The Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown was founded by the late Lord Nuffield in 1939. On the 27th May of that year he wrote to the then Secretary of State for War:

"... I am anxious to make some personal contribution towards the comfort and well-being of those who are giving up their home surroundings in the service of our country who for this purpose I intend to place in the hands of Trustees one million shares in Morris Motors, of a present value of approximately £1.5 millions, yielding today an income of some £105,000 per annum to be devoted towards improving the facilities for... the Forces, at the discretion of the Trustees. I intend this gift to be a permanent memorial to the spirit which animates us today."

Nobody can be more grateful to the generosity of Lord Nuffield than the men and women of the Armed Forces who continue to benefit in many and varied ways from his generous and imaginative benevolence which has so successfully filled the gap between those things that are provided from official sources and those which make living conditions more comfortable or recreation more enjoyable. In this context, at no time can this have been more appreciated than by those serving in the arduous conditions of the Second World War or the numerous operational deployments that have followed including Malaya, Korea, Borneo, Aden, Cyprus, Belize, Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands, the Gulf , the former Yugoslavia and many other trouble-spots.

More details of the origins and history of the Trust are recorded in "THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS" by Air Chief Marshal Sir David Lee GBE, CB, previously a Trustee and Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Who can the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown help?

The object of the Charity is to 'promote the welfare and efficiency of the Forces of the Crown either by the provision of facilities for recreation or by any other means'. The Trust therefore finances recreational and welfare amenities and facilities that will benefit those actually serving in the Armed Forces but which are not provided by public funds and which are beyond the resources of other non-public funds. In this context, the 'Armed Forces' does not include Ex-Servicemen or Cadet Forces.

How is the Trust Organised?

The Board of Trustees, which normally meets twice a year in March and October/November, directs the work of the Trust.

The only full-time employee of the Trust is the General Secretary who has full responsibility for the day to day administration and accounts of the Trust. He also has overall control of the distribution of grant allocations made by the Trustees.

Who are the Trustees?

Admiral Sir John Brigstocke KCB
Sir Christopher Bland
Air Chief Marshal Sir Joe French KCB CBE
FDS Rosier MA(Oxon)
His Grace The Duke of Westminster KG CB OBE TD CD DL (Chairman)
General Sir Michael Wilkes KCB CBE

What Links are there with those serving in the Armed Forces?

Applications for grants are not made directly to the Trust but ships/units/establishments/sports associations should bid to their nominated single Service branch (RN – RNCH 1, Fleet HQ; Army – PS4(A), HQAG; RAF – CS(SWS)(RAF), HQ Air Command) who provide the points of contact with the Trust.

Other "Nuffield" organisations

This Trust has no direct connection with the many other charities bearing Lord Nuffield's name, which also owe their existence to his foresight and generosity.

Other Nuffield organisations include:

Nuffield Foundation, 28 Bedford Square, London WC18 3EG
http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org
Mainly supporting research projects, which advance education or social welfare.

Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, East Holme Farm, Maresfield, Ucksfield,East Sussex TN22 3AY. Tel: 01825 762 928

Nuffield Nursing Homes Trust (Better known as Nuffield Hospitals, a charitable company responsible for the many Nuffield Hospitals), Nuffield House, 1-4 The Crescent, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 4BN Tel: 0181 390 1200

Nuffield Trust for Research and Policy Studies in Health Services (formerly the Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust), 59 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 7RD Tel: 0207 631 8450

Nuffield Place: The Home of Lord Nuffield www.nuffield-place.com

"The First Fifty Years"