History

"...There are well-known and old established institutions which have long provided medical care and attention for those who need it, and there are benevolent associations which provide homes for ex-service men...The Thistle Foundation is going to combine these two...separate responsibilities under one roof...a settlement where more or less permanently disabled men...will be able to live at home with their families...

"No such provision exists in Scotland today. We are breaking new ground."

Taken from an address by Founder of Thistle Foundation, Francis Tudsbery at the First Annual General Meeting of Thistle Foundation on 5th December 1945.

Thistle Foundation was established in 1944 with a pioneering goal - which was to give disabled veterans the medical support they needed in a home where they could live with their families, rather than being in hospital. 

Underpinning our work since 1944 is the philosophy that disabled people can and should be part of their local community. The Tudsberys felt strongly that nobody should be separated from their loved ones when accessible family housing was an option.

Here's a photo at the very start of building Thistle Foundation. 

In fundraising for the development of Thistle Foundation, Lord and Lady Tudsbery attracted some pretty impressive support! This picture shows the King (George VI), Queen Consort and Princess Elizabeth (now Her Majesty the Queen). 

Here, the Royal Family are attending a performance at the Lyceum theatre in Edinburgh. An event which raised over £3,000 - about £1million in today's money. 

While Thistle Foundation was being built, Lord and Lady Tudsbery sadly lost their son Robin during the final days of the war. 

Lord and Lady Tudsbery built the Robin Chapel which is dedicated to the memory of Robin. 

Here is the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret attending the dedication ceremony for the Robin Chapel. 

That's just a small part of our history. As you'll have seen from Lord Tudsbery's address, focus has changed a little as we have grown, adapted and expanded our work but the desire to be a pioneering, ground breaking organisation remains.