THE Queen became the patron of a Malvern-based charity 50 years ago.

The Society for the Assistance of Ladies in Reduced Circumstances was founded in 1886 by Miss E M Smallwood.

In 1952 its headquarters were at Lancaster House, Hornyold Road, where they can still be found to this day.

The society's object, said the Gazette, was "to assist financially ladies who, through ill-health or old age, are unable to earn their own living".

"Since its inception, many hundreds of cases have been helped," it reported.