Timeline
On 17 July 1857 a “large and influential meeting” was held at Mansion House, London, at which a resolution for the establishment of a hospital for “worn-out and disabled merchant seamen” was carried unanimously.
The eventual outcome was the formation of this Society and the establishment of its original home in 1865, at Belvedere House in Erith on the south side of the Thames.
Much like the work of the seafarer, the Society’s work has never been easy. It has had to continually adapt and faced many challenges over the years as the maritime, social scenes and indeed the very nature of seafaring changed.
This timeline records the progress and remarkable success of the Society over the past 150 years since the foundation of its mission.
If you would like to learn more about our history , you can read our 150th anniversary publication ‘Home from Sea’ .
1864
Belvedere House in Erith, Kent, is purchased
1865
The independent committee set up to administer the Institution meets for the first time on 5th May, making this the Royal Alfred’s official ‘birthday’
1868
HRH Prince Alfred becomes the first Patron and the name of the Society changes to ‘The Royal Alfred Aged Merchant Seamen’s Institution’, a name to be retained for 82 years
1908
The Government Old Age Pension Act comes into effect
1914
World War I begins
1917
King George’s Fund for Sailors (now Seafarers UK) is formed. It remains a generous benefactor to the Society
1926
First inmates are admitted to the Royal Alfred's newly established Infirm Home
1939
World War II begins
1945
World War II ends and the United Nations is established
1954
Town planning approval is given to the Society’s designs for a new home
1955
HM Queen Elizabeth II becomes Royal Patron of the Society
1958
The first Cod War between Britain and Iceland begins (Sept-Nov)
1959
Residents are transferred to the new home on 2 February. It is officially opened by HRH Princess Alexandra on the 30 June
1960
The old Belvedere House is demolished
1965
The Royal Alfred celebrates its centenary year
1966
The centenary history of the Society entitled, ‘The Royal Alfred Story’, is published
1968
Weston Acres House is converted into self-contained flats owned and managed by the Royal Alfred Housing Association
1971
A supplemental Royal Charter is drafted, with categories of beneficiaries to be widened
1975
The Weston Acres roof is replaced, funded by King George's Fund for Sailors
1976
The European Economic Community extends member states' fishing zone from 12 to 200 miles
1977
The decision is taken to close the new Belvedere Home at Erith and purchase the Zachary Merton Convalescent Home in Holly Lane, Banstead
1977
The scope of beneficiaries is widened in the Society’s Royal Charter to include seafarers of any nationality employed on UK ships, retired officers and ratings of Royal Navy and Royal Marines
1978
The scope of Royal Alfred Home, Eastbourne, is widened to include women
1980
Mrs Pat Collins is appointed as Matron to the Royal Alfred Home, Eastbourne, which is now open to both men and women
1982
Conflict breaks out in the Falklands
1985
The wreck of RMS Titanic is discovered on 1 September
1986
Miss Jeannine Hamilton is made Officer in Charge at the Holly Lane Home
1988
David Gundry is appointed to the Board
1991
George Miskin is appointed Chairman of the Board on the retirement of David Rooper
1992
The Home is recognised by the Local Authority as an Approved Provider of Care under Community Care Act 1993
1995
The Weston Acres Housing Association is wound up
1996
The National Required Standard for registering Residential and Nursing Care Homes is introduced
1998
Pat Collins retires, succeeded by Edith Henry at Eastbourne
2001
Mrs Spencer is appointed as new manager of the Royal Alfred Home, Eastbourne
2002
HM the Queen withdraws her Patronage of the Royal Alfred; HRH the Princess Royal replaces her
2006
The decision is taken to close the Royal Alfred Home at Eastbourne
2006
Commander Brian Boxall-Hunt is appointed Chief Executive
2008
The Care Quality Commission is established under the new Health and Social Care Act
2010
Battle of Britain 70th anniversary
2012
HM the Queen celebrates her Diamond Jubilee
2014
The 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, the turning point of the Second World War
2015
The Society celebrates its 150th anniversary
2015
The 150th anniversary history of the Society entitled, ‘Home from Sea’, is published
1857
Business and shipping interests start raising funds and resolve that “a Hospital be established for Worn-out and Disabled Merchant Seamen”
1867
Following renovations, the first residents move in to the ‘Belvedere Institution’ on New Year’s Day
1869
The Suez Canal opens
1887
Great Britain celebrates Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee
1912
The Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic Ocean after hitting an iceberg
1915
Soldiers billeted in the Belvedere District are given permission to perform military drills in the grounds of the Institution
1919
The Society establishes a Samaritan Fund to assist serving sailors unable to work due to long-term illness
1938
The Society’s management meet in October to discuss a range of precautions in the event of a Second World War
1945
The V2 rocket attacks cause extensive damage to both homes. Thankfully no injuries are reported and neither home is structurally affected. Discussions begin about post-war modernisation and adaptation of the Belvedere Home
1950
The first 'original' Royal Charter is granted. The charity becomes 'The Royal Alfred Merchant Seamen's Society'
1955
The Royal Alfred takes the decision to move to a new purpose-built home
1956
Building of the Society’s new home gets underway
1958
The new Belvedere House, Erith, is completed. It was built by AE Symes for £228,000
1959
The Society’s Head Office is moved from Ibex House Minories to Balham High Street
1964
David Rooper becomes Chairman of the Society’s Management Board
1966
The Royal Alfred Home in Eastbourne opens
1967
The Society purchases the house and grounds at Western Acres, Banstead, Surrey
1969
The adjoining Hotel to the Society’s Eastbourne Home is purchased
1973
Royal Navy ratings are admitted to Belvedere Home by arrangement with The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust
1975
Captain Tony Braithwaite joins the Board of Management
1977
HM the Queen celebrates her Silver Jubilee
1977
The Society’s name is officially changed to ‘The Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society’
1978
Belvedere Home, Holly Lane, Banstead (ex Zachary Merton Convalescent Home) is purchased. Nearly 70 residents are moved overnight to the new Home. No buyer can be found for Belvedere Home, Erith, which was closed
1980
Belvedere House, Erith, is finally sold
1981
An application is made to the Privy Council and Charity Commission to amend the Charter to enable the Society to offer places to others than those associated with the sea or who had served afloat
1983
The European Economic Community Common Fisheries Policy is created
1986
Lieutenant Francis, Royal Navy, retires as House Governor of Belvedere Home, Holly Lane
1988
The house at Holly Lane is sold
1989
The sun lounge extension at the Royal Alfred Home, Eastbourne, is completed
1991
Mr Moore retires as General Secretary and is replaced by Alan Quinton
1993
Sir Ian Denholm retires and the Earl of Inchcape become President
1996
Royal Alfred’s grant-making function ceases and is taken over by the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
1996
Plan to build a new six bed home at Weston Acres site are set in motion
2001
The Society takes possession of a new home at Weston Acres
2002
HM the Queen celebrates her Golden Jubilee
2005
Anne Kasey succeeds Andy Sowamber as Manager of Belvedere Home
2006
Alan Quinton retires as General Secretary
2007
The Maritime Charities Funding Group publishes 'Supporting seafarers and their families' report The Society’s Head Office moves to Weston Acres
2009
Captain Duncan Glass is appointed Chairman, following the retirement of George Miskin
2011
HRH the Princess Royal opens the new Dementia Annexe at Belvedere House
2014
Trinity House celebrates the 500th anniversary of its first Royal Charter, having been an important benefactor to Royal Alfred since 1865
2014
The 100th anniversary of the onset of the First World War
2015
Following sterling work by Captain Tony Davis, the Society’s Royal Charter is updated