1921 Following the Great War, under the direction of London County Council, RNIB and a collection of small charities are brought together to unify the collection of funds for the blind in London. The Greater London Fund for the Blind is born.

1924 The first recorded legacy is left to the Fund. This is the beginning of a long tradition that has seen our generous supporters help thousands of blind people over the years.

1985 Lasers are used in ophthalmic surgery for the first time, a great breakthrough in restoring sight to those with vision problems.

1983 The National Talking Newspaper and Magazine service is launched to give visually impaired people greater access to current affairs stories. Since then, we have funded a number of talking newspapers across Greater London, bringing the news to the city’s blind residents.

1971 Decimalisation is introduced in the United Kingdom, although to the present day we occasionally receive shillings as donations! We celebrate our 50th anniversary by raising over £250,000 for the first time, in this milestone year.

1987 Our profile is raised with a poster campaign featuring Ami and the launch of our Geranium Shops across the city.

1998 We hold a special 90th birthday party for Sir John Mills at the Dorchester Hotel. On this occasion, he becomes our very first Vice President, and is soon joined by a number of distinguished individuals.

2001 Erik Weihenmayer becomes the first blind person to climb Mount Everest, proving that the obstacles created by a visual impairment are not insurmountable. With support, incredible achievements are within everyone’s reach.

2011/12 The Fund celebrates its 90th year with a series of birthday events, with HRH The Countess of Wessex as its Royal Patron, having assumed the role in 2003. We have the opportunity to look to the past and to focus firmly on the future and on our mission to make London the best city in the world for blind people to live.

1931 The then Duchess of York becomes the Fund’s Royal Patron. She will remain in this role for over 70 years, as HM The Queen and later Queen Mother.

1939 – 1945 World War II leaves Britain in a period of austerity. London’s blind step into the roles left vacant by those called to fight, and make an invaluable contribution to the war effort. They are praised for their ‘zeal and intensity of purpose’.

1952 Winston Churchill launches the 30th Geranium Day. This tradition has been upheld by every Prime Minister since 1922.

The Greater London Fund for the Blind is lucky to have a long history and a number of proud achievements to reflect on over its 90 years. This timeline highlights a few of the major events and

developments in serving blind people that have led up to the present day. We have done much over the past decades to improve the lives of blind people in London, but, as ever, there is more to do.

1960s Do you remember the ‘blind boys’ we used for collections across London? Some of them are still in use today, along with thousands of collection boxes and bottles.

2006 Our special projects fund, which supports a variety of schemes by organisations across London, is born. Over five years we have funded some amazing projects, including those that give blind people opportunities in recreation, independent living, education and employment.

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