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Railway Benefit Fund
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The Railway Benevolent Institutuion (RBI) came into existence in 1858
following proposals made “to provide some form of care and financial aid to needy railway personnel” and “to establish an institution for necessitous
railway children”. Railway employment was very dangerous at that time and there was virtually no social provision as we know it now. |
Initially, pressure came from clerks and junior officers but at the first
general meeting on 8th May, 1858, they willingly gave way to a managing committee consisting of top railway company chairmen and managers. At an early meeting
on 16th March, 1859 the Chairman, Joseph Locke M.P. said that he “hoped the railways would combine to support this most excellent and valuable
institution”.
Progress was slow, especially in terms of financial support from within the railway
because junior staff could not afford to subscribe even a guinea a year from wages, which were not fashioned to provide help for others in time of need. |
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Some income was obtained through annual dinners. The Marquess of Lansdowne, William Cubitt, the Duke of Devonshire, and HRH the Prince of Wales, as
Presidents of the Institution, chaired these occasions as did Charles Dickens in 1867. He drew particular attention to the debt owed by the Industry
and travellers to railway staff in their hazardous and dangerous forms of employment and he sought support for their welfare. |
| In succeeding years to the present time the RBI has pursued the same
aims and has enjoyed support from the public, all grades of staff by voluntary paybill deduction, the trade unions and management. Great help has been
given to its beneficiaries in the form of annuities for retired staff/widows in financial need. Special grants to railway people in immediate distress of
in need of equipment to overcome various forms of disability, help to railway families, assistance to staff who are currently in employment who are injured
whilst at work or fall ill, payments to elderly people to enable them to continue to live in their own homes and educational training and everyday living
grants to needy railway children. |
| Large numbers are helped each year at substantial expenditure. For
example, during year 2000 just under 2000 people received over one million pounds. The fall in the markets following 9/11 greatly reduced the income of
the RBI and during year 2005 we were only able to help some 850 people with grants totalling nearly £440,000. |
All the recent Chairmen of the former British Railways Board have been
Presidents of the Institution. The current President is Sir William McAlpine.
Today the RBI is managed by a Board consisting of active and retired senior railway managers, including a number from the new train operating companies and
Network Rail. Thus, its traditions have continued from its inception and its benefits are still available to railway staff, their families and dependents
whether they are active or retired.
Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was Patron of the RBI for 63 years and always took a great deal of interest in the affairs of the
Institution.
The RBI re-launched on the 28th February, 2006 under the name of Railway Benefit Fund, a name more in keeping with the 21st century. |
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