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How the caring legacy of William Webb lives on
From the Guardian Series, first published Wednesday 6th Mar 2002.
THE NAME of Francis William Webb is one of special historical significance in Crewe.
Mr Webb spent practically his whole life in the town and his memory and benevolence lives on in the institute that is Webb House.
It was Francis Webb who, in 1906 when he died, left £53,857 to a group of trustees to fund the creation of the Webb Orphans Fund.
And now, the man's influence on the town is to continue as almost 100 years on, the Webb Orphans Fund is set to transfer to the control of the Railway Benevolent Institute.
Webb's donation was earmarked to build an orphanage in or near Crewe for children from railway families, and so Webb House was created and can still be seen in all its glory on Victoria Avenue.
The Orphanage housed children who had lost a parent due to an accident within the company.
Quite often in those days families were large and bereavement left lone parents unable to cope, so the orphanage provided support.
The trust was signed and sealed in 1912 and to this day belongs in the hands of the trustees.
However, the number of children using Webb House dwindled until in 1960 only four children were there, who all eventually moved out.
And so in 1961 Webb House ceased to be an orphanage and became a training centre for London Midland Railway.
That in turn gave way to the British Railways Board and then Railtrack.
Finally in 1999, after two years of disrepair, Webb House was sold to the Mental Health Services of Salford, which moved in around February 2000.
The benevolence of Francis Webb lives on through the Webb Orphans Fund, which kept its objectives as helping children of staff who have lost either or both parents, or whose parents are separated or divorced.
Ivor Warburton is currently the chairman of the Board of Trustees, which is made up by three others, Les Green, Nick Mitchell and John Bladen.
However, as Mr Warbuton explained, the trust has been finding it increasingly difficult to spend its money achieving this objective.
"The money was piling up and we were unable to find things to use it for," explained Mr Warburton.
Therefore change is ahead as the Fund is, if approved by the Charity Commission, to be transferred to the control of the Railway Benevolence Institute, which will continue the good work, but on a wider scope.
The RBI helps active or retired railway people and their dependents and according to Mr Warburton, will be able to run the Fund much more efficiently.
"Many of those we would help are also being helped by the RBI as well," he explained.
One bonus for the chairman was that board member Les Green would be able to continue his work under the RBI.
"For many years the staff of the railway made contributions for the orphans and the orphanage and we are delighted that the Crewe works representative on the Board, Les Green, has been invited to join with the trustees of the RBI.
"The railway link is still there and that is very important."
He added: "I have been very pleased to be able to do the job of chairman for 12 years and the name of Webb will always live on in Crewe."
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