ALEXANDRA ROSE CHARITIES

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: LMA/4592
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: ALEXANDRA ROSE CHARITIES
Date(s)	: 1902-2002
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 2.00 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Alexandra Rose Charities

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Alexandra Rose Charities works for small charities, helping them to raise money. "The Charity was launched in 1912 with the Alexandra Rose Day, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Queen Alexandra to the United Kingdom. The Queen's admirers insisted that the day should be celebrated in a special way, and a processional drive through the streets of London seemed an obvious choice, but Alexandra wanted an occasion that would help the sick and needy. She had heard of a priest in Copenhagen who had provided much needed funds for the orphans he looked after by selling the beautiful roses he had grown in his garden and following a visit to him, she developed the idea of selling artificial wild roses which would benefit the funds of London Hospitals and which were to be made by the disabled from the John Grooms Society in Clerkenwell. The day was to be called 'Alexandra Rose Day', and the initial drive swept Londoners off their feet."

"The first event raised £32,000 (the equivalent of over £2 million in today's money). The funds raised were a great benefit to hospitals, and the annual drive became an institution, one of the chief attractions of London's summer."

After Queen Alexandra's death in 1925 HRH Princess Victoria became the Alexandra Rose Day president (1926-1935) and then HRH Princess Marina (1936-1968). The current President is HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon Lady Ogilvy.

The original organiser of Alexandra Rose Day was Miss C May Beeman (1869-1935) who worked tirelessly to raise funds not only for Alexandra Rose Day, but also for the British Red Cross's 'Our Day', The Anzac Buffet, London and the Nations Fund for Nurses among others.

Two related charities are 'Our Day' and 'Their Day', these were charity days where the flag day collections were organised by Alexandra Rose Committees. 'Our Day' was organised by Miss Beeman on behalf of The British Red Cross Society and 'Their Day' flag days were run on behalf of 'Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen's Help Society' and 'Soldiers and Sailors and Airmen's Families Association'. The Chairman of 'Their Day' was the Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield and again the organising secretary was Miss Beeman. The fund itself provided financial help to serving men and women in unforseen eventualities such as further assistance when on extended compassioante leave or on discharge and in domestic difficulties such as arrears of rent, rates and hire purchase, house repairs, sickness, confimements and the care of children.

Alexandra Rose Day was originally run from the home of Miss Beeman in Bolton Gardens, Kensington. Later premises in Barnes were sold in 1996 and Alexandra Rose Charities are now based in Farnham, Surrey.

Alexandra Rose Charities has helped thousands of charities in the United Kingdom to raise funds for themselves, providing them with assistance in making a collection, obtaining licences, supplying equipment and giving advice on everything from the legal aspects to planning the day and engaging volunteers. Alexandra Rose Charities have also run their own fund raising events such as the long running Rose Ball and the annual Rose Raffle.

Source for background history taken from the website www.alexandrarosecharities.org.uk

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Papers of the Alexandra Rose Charities, including minutes, correspondence, membership details, advertising and publicity material, photographs of patrons, staff and flag day events, artefacts such as collecting tins and an early 1912 artificial rose. Related charity records include a minute book of 'Their Day' charity and a set of printed reports for 'Our Day' charity.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English.

System of arrangement:

Arranged as follows:-
LMA/4592/01 Minutes;
LMA/4592/02 Correspondence;
LMA/4592/03 Membership and address books;
LMA/4592/04 Printed material;
LMA/4592/05 Photographs;
LMA/4592/06 Audio-Visual;
LMA/4592/07 Artefacts;
LMA?4592/08 Related Charities.

Conditions governing access:

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright of this collection rests with the depositor.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited in June 2010.

Allied Materials

Related material:

See also papers of John Grooms Association for Disabled People, reference LMA/4305.

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
February 2012