising from illness.From 1958 the scope was widened toinclude grants to hospitals, medically-related organisations and other charities.

In May 1955, offices at 60 Beverley Roadwere purchased and these remained theScheme’s home until 1990 when it movedto purpose-built premises in FreetownWay, Hull.

When decimal currency was introduced in1971, contributions were increased to 3pper week to enable benefits to be doubled.In 1972, in anticipation of the changes inlocal Government boundaries, there was

another name change to the HumbersideContributory Health Scheme.

The late 1980s saw a dramatic change inthe management and fortunes of theScheme. The impetus was provided byKeith Gorton, then Head of Marketing atHumberside College and for many yearsuntil the 2001 merger with BHSF, theScheme’s Chairman. A new generation ofdirectors, many with a common link to theChamber of Trade, brought with them awide variety of experience and expertise.Rapid growth in membership numbersbrought increased income which enabledthe scheme to offer better value and awider range of benefits.

In 1992, the Scheme started to operate on anationwide basis. This move demanded a

more appropriate and less parochial nameand the all-embracing title "The HealthScheme" was chosen. The Health SchemeCharitable Trust was established, fundedby THS, with the objective of contributingto the health and welfare of the communityin areas from which membership wasdrawn. In particular, it made donations toNHS Trusts and to medically-relatedprojects in addition to providing assistanceto members and their families whosuffered hardship arising from illness.

The discussions which led to the merger in2001 had continued over a long period,and The Health Scheme Directors wereconvinced that this step was in the bestinterests of their policyholders and that,having explored other avenues, BHSFrepresented the best partner. The mergerof the 85,000 policyholders at THS withthose at BHSF brought the number ofpolicies in force to 240,000 and the numberof people insured to 375,000.

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BHSF 1873-2003

Keith Gorton (2nd from the right) making a presentation

THE FUTURE

In his annual report in 1970, AldermanJohn H Lewis as Chairman of BHSF said,quoting first from Benjamin Disraeli, " ‘Change is inevitable. In a progressivecountry, change is constant’. Changingtimes and social conditions make itnecessary constantly to review both ourposition and the direction of our progress."

At the Annual General Meeting in 1999,BHSF President, the Lord Mayor ofBirmingham, Councillor Ian McArdle,said "An organisation like ours mustrespect its history, but not be constrainedby it – there is a need to be progressive, tomove on."

As any good business should, BHSF haschanged over the years in response toaltered circumstances around it, thedifferent needs of its people and newchallenges. For much of its history,it was driven by the tireless effortsof countless volunteers in a host ofcapacities. In more recent times thebusiness has, of necessity, becomemore commercial. However, theunderlying principles haveremained unchanged. The businessis not driven by profit, but existsonly to serve the people with whomit deals and hence it provides thevery best in value for money andcustomer service quality.

BHSF is very proud indeed of itsheritage and the firm foundationswhich its historic activities haveprovided for today’s operations. Asexpansion has taken BHSF into allparts of the UK and, from 2003, intothe Republic of Ireland, the decisionwas taken to redesign the logo inorder to give prominence to "TheHealth Scheme" which says moreabout what the business does, but toretain the blue star and the words"from BHSF", thus linking the past

and future. Also, much of the promotionalliterature and policies carry variousversions of a torso image which symbolisesgood health, activity and achievement.

BHSF has invested heavily in its people,aware that the ability to progress is only asgood as those in the team, and becomingan Investor in People in 2002 wasrecognition of this commitment and areflection on everyone in the business.

BHSF will continue its policy of evolutionarydevelopment, as it always has. It may dovery different things, and in very differentways, but its not-for-profit commitment toproviding the means for protecting andenhancing good health will continue asthe golden thread.

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43

BHSF 1873-2003

Appendices

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BHSF 1873-2003

Presidents

BHSF has been proud to have in the Office of President every succeeding Mayor and LordMayor of the City of Birmingham. While the Office of President has rarely involved morethan a token involvement, BHSF has felt privileged that, in the busy life of the City’sprincipal citizen, time has been found for an interest in its affairs and this association haslent much dignity to its activities.

