Treloar’s was set up in 1908 by Sir William Purdie Treloar, Bart. JP.

William Treloar was born on 13th. January 1843, the son of a Cornishman from Helston, in rather humble circumstances over a warehouse where his father carried on his business of coconut fibre mat making in Holland Street, Southwark.

On 20th March 1865 he married a Miss Annie Blake, it appears it was Annie, who succeeded in getting her husband interested in the care and condition of the many poor and crippled children who then wandered the streets of London

Treloar's interest in the poor children of London progressively increased and in 1892 he and his wife, with the support of the City Council, and in collaboration with the `Ragged Schools Union', took over what came to be known as `The Hamper Fund'. The Daily Telegraph whose appeals brought in a considerable volume of money had started this. The hampers of food and drink were distributed to disabled children in London on New Year's Day. In the first year these amounted to 200 but over the years increased to some 7,100.

Treloar kept `open house' for local children and was known as "Uncle" to them all.

Anticipating his appointment as Lord Mayor of London the following year, Treloar, in 1905, declared his intention of raising a fund during his Mayoral year to found an institution for London's disabled children.

Lord Mayor of London in November 1906, Treloar immediately launched `The Lord Mayor's Little Cripple Fund' with the object of raising £60,000. Donations were sent by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra; street hawkers of Ludgate Hill had a penny collection; the Daily Telegraph launched an appeal; members of the Stock Exchange collected money, pugilists and friends held a benefit performance at a boxing hall; the City Corporation gave £1,000 and there were concerts, stage performances, balls and dances.

Through Mr. J. Hall Richardson, of the Daily Telegraph, Treloar learned that there was an unoccupied hospital, comprising some 70 acres, at Alton, Hampshire for which the War Office had no further use. He came to Alton on Friday, 22nd March, 1907 to inspect the property, approved of it and set about the formidable task of getting the land transferred, with the help of Mr. (later Lord) Haldane, Secretary of State for War.

The Hospital was ready for occupation and the first 18 patients were received at Alton Station by Treloar and his wife on 8th September, 1908. For more information on Treloar's, visit their website at www.treloar.org.uk