Brief history

Buckingham Court refurbished. Numbers helped were 45,000 during this period.

Help line set up for British Energy staff and extended to four other companies by 2004. National Gold tops £32,000

The Association continued to provide residential accommodation, grants for house repairs, support in the home and, in addition, supplied modern aids, such as powered wheelchairs for the incapacitated and electronic equipment to enable severely handicapped youngsters to communicate with their families and the outside world. Giving advice and guidance were still vital functions. The workload continued to increase with a 10% rise in beneficiaries, to nearly 900 and nearly 50% increase in grants to almost £270, 000. It was an outstanding year as voluntary income was nearly 20% higher due to unexpected increase from Give-As-You-Earn contributions and with the promise of support from the recently privatised electricity supply companies, helping to allay previous fears that this radical change would undermine their loyal and historic backing for the Association.

Was the year of the President’s Development Appeal which achieved a measure of success with some 40% of the £2 million target pledged that year and £1 million raised by 1988.

Demand increases. Against expectation, the demand for cash grants increases. It was believed that there were many distressing cases slipping through the net.

The positive impact upon fundraising that the President with high level and varied contacts can make was demonstrated when Sir Jules Thorn became President. He launched an appeal, which raised £12,800 – a magnificent mix of names in the industry and the world of ‘show-biz; Sir Arnold Weinstock (GEC), Sir John Clark (Plessey), Lord McFadzean (BICC), Sir Michael Sobell, R Roberts (Roberts Radio), Bernard Delfont, Sir Max Raine, Michael Colston, Dennis Curry, Sir Lew Grade, Fwrranti, the BBC, David Frost (in his untitled days) and the Hoover Foundation.

After much vigorous debate, the name of the EIBA was changed to include the now maturing electronics industry, hence the new Electrical and Electronics Industries Benevolent Association.

That year it was emphasised in the Annual Report that the Association did not only provide financial aid. Many people needed advice or guidance, or comfort, reassurance and the friendly feelings that someone cared. It was clear that when disaster struck, it frequently had a knock-on effect, which impinged on the whole family in a variety of ways. Unravelling these heart-rending and complicated situations was demanding and time-consuming. It required patience, comprehensive knowledge and an understanding of human beings and the social system. This aspect of the Association’s work is as much overlooked by the industry today as it has been throughout its history.

– the harnessing of nuclear energy for domestic uses at Calder Hall. In spite of increased income from golf and social activities, the Association showed an operational deficit of £6000, the same year that numbers exceeded 2000. The industry was expanding faster than ever before, enlarging the ‘electrical family’ demonstrating the increased need for the Association and for more support from the industry.

A campaign to increase income was launched and major supporters rallied round. Well-wishers provided nearly £10,000, BEAMA increased its annual donation and the supply authorities gave extra funds. A plea was made for companies to operate staff deduction schemes in order to establish a regular income base. In addition, the facilities and support provided by the electricity boards, generating authorities and certain large companies formed the backbone of the growing Branch network.

(18% of all relief expenditure)

First year a deficit is recorded on the revenue account.

The number of peopled helped in this period rose to over 5000. New Branches were established in Birmingham & District, North East Coast, Scotland, South Wales & Monmouthshire, Sussex, Tees-side District and West Lancashire.

The first pension was granted. Associate Membership available for 5 shillings. New local advisory branches were established in Leeds, Merseyside & North Wales, Manchester, Newcastle on Type, Nottingham and Yorkshire (Leeds)

Inaugural Dinner raised £627

Gathered there that day were 10 Leader from the manufacturing industry (including 2 from the giant GEC). They were pioneers of the burgeoning electrical industry and discussed what might happen to ‘those who had spent their lives in establishing the electrical industry and had been unable to secure sufficient monetary recompense to support them if accident, infirmity, misfortune, or old age, limited their activities or curtailed their means. At the time, Charities were in their infancy and state pensions, unemployment benefit and a national health service were just a dream. But these far-sighted, public-spirited men decided to do something about providing for industry colleagues who had fallen on hard times and put in £10 pounds on the as a token of their intent.

The men who made up the committee were Robert Kayne Gray, Hugo Hirst (GEC), Justus Eck, Chairman (Union Electric Co), H Berry (NEMA), FH Nalder (Nalder Bros & Thompson), E Gustav Byng (GEC), R A Lundberg (A P Lundberg & Sons, G Sutton (Henley Telegraph Works) and 2 other outstanding individuals whose names are not recorded.