Mayors of Birmingham

1872 – 73 Ambrose Biggs 1884 – 86 Thomas Martineau1873 – 76 Joseph Chamberlain 1886 – 87 Sir Thomas Martineau, Kt1876 – 77 George Baker 1887 – 88 Maurice Pollack1877 – 78 William Kenrick 1888 – 89 Richard Cadbury Barrow1878 – 79 Jesse Collings 1889 – 91 Francis Corder Clayton1879 – 81 Richard Chamberlain 1891 – 93 Edward Lawley Parker1881 – 82 Thomas Avery 1893 – 94 George James Johnson1882 – 83 William White 1894 – 95 Thomas Stratton Fallows1883 – 84 William Cook 1895 – 96 James Smith

Lord Mayors of Birmingham1896 – 99 Sir James Smith, Kt 1956 – 57 Ernest William Apps1899 – 00 Charles Gabriel Beale 1957 – 58 John Joseph Grogan MBE1900 – 01 Samuel Edwards 1958 – 59 Donald Johnstone1901 – 02 John Henry Lloyd 1959 – 60 John Henry Lewis OBE1902 – 03 Hallewell Rogers 1960 – 61 Garnet Benjamin Boughton1903 – 04 Sir Hallewell Rogers, Kt 1961 – 62 Eric Edward Mole OBE1904 – Rowland Hill Berkeley 1962 – 63 Ernest Walter Horton1904 – 05 Charles Gabriel Beale 1963 – 64 Louis Glass1905 – 06 Alfred John Reynolds 1964 – 65 Frank Leslie Price1906 – 08 Henry James Sayer 1965 – 66 George Corbyn Barrow1908 – 09 Sir George Hamilton Kenrick, Kt 1966 – 67 Harold Edward Tyler1909 – 12 William Henry Bowater 1967 – 68 James Stephen Meadows 1912 – 14 Ernest Martineau 1968 – 69 Charles Valentine George 1914 – 15 William Henry Bowater 1969 – 70 Neville Bruce Alfred Bosworth1915 – 17 Arthur Neville Chamberlain 1970 – 71 Stanley Bleyer1917 – 18 Arthur David Brooks 1971 – 72 Victor Ernest Turton1918 – 19 Sir David Brooks 1972 – 73 Frederick Thomas Duncan 1919 – 21 William Adlington Cadbury 1973 – 74 Marjorie Alice Brown CBE1921 – 22 David Davis 1974 – 75 Eric James Eames1922 – 23 Sir David Davis 1975 – 76 Albert Leslie Samuel Jackson1923 – 24 Thomas Oswald Williams 1976 – 77 Harold Powell1924 – 26 Percival Bower MBE 1977 – 78 Mrs Freda Mary Cocks OBE1926 – 28 Alfred Henry James CBE 1978 – 79 Edward Frederick Hanson1928 – 29 Wilfred Byng Kenrick 1979 – 80 George Canning OBE1929 – 30 Martin Lewis Lancaster 1980 – 81 Joseph Morris Bailey1930 – 31 Walter Willis Saunders 1981 – 82 Kenneth Benjamin Barton1931 – 32 John Bedford Burman 1982 – 83 Peter Hollingworth1932 – 34 Horace Edward Goodby 1983 – 84 William John Hele Sowton 1934 – 36 Samuel John Grey 1984 – 85 Reginald John Hales1936 – 37 Harold Roberts 1985 – 86 Frank William Carter1937 – 38 Ernest Robert Canning 1986 – 87 Alan Denis Martineau1938 – 39 James Crump 1987 – 88 Frederick James Grattidge1939 – 40 Theodore Beal Prichett MC 1988 – 89 Harold Charles Blumenthal

1940 – 41 Wilfrid Martineau1941 – 42 Norman Tiptaft1942 – 43 Walter Samuel Lewis1943 – 44 Lionel George Helmore Alldridge 1944 – 45 William Theophilus Wiggins-Davis1945 – 46 Alan Stewart Giles1946 – 47 Albert Frederick Bradbeer1947 – 49 John Charles Burman1949 – 50 Hubert Humphreys1950 – 51 Alfred Paddon Smith1951 – 52 Ralph Cyril Yates1952 – 53 William Tegfryn Bowen1953 – 54 George Henry Wilson Griffith1954 – 55 Joseph Reginald Balmer1955 – 56 Arthur Lummis Gibson1956 – 57 Ernest William Apps1957 – 58 John Joseph Grogan MBE1958 – 59 Donald Johnstone1959 – 60 John Henry Lewis OBE1960 – 61 Garnet Benjamin Boughton1961 – 62 Eric Edward Mole OBE1962 – 63 Ernest Walter Horton1963 – 64 Louis Glass1964 – 65 Frank Leslie Price1965 – 66 George Corbyn Barrow1966 – 67 Harold Edward Tyler1967 – 68 James Stephen Meadows OBE1968 – 69 Charles Valentine George Simpson1969 – 70 Neville Bruce Alfred Bosworth1970 – 71 Stanley Bleyer1971 – 72 Victor Ernest Turton1972 – 73 Frederick Thomas Duncan Hall1973 – 74 Marjorie Alice Brown CBE

