User:MishLVizard/sandbox

William Rathbone X (OBE) (May 1936 – 31 Dec 2022) the X denoting that he was the tenth member of his family to bear the name – was born in Liverpool in May 1936. As a great-great-grandson of the founder of District Nursing and of the Queens Nursing Institute (QNI), William Rathbone VI, he continued a long family tradition of philanthropy and public service. He personified the direct link between the QNI founded by his ancestor and Florence Nightingale, and the modern nursing of the 21st century.

Mr Rathbone was a member of the Council of the Queen’s Nursing Institute from 1974 until his death on 31st December 2022 and was Vice-Chair of Council for 24 years of that time. In 2009 he was awarded the Gold Badge of the Queen’s Nursing Institute, its highest award, and in 2012 he was made an OBE for his charitable services. During his career he was also chief executive of the charity RUKBA (The Royal United Kingdom Beneficent Association), and closely involved as a trustee or advisor of nine other charities.

Philanthropic work
William Rathbone X, his son, joined the QNI Council in 1974 and served continuously until his death in December 2022. As Vice-Chairman of Council from 1974 – 1999 and as a member of the Finance Committee he contributed to the reorganisation of the Institute’s administration and finances. In 2023, a new award was created in his name. The award is funded from a donation from Lucy and Nick Addyman, Mr Rathbone’s daughter and son-in-law. Mr Nick Addyman, son-in-law of the late William Rathbone, is a trustee of the QNI.

Other Rathbone charities include:

Rathbone

Rathbone Birmingham

The Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust founded by Eleanor Rathbone.

The E.L Rathbone Charitable Trust, founded by Emily Rathbone