OUR STORY

Get the full story: 'Voices of Cruse'
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Cruse Bereavement Care is here to help anyone in need following the death of a loved one - however and whenever the death occurred. From our understanding through working with bereaved people for over 50 years, Cruse believes that the most valuable tribute we can sometimes pay to those we have lost is to remember the living.

Here, in short, is the history of Cruse
1959
Mrs Margaret Torrie started Clubs for Widows from her home Charter House, Lion Gate, Richmond.
Cruse Clubs Counselling Service for Widows and their Families was registered as a Charity.
On 30th October the first AGM of the Cruse Clubs was held, chaired by Margaret Torrie. She started writing the Cruse Club Chronicle

1960
Margaret Torrie chaired the first committee meeting of professionally concerned men and women who supported and encouraged Cruse as a national charity and formed the first Cruse Council. Branches were set up in many places.

1962
The Widows’ Charter was written by Cruse members and sent to 630 MPs; five MPs said they would support it.

1966
Dr Colin Murray Parkes joined Cruse Council. A scheme for the selection and training of counsellors was proposed and a Day Conference of Cruse Clubs was held.

1969
Name of the charity changed to Cruse - the Organisation for Widows and their Children.

1970
4,500 Cruse Chronicles printed. Begin Again by Margaret Torrie published.

1972
On the death of Dr Alfred Torrie, Dr Colin Murray Parkes succeeded as Chairman of Cruse.

1974
Derek Nuttall was appointed as National Organiser. Cruse received its first Government grant.

1975
Cruse staff moved from Charter House to Cruse House, 126 Sheen Road, Richmond.

1976
Margaret Torrie retired and was awarded MBE. Cruse Branches numbered 22.

1977
To include the needs of widowers, the Charity Commissioners were asked to approve the change of name of the charity to Cruse - the National Organisation for the widowed and their children.

1978
Derek Nuttall was appointed as the first Director. The first Area Organisers were employed to support the work of Branches.

1979
Number of Branches now reached 53. First International Conference on Dying and Bereaved Children and their Families in the Year of the Child, chaired by Dr John Bowlby.

1980
Name of Cruse formally changed to Cruse - the National Organisation for the widowed and their children. Number of Branches now reached 59 in England, Scotland and Wales. Sir Sigmund Sternberg JP became Honorary Treasurer.

1981
Proposed extension of Cruse services to all people bereaved by death.

1982
Drs Murray Parkes and Dora Black launched the Bereavement Care Journal.

1983
A 12-week Training Course for Branches written.

1984
Silver Jubilee Year; Her Majesty The Queen becomes Patron. A celebration of the work of Cruse was held at the Royal Albert Hall, attended by Her Majesty.  Sir John Gielgud, Penelope Keith, Richard Briars, Wayne Sleep and others performed for volunteers from all over the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland Branch is opened.

1985
Council approved the extension of the services of Cruse to all those bereaved by death.

1986
The decision was taken at the Cruse Annual General Meeting formally to extend Cruse services to all those bereaved by death. Training programmes developed according to the Minimum Standards of Counselling document.

1987
Conference approved the name and the title was changed to Cruse Bereavement Care.

1988
Cruse hosted an International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in London, with 600 delegates from 24 countries.

1989
Cruse’s 30th Anniversary, marked by events around the country, including a lunch at Mansion House attended by HRH The Duchess of Kent. Cruse asked by the Department of Health to set up a Disasters Working Party to learn lessons from recent disasters and consider appropriate social and psychological provision for the future.

1990
Number of Branches now reaches 170 with over 5,000 volunteers.

1992
A Cruse Bereavement Helpline is set up. Structural reorganisation is proposed by Council: Regional and National Committees were set up in the South West of England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Northern Regions, to be followed by the South East/London and Central Regions. Number of Branches increases to 194.

1994
Cruse’s 35th Anniversary – Cuppa for Cruse Campaign linked with Twinings. Reception at 11, Downing Street hosted by Mrs Clarke, Chancellor Ken Clarke’s wife. International Conference on Grief and Bereavement held in Stockholm.

1998
New Logo for Cruse - the heartsease flower - introduced. Number of Branches increases to 185, with 7,000 volunteers and 21,600 clients given help.

1999
Cruse’s 40th Anniversary - A reception at St James’ Palace attended by Her Majesty the Queen. Margaret Torrie died and a Thanksgiving Service for her life and work was held in St Paul’s Cathedral in March 2000.

2001
National Launch of RD4U, special website with email support for young people, and the Cruse website. National Bereavement Helpline launched with funding from Norwich Union. New bereavement benefits made available to widowers as well as widows.

2002
Scottish Branches devolved to form Cruse Bereavement Care, Scotland.

2005
The International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society was held in London and opened by HRH the Duchess of Gloucester.

2007
Cruse Central Office moves from 126 Sheen Road to Victoria Villas, Richmond. A charity concert for Cruse of Mozart’s Zäide, performed by members of the Trinity College of Music, took place at St John’s Smith Square. The number of volunteers reached 5,457. There were 87,386 enquiries from which 22,751 were given support. 1,314 young people were seen by Branches/Areas, and there was an increase in the contacts made through the email, rd4u message board and the National Helpline.

2008
Debbie Kerslake succeeds Anne Viney as Chief Executive.

2009
Fiftieth Anniversary and Golden Jubilee of Cruse Bereavement Care.