The First 150 Years of RABI Part 1 In the build up to our 150th ...

Pensions ActDavid Lloyd George, the chancellor of the exchequer in Asquith’s Liberal government wasdetermined to take action to "lift the shadow of the workhouse from the homes of the poor". Hebelieved the best way of doing this was to guarantee an income to people who were too old to workand in 1908 he introduced the Old Age Pensions Act to provide between 1s. and 5s. a week topeople over seventy on incomes not exceeding 12s. a week.The council set up a sub committee to study the effect that such a pension scheme might have onRABI funds and its pensioners and, as result of its deliberations, the following statement was madeat the AGM in June 1909. “With a view to preventing their funds – which are entirely voluntary –from being used in the relief of State obligations, the Council have resolved that the pensions ofpersons who are over 70 years of age shall be reduced by such a sum as will enable them to applyfor the Government Old Age Pension of the largest amount, provided such a reduction does notinvolve their Pensioners in any pecuniary loss. Any saving thus effected will enable the Council toincrease the number of their annuitants.”However, it was not to prove to be a straightforward operation as the auditors (Messrs Deloitte)pointed out to the October 1909 council meeting. Because, unlike the government’s old age pensionscheme, RABI did not pay the same rate to men as to women the calculations would be different andthe charity “must entertain the keeping of an entirely fresh set of books and additional office staff aswell as more lengthy and careful audit of the accounts.”At the same time the auditors estimated that the savings should be not less than £1,000 a year “ifthe revision of pensions was carried out with care and accuracy.” In fact the secretary reported tothe December meeting that “a saving of £1,500 per annum would probably be effected”.Dinner That Never WasAs early as June 1908 the RABI chairman, The Earl of Jersey, was approaching the Prince of Wales toseek his consent to preside at a Jubilee Dinner in 1910. Not surprisingly, the prince was “disinclinedto make any definite arrangements for an event separated from us by so long an interval of time”,and told him to come back nearer the time. During 1909 there are indications that some members ofcouncil were concerned that a date for the dinner could not be fixed until they had received aresponse from the Prince. This was resolved by his acceptance at the beginning of 1910 and at thecouncil meeting on 2nd May it was reported that “the Prince of Wales had expressed his personalapproval of the arrangements made for the Jubilee Dinner on the 10th inst, and that theacceptances up to date amounted to 370”.On 6th May, just four days before the dinner, King Edward died. As it is recorded in the proceedingsof the 50th annual general meeting on 8th of June: “The arrangements that had been made forcelebrating the jubilee of the Institution by a public dinner, at which the present Kinghad graciously consented to preside, were in consequence of the national affliction immediatelycancelled.” The report continues to say that the jubilee fund, which would remain open until the endof the year had already reached a total of £5,000.