THREE senior members of the Bude Haven Philanthropic Society welcome back the Brendon family to the Falcon Hotel, after an absence of some years, while they continue to run the Falcon Inn, which they renamed the Brendon Arms.

The society was formed in 1845 by George Brendon, the great, great grandfather of Rupert and Piers, as a small, friendly insurance company, which paid a death benefit to male members and their wives.

During this time, the applicant for membership had to live within a radius of one mile from the Falcon Hotel and be under 40 years of age.

At this time, the wage for a working man was between nine and eleven shillings a week.

Families very often approached the Brendon family in times of need for financial help, the most common being a family funeral.

It was considered a terrible stigma if a family was unable to bury their dead and had to have a pauper’s funeral.

The society removed many of these problems, and was perhaps one of the most beneficial monetary arrangements ever to happen to the people of Bude.

The society was for men only, and the subscription was 6d a quarter (five pence in today’s money) to be paid at a dinner given by George Brendon, consisting of boiled beef and carrots four times a year at the Falcon Hotel.

The society accounts were in the hands of an actuary, who carried an audit every five years.

During the audit, this gentleman advised the society how many members were expected to pass away during the next five years. As amazing as it may seem, he was almost always correct — a very sobering thought.

Terry Bale, who is researching the history of the society, said: “I would ask the people of Bude, especially the old Bude families, if they have anything that is relevant to my project, i.e. sales invoices, photos or artefacts that have been passed down the generations, to please ring me on 01288 353307 or email me at [email protected].”