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Our history

Founded in 1920 by an American opera singer, The Not Forgotten has a rich and fascinating 105-year history supporting its beneficiaries in the aftermath of two world wars and countless other conflicts.

Our Founder wrote in 1937 “… as long as there are sufferers so long will The Not Forgotten be needed” and we are. The charity has gone from strength to strength throughout the decades, continuing to adapt to meet the changing needs of serving personnel and veterans living with injury and illness - embracing changes in society and digital technology and the increasing understanding of mental and moral injury.

Despite the loss of our records in an air raid in 1941, we can be confident that around one million men and women have benefitted from our activities since 1920 - quite a legacy on which we continue to build and invest.

Scroll down to find out about some of our fascinating history over the past eleven decades...

12th August 1920
The Not Forgotten Association is founded by Miss Marta Cunningham CBE, an American opera singer and devoted charity worker, for the ‘comfort, cheer and entertainment’ of the war wounded. In its first year, The Not Forgotten entertains some 10,000 men in Marta Cunningham’s friends’ homes, including those of the Royal Family.
1921
King George V and Queen Mary host the first Buckingham Palace Garden Party, and Christmas Parties at Buckingham Palace Riding School (The Royal Mews).
World war Two
Huge increase in the number of disabled servicemen and women and a renewed need for the charity’s work. Garden party suspended in 1939 but resumed – with an interruption from an air raid! – in 1940. 

River picnics introduced as a new event.
May 1941
All the charity’s records destroyed in an air raid.
1946
First group of veterans invited to Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, a tradition continued to this day.
1949
Substantial financial grant to establish The Not Forgotten Northern Ireland branch.
1952
The first television sets provided to veterans isolated at home – eight issued in the first year.
1960
First television fundraising appeal.
March 1965
Marta Cunningham CBE dies.
1966
HRH Katherine the Duchess of Kent GCVO becomes Patron. 

Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II attends the Garden Party.
1970
Jubilee year. New fundraising appeal to begin providing individual holidays for veterans – 80 couples benefitted in first year.
1979
Black and white television sets provided by The Not Forgotten replaced by colour TVs.
1982
First group holiday to Osmington Bay, Dorset; by 1984 there were four UK holidays in a year.
1986
The Not Forgotten begins supplying remote controls, teletext TVs and video recorders to veterans, before many households had them.
1987
First group holiday abroad, 20 beneficiaries and their wives going to Costa del Sol in Spain, and Gibraltar.
1988
First Garden Party in Scotland, hosting over 800 guests at Holyrood Palace.
1990
70th anniversary, with a special Garden Party of 1,200 guests, and Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the late Duke of Edinburgh in attendance. 

Holiday for 150 veterans to Pontins in Weymouth.
1997
TNF funds disabled veterans to take part in the Paralympic Games in San Diego and the World Games in Pittsburgh. 

Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s corgis attend the Christmas Party!
1998
The Not Forgotten resolves to increase outings by 50% and expand further into the UK.
1999
The Not Forgotten's first website launches. 

First activity holiday for young disabled veterans on Exmoor. 

Major General Sir Christopher Airy KCVO CBE, Chairman, completes a 1000-mile pilgrimage by bike. 

Mulled wine is introduced at the Christmas party!
2000
Duchess of Kent retires as Patron and HRH The Princess Royal KG GCVO QSO becomes Patron.
2005
First Battlefield Tour to Malta, followed by others to Normandy, Holland, Germany, Belgium and Italy.
2006
Concert and Ceremony of the Keys at HM Tower of London. 

HRH Prince Charles (as he then was) attends the Christmas Party.
2007
Concert at Painted Hall, Greenwich, for Veterans Day in June. 

In November the first TNF representatives take part in the New York Marathon.
2008
‘Music on Fire’ event at Sandhurst, Berkshire.
2009
First canoeing trip in France; partnership with Holidays for Heroes to send veterans and their families to Jersey.
2010
90th Anniversary event in the State Rooms and Ballroom of Buckingham Palace, staged by the late Major Sir Michael Parker KCVO CBE.
2011
First skiing trip to France; followed by first ski trip to Breckenridge, Colorado in 2014.
2013
Group of veterans tackle the Cateran Trail in Scotland.
2017
TNF takes a group of veterans (including Falklands servicemen) to the Falkland Islands to do the yomp across the island from Port San Carlos to Stanley. 

TNF representatives complete the gruelling Marathon des Sables.
2020
As The Not Forgotten prepares to celebrate its Centenary, COVID-19 lockdowns force a new approach to supporting veterans: TNF adapted to deliver concerts outside care home windows and also as drive-in events, sent out ‘Forgot You Not’ gift boxes to isolated WW2 veterans, and broadcast a popular series of online web concerts.
2022
The ‘Anyone for Tea?’ bus tour takes The Not Forgotten on the road all around the UK.
2023
The ‘Tour de Not Forgotten’ cycle challenge covers over 400 miles and 14 counties and raises over £10,000.
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