The Royal British Nurses' Association

The Royal British Nurses’ Association (RBNA), originally the British Nurses Association, was founded in December 1887. It was started by Dr and Mrs Bedford-Fenwick who invited a number of ‘medical men and matrons’ to meet and discuss the possibility of founding an organisation for nurses, similar to the British Medical Association. H.R.H. Princess Christian was approached and agreed to become its First President. The RBNA received its Royal Charter in 1892.

The RBNA has now asked the Company of Nurses Charitable Trust (CNCT) to establish an educational fund in memory of Ann Campbell who, as Vice President, did so much for the RBNA over many years. The Ann Campbell RBNA Memorial Fund is managed by the Company of Nurses Charitable Trust and further details can be found at www.companyofnurses.co.uk

The RBNA has also asked the CNCT to administer the funds of the 4 charities associated with the RBNA, The RBNA Settlement Fund, the Helena Benevolent Fund, the Ethel Mary Fund for Nurses and the Trained Nurses Annuity Fund.  These have now been combined into one fund, The Princess Helena and Ethel Mary Fletcher Fund for Nurses and is for the benefit of nurses in need - past, present and future

All enquiries should be made to The Company of Nurses via their website: www.companyofnurses.co.uk

Archives and Further Information

The Company of Nurses website provides more information about the life of Ann Campbell and a brief history of the RBNA.

The RBNA archives are housed at Kings' College, The Strand, London, WC2R 2LS.

The archive includes historical papers associated with the RBNA, and the development of nursing profession.

Please visit https://www.kcl.ac.uk/visit/kings-college-london-archives for further information

The RBNA wishes to thank the British Library for their financial support to help the restoration and cataloguing of the archives. The cataloguing was completed by Mr Richard Bowden M.A.