During the Second World War the RAF Benevolent Fund was moved to Hove, and in 1945 we transferred back to London.
When we returned to London, we were able to acquire a long lease of premises at 67 Portland Place at a fixed peppercorn rent of £200 a year from the Howard de Walden Estate.
This new headquarters in London enabled us to set about the important work of supporting the RAF family after the losses of the War.
The affordable rent, which continues to this day, ensures that we can focus our resources on our charitable work and avoid expensive overheads.
Portland Place was considered to be the grandest street in 18th century London. It was laid out by Robert and James Adam in the 1770s and named after the Duke of Portland.
The Duke of Portland, the Adam brothers and a local property developer, John Elwes, set out to create a street of palaces but the project did not get off the ground. Number 67 was a slightly later addition built on part of a corner plot.
John Elwes was the real life inspiration for Charles Dickens’ character Ebeneezer Scrooge in his famous story, the Christmas Carol.
The building has been occupied by a number of prominent personalities since that period and passed into permanent commercial occupation after the Second World War.
Due to changes in health and safety legislation and the need to provide contemporary working conditions for staff and visitors, the decision was taken to redevelop the building.
RAF Benevolent Fund staff moved out to nearby Park Crescent in January 2010, and returned to Portland Place in January 2012.
To mark this event, our Chief of Staff, Ernie Bohm, has researched the history of the building. Ernie is now in the process of producing a booklet commemorating the occupants of the house since the late 18th century.
