Great Ormond Street Hospital Christmas mailing in 1941

The mailing must have had tremendous impact because it was reported in the press – positively. How many could claim that today?

When you read this letter you can really imagine the devastation that people must have felt when their magnificent, new hospital was bombed so badly. It conveys the drama of the day so vividly: ‘We have also during some of the most savage raids on London stood, a citadel of healing, ringed round by a living furnace of fire.’

The second page presents the story and the need concisely, with such precise language that the techniques of today’s appeal letters weren’t needed. Lord Southwood didn’t know about underlining and other ‘rules’, he was just writing from his heart.

The beautifully handwritten envelope. It was even forwarded to the correct address.

A piece of rubble in a matchbook with good photos makes an ingenious incentive device.

This case study appears in these showcases

• All our yesterdays: the fundraising archive showcase
• Fine writing for fundraising
• Capital campaigns showcase
• Formats, offers, propositions and products showcase
• Direct mail showcase

SOFII's view

Medium of communication:

Type of charity:

Target audience:

Country of origin:

Creator/originator:

Unknown.

Name of exhibitor:

Date of first appearance:

Summary/objectives:

On the night of 4 September 1940, at the height of the London Blitz, the newly completed Southwood Building at Great Ormond Street Hospital was hit by a bomb. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but a recent addition to the hospital was reduced to rubble.

Despite the war, an appeal was launched straight away to rebuild the hospital. I found a reference to fundraisers selling boxes of rubble and circulating a bomb book of condolences, which supporters could sign. Then I tracked down an appeal pack which was, as far as I can tell, sent to high value prospects in the USA and Australia. Perhaps elsewhere?

Background:

Who came up with this great fundraising idea? We may never know, but I like to think of a talented fundraiser all those years ago reaching down into the rubble and saying, ‘I tell you what – this would make a great mail pack’. And indeed it is. What could be more compelling than holding the rubble of the hospital in your hand? Add to that the brilliantly moving copy and you’ve got an excellent fundraising appeal.

Special Characteristics:

This amazing appeal doesn’t miss a fundraising trick – from the handwritten, stamped envelope asking the recipient to Please open carefully, to its intriguing contents. The little box of rubble is a brilliant enclosure, as are the instructions – Look in this box! A set of photos show the bombed hospital and is accompanied by a stirring letter, hand-signed by Lord Southwood, chairman of GOSH during the war.

Other points to note: rather than a donation form, there’s a slip that asks for money to be transferred directly into a bank account. This is a great way of getting the money quickly, but also highlights the difficulty of sending and receiving mail at this time.

I also found a newspaper clipping showing that this appeal generated newspaper coverage in Australia.

Influence/Impact:

It seems like an incredible feat simply to have launched an appeal like this, when circumstances must have made it very difficult to even send etters. Not only that but it’s a really fantastic example of how moving a direct mail appeal can be. A children’s hospital is destroyed, we put the rubble in your hand, you help rebuild it. Brilliant. Not even a world war will get in the way of that objective.

I’ve tried to piece together the story behind this appeal, but some gaps remain. If anyone knows more, please let us know. I don’t know how successful the appeal was or exactly how the recipients were chosen, but I do know that the building was rebuilt and reopened by 1945. I’m assuming some of the money came from this appeal.

Costs:

Unknown, but I think there’s another interesting aspect to this particular piece. From 1939, paper was rationed in the UK. Newspapers, for example, reduced the number of their pages and authors had trouble getting books published, so even getting paper to send this mailing may have been a challenge.

Merits:

This is more than an appeal – it’s a piece of history and the person who received it clearly valued it as such because she, I think it must have been a woman, kept it for over 70 years.

I first saw a reference to this appeal on the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity website and I tracked down a picture of it early in 2012. At that time, it was…for sale. Or rather, it had recently been sold otherwise I’d have got hold of it myself. How many of us produce appeals that will be kept for 70 years and end up being sold as a piece of history? It certainly sets a precedent.