Our History

'Society of Trained Masseuses' founded by four nurses,  Lucy Robinson, Rosalind Paget, Elizabeth Manley and Margaret Palmer.

Onset of First World War

Almeric Paget, whose grandfather, Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, fought at the Battle of Waterloo, and married to American heiress Pauline Whitney Paget. He offered to supply and run a corps of 50 trained masseuses to the British War Office - foundation of the Almeric Paget Corps.

50 members of the Society were placed in military hospitals in Britain together with those who had volunteered their services.

Queen Mary becomes Patroness of the now Incorporated Society of Trained Masseuses.

Allowed to work overseas. By the end of the year, 56 members were working in Italy and France.

‘The Members’ Fund’ was started by Sarah Grafton (Chair of the Incorporated Society of Trained Masseuses 1916-18) to respond to the needs of Society members who were no longer able to support themselves or their families as a result of the Great War.

By the end of the war,  2,000 masseuses and masseurs were at work and 3,400 Society members were engaged by the Corps at some time

Post-war,  The Almeric Paget Corps was decommissioned and ‘The Military Massage Service' was formed under the auspices of the Army and Pensions Massage Association. 

CSP awarded its Royal Charter

The Members Fund' gained Charitable Status as a ‘Trust’.

The ‘Eagle Star and British Dominions Insurance Company’ provided insurance for members and the commission was donated to 'The Members Fund'.

The number of war veterans needing treatment declined, but a general lack of funds forced hospitals to reduce staff, and doctors gave up their massage assistants. 

Private practitioners were hard pushed to meet bills and some “were suffering from insufficiency of food.” 

The Members Fund' committee used part of the £224 available to provide:

“A tricycle for a crippled former member of the Almeric Paget Massage Corps." 

A room near her oculist, then a place at the Royal Hospital for Incurables in Putney for an elderly lady, almost blind and with an artificial leg.' 

A journey to Switzerland for an asthmatic member with drugs purchased for her.' 

A sum of money for a masseur who found it impossible to keep up a decent appearance on his pension of £120 per year and 12/6d earned from one regular patient.”

Members were encouraged to take items / small gifts (toiletries, nylons, sewing essentials etc) to Congress annually and these were distributed to the beneficiaries. 

Armorial Bearings of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is granted by the College of Arms.

Second World War

The Members Fund' was left legacies and received royalties from Physiotherapy text books.

Founding of the NHS

Queen Elizabeth II becomes Patron of the CSP and remained so for 70 years.

A Doctor and an Almoner were included on the Board of Trustees.

Members Benevolent Fund is registered with the Charity Commission.

Department of Health recognises professional autonomy of Physiotherapists.

£29,000 awarded to beneficiaries.

Over 60 - Average age of MBF beneficiary 

Physiotherapy becomes an all graduate entry profession.

CSP Council agreed an annual donation of £1.00 per member to the 'Members Benevolent Fund'.

Decision to invest all legacies received by the 'Members Benevolent Fund' in the investment portfolio.

MBF participated with the CSP in celebrations for The Queen's 90th Birthday.

The 'Members Benevolent Fund' celebrated its Centenary.

Governance Framework Updated.

Administration work associated with the MBF outsourced to External Partner - Auriga Services.

Average MBF Beneficiary is of working age.

Covid-19 Pandemic.

All MBF business went virtual and the fund operated normally.

MBF supported establishment of CHSA (COVID-19 Healthcare Support Appeal) and received a CHSA grant for support of MBF beneficiaries experiencing hardship due to the pandemic.

Hope4U appointed as Administration Partner.

MBF changed its name to 'The Physiotherapy Benevolent Fund' (PBF).

New PBF Website launched (www.thepbf.org.uk)