1940 – 41 Wilfrid Martineau 1989 – 90 Frederick John Chapman1941 – 42 Norman Tiptaft 1990 – 91 Bernard Philip Zissman1942 – 43 Walter Samuel Lewis 1991 – 92 William Henry Turner1943 – 44 Lionel George Helmore Alldridge 1992 – 93 Peter James Philip Barwell

MBE 1944 – 45 William Theophilus Wiggins-Davis 1993 – 94 Paul Tilsley MBE1945 – 46 Alan Stewart Giles 1994 – 95 Sir Richard Knowles1946 – 47 Albert Frederick Bradbeer 1995 – 96 David Roy 1947 – 49 John Charles Burman

1996 – 97 Marion Arnott-Job1949 – 50 Hubert Humphreys 1997 – 98 Sybil Spence1950 – 51 Alfred Paddon Smith 1998 – 99 Susan Anderson1951 – 52 Ralph Cyril Yates 1999 – 00 Ian McArdle1952 – 53 William Tegfryn Bowen 2000 – 01 Theresa Stewart1953 – 54 George Henry Wilson Griffith 2001 – 02 Jim Whorwood1954 – 55 Joseph Reginald Balmer 2002 – 03 Mahmood Hussain1955 – 56 Arthur Lummis Gibson 2003 – 04 John Alden

ChairmenAt no time has the position of BHSF Chairman been a sinecure, and so it is remarkable thatthere have been only nine holders of the Office in 130 years.

1873 – 1880 John Skirrow Wright1880 – 1907 Alderman Sir William Cook1907 – 1918 Alderman Sir Hallewell Rogers 1919 – 1927 Alderman Sir David Brooks GBE1928 – 1939 Alderman Alfred H James CBE 1940 A Simmons (Vice-Chairman, Acting Chairman)1941 – 1960 Councillor Vernon W Grosvenor CStJ HonMA LLB FSAA1961 – 1985 Alderman John H Lewis OBE 1985 – 2000 Sir David Perris MBE HonLLD2000 - Dr Paul Kanas BM BS MRCP FFOM

Principal Officers1873 Joseph Sampson Gamgee Honorary Secretary1874 – 1894 William T Smedley FCA Honorary Secretary1894 – 1903 William T Smedley FCA

W S Aston FCA1903 – 1928 W S Aston FCA Honorary Secretary1928 – 1938 W S Aston FCA

H C Aston ACA1938 – 1941 H C Aston FCA Honorary Secretary1942 – 1945 H C Aston FCA

H Crisp AFM 1946 – 1964 H Crisp AFM Secretary1964 – 1977 E R Sherlock ACMA General Secretary1977 – 1987 E Gurmin FBIM Chief Executive1987 – 1999 P J Peers MIMgt Dip M MCIM Chief Executive1999 – Peter J Maskell FCII Chartered Insurer Chief Executive

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1974 – 75 Eric James Eames1975 – 76 Albert Leslie Samuel Jackson1976 – 77 Harold Powell1977 – 78 Freda Mary Cocks OBE1978 – 79 Edward Frederick Hanson1979 – 80 George Canning OBE1980 – 81 Joseph Morris Bailey1981 – 82 Kenneth Benjamin Barton1982 – 83 Peter Hollingworth1983 – 84 William John Hele Sowton MBE1984 – 85 Reginald John Hales1985 – 86 Frank William Carter1986 – 87 Alan Denis Martineau1987 – 88 Frederick James Grattidge1988 – 89 Harold Charles Blumenthal

1989 – 90 Frederick John Chapman1990 – 91 Bernard Philip Zissman1991 – 92 William Henry Turner1992 – 93 Peter James Philip Barwell MBE 1993 – 94 Paul Tilsley MBE1994 – 95 Sir Richard Knowles1995 – 96 David Roy 1996 – 97 Marion Arnott-Job1997 – 98 Sybil Spence1998 – 99 Susan Anderson1999 – 00 Ian McArdle2000 – 01 Theresa Stewart2001 – 02 Jim Whorwood2002 – 03 Mahmood Hussain2003 – 04 John Edward Cambray Alden

