Bourne United Provident Association

After the Poor Law Amendment Act in 1834, aid was no longer administered solely by parish officers who knew and were known by their own poor. Not only was treatment harsher but it took them away to the Union workhouse, often miles from their homes and friends.

During the early 19th century there was a great deal of philanthropic work by individuals or voluntary organisations devoted to helping those in need. In Bourne, the Society for the Relief of the Sick and Afflicted was formed in 1836 during a public meeting at the Baptist Chapel in West Street which remained in existence until 1866 although the minute book, which survives, suggests that by then its activities were of a perfunctory nature and that the society was going into decline. It was the intention of its founders to co-operate with other religious denominations in forming a United Benevolent Society but these hopes were never realised although relationships with the Methodists appear to have been cordial, at least from 1848 onwards, because in that year it was resolved that the annual sermon, which was one of the society's regular functions, be preached at the Wesleyan [now the Methodist] Chapel and from then on at the Methodist and Baptist chapels in alternate years and accompanied by a collection to help augment funds.

The society defined its aims in terms which reflect a somewhat patronising approach to the public, resolving that a committee be set up "to receive reports of cases, distribution of charitable aid, and such information as may be interesting" and "that the town be divided into districts and the committee appoint visitors who are requested to enquire particularly into the character and habits of the objects of their solicitude". The town was accordingly split up into six districts and seventeen visitors were appointed and in each of the first two years of the society's existence, they made a total of over 400 calls. Figures on the annual balance sheet indicate that the organisation never handled large amounts of money and the receipts from donations, subscriptions, and the annual collection were rarely above £12 a year. Payments of relief to individuals were thus quite small, even in the money terms of those years, and at the start, sums as small as 6d. a month were paid out although in later years a few shillings seems to have been the rule.

Tradesmen and labourers also began to establish mutual self help groups for a form of insurance, designed to assist families in the payment of medical bills and funeral expenses and even provide financial benefits during times of illness using a similar system with the funds coming from weekly subscriptions paid by members. The most prestigious of these were the friendly societies such as the Oddfellows, Foresters, Druids, Rechabites, etc which were national bodies of which the local branch was subject to the rules. Subscriptions were paid by members and aid given when needed. The rituals and orderly conduct of business gave men the opportunity to grow in ability and take pride in their self sufficiency. Friendly societies also cut across social and religious divisions. Critics thought the ritual was childish, and perhaps saw it as aping the practices of freemasonry, and deplored the scenes following over indulgence. Some of the clergy felt their control over their parishes was threatened but generally friendly societies were accepted for what they were, people trying to help themselves.

Other ways of self help and insurance were burial and clothing clubs while in the rural areas pig, cow or horse clubs thrived to protect livestock. The principle was similar in that members paid a subscription and received benefit according to the rules. These were local organisations and the clergy were better able to retain control.

Among the biggest of the mutual self help groups locally was the Bourne United Provident Association [later Society] which was formed in July 1837 and survived for over a century, the officers meeting monthly at the Nag's Head Hotel. In 1851, the society withdrew from the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows to which it had belonged since formation in 1837 and became registered as an independent organisation with 87 members. At that time, the accounts for the year ending 16th June 1857 showed that the society possessed property worth £1,104 10s. 9d. and during the previous year, £133 5s. ld. had been received from members, making a total of £1,237 15s. 10d. Payments for medical attendance and to sick members, plus incidental expenses, were £89 6s. 1d., leaving a balance of £1,148 9s. 9d. which was an increase of £43 19s. on the previous year.

A feature of the association's activities was the annual parade, usually accompanied by the Bourne Brass Band, marching to the Abbey Church with banners flying, as 50 members did on Wednesday 14th July 1858 when celebrating their 21st anniversary to hear an appropriate sermon preached by the vicar, the Rev Joseph Dodsworth. Afterwards, according to a report in the Stamford Mercury, members and friends partook of an excellent dinner in the large room at the Angel Hotel which was presided over by the vicar. At this time, the association had a total of 90 members and the club owned property worth £1,213 1s. 3½d.

The photograph above was taken during the annual meeting on Wednesday 25th January 1911 when the club was one of the wealthiest in the country. Members were told that £78 [£5,000 at today's values] had been paid out in sick pay during the previous year, medical attendance amounted to £22 15s. and a balance of £83 4s. 5d. was carried forward to the capital account.

The oldest member of the club was William Welldon, a billposter, who had joined in 1841 and in addition, there were 14 who had been members for over 50 years, 15 over 40 years, 12 over 30 years, 13 over 20 years and 21 over 10 years.

Officers for the ensuing year were elected, Mr G H Griffen (chairman), W Smith (treasurer), F T Palmer (secretary), E Worsdall, W Nowell and John Rowe (trustees), together with a committee of ten members, and at the conclusion of business, a smoking concert was held. Later records also show that F T Palmer, of 13 Stanley Street, was secretary from 1900-1937.

By 1930, there was still a healthy membership of 80 and funds totalling £3,180 19s. 2d. had been accumulated which averaged out at almost £40 per member. It was also revealed at the annual meeting, held in December, that loyalty was still evident with four members belonging for more than 60 years, five over 50 years, seven over 40 years, 17 over 30 years, 16 over 20 years and seven over ten years. There was also a dividend payable that year because a rule registered thirty years before stated that the society could distribute all funds over £3,000 and this had been done regularly, the shares varying from year to year. The highest amount had been 10s. per share and this year the shares were 7s. each payable to all members who had belonged for ten years or more.

But the popularity of the organisation was not to last and the association was eventually overtaken by the introduction of the welfare state after the Second World War of 1939-45, when interest began to fall away, although it was not finally wound up until 1994.

See also  
  
William Welldon      Bourne Medical Club     Other organisations in Bourne