BHSF 1873-2003

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Joint Secretaries

Joint Honorary Secretaries

Joint Honorary Secretaries

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BHSF 1873-2003

Honorary Life MembersHonorary life membership of BHSF has never been lightly bestowed. It is an expressionof appreciation of exceptional service over an extended period and at any time there areonly a few such recipients. The current life members are:

• Albert Harrison• Stephen Hall• Sir David Perris

Other stalwart volunteersOver almost all of its 130 year history, BHSF has relied on a large number of volunteerswho gave freely of their time to serve their fellows as members of the Executive Councilor its sub-committees. The personal records of these supporters, especially in early days,are no longer available to us, and where records do exist, it would be difficult to quotesome names without being able to quote all. Nonetheless, it is recognised that BHSFwould not have achieved all that it has without their unstinting efforts. It is recognised toothat some of the volunteers have been professional people who have given their services,particularly as honorary medical officers, and their involvement too has been greatlyappreciated.

In almost every monthly issue of the old journal "Forward" and in every annual reportpublished by BHSF, special thanks have been accorded to all the Delegates for their interestand assistance. Such expressions are indeed sincerely meant because the Delegates havedirect contact with the many thousands of BHSF contributors and policyholders. Also,BHSF has always been grateful for the backing of employers who have supported BHSFover the years, and for many of those years, often made financial contributions at first forvoluntary hospitals and later the convalescence service.

Directors and Officers 2002/2003President - The Right Worshipful the Lord Mayor of Birmingham

Vice President - Sir David A Perris MBE HonLLD

Directors

Dr Paul Kanas BM BS MRCP FFOM – Chairman Peter J Maskell FCII Chartered Insurer – Chief ExecutivePhilip V Ashbourne – Operations DirectorMichael P Chapman BSc MCIPD – HR and Quality Management DirectorBrian Hall FInstSMM – Sales and Marketing DirectorJulie M Bielby MSc DipMStephen G Hall FIPPMEric S HickmanAndrew MacaulayDr Andrew Milner LLD DMS DipM FIMgt MCIMMichael MaloneChristina ParkerDavid J Read FFA FICM FIABJames Salmons MCIPDJohn C Spence MCIM ACIPD

Honorary Medical Advisers - Professor P G Bevan CBE ChM FRCSProfessor B L Pentecost OBE MB BS(Hons) MRCP MD FRCP

Management - Tony Babington – Field Sales Manager (from 1 July 2003) - Steven A Boughton AIA – Compliance Manager- David K Nuttall – Company Secretary and Customer

Service Manager- Michael O’Hare – Technical Manager- Nicholas A Wright BSc FCA FPC – Group Accountant

AcknowledgementsAs part of the researches for the preparation of this history of BHSF I have been considerablyassisted by being able to delve into other publications for information and from whichquotations or extracts have been taken. I am also grateful to certain people and organisations for the granting of various permissions. In particular:

1 "The Golden Years" by Edgar Sherlock, published by BHSF, 1973.

2 "Birmingham – The Great Working City" by kind consent of its author, Dr Carl Chinn.

3 "A History of Birmingham" by kind consent of its author, Dr Chris Upton.

4 "The Triennial Music Festival in 1846" and “Typical 19th century courtyardhousing”, reproduced by permission of Birmingham Library Services.

5 Two photographs taken from "Around Droitwich in Old Photographs" by kind permission of Sutton Publishing Limited.

6 "Highfield Hospital – The Past and the Present", a dissertation by Joanne Westwood, 1984.

7 "Kewstoke Convalescence Centre in Wartime" published by BHSF Medical Charity andWelfare Trust, 1997.

8 The photograph of the Chief Executive by permission of Trinity Mirror Group.

I am also most appreciative of the valuable time and advice given by our Vice President,Sir David Perris and our Chairman, Dr Paul Kanas in reading and commenting on themanuscript of this history. PJM

ABOUT THE AUTHORIn 1999 Peter Maskell was appointed Chief Executive. Peter hadspent over 30 years at the head office of Britannic Assurance inBirmingham, rising to be a General Manager. Professionally hewas, and still is, the youngest person ever to qualify as a Fellowof the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Chartered Insurer andhe had devoted considerable effort over many years to thedevelopment of higher educational standards and the quest forprofessionalism both locally with the Birmingham InsuranceInstitute and internationally with the Chartered InsuranceInstitute, serving both organisations at a high level. Prior to hisappointment, Peter had known BHSF for many years both byreputation and as a policyholder.

Peter Maskell

BHSF 1873-2003

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