Association of Friendly Societies Yearbook 1997‐1998

The Association of Friendly Societies (AFS) was established two years ago, though friendly societies, in one form or another, have existed for a long time. Indeed, as one of the articles in this yearbook notes, Roman legionnaires first clubbed together to provide for one another’s financial protection over 2,000 years ago! Throughout the middle ages and into the seventeenth century guilds fulfilled the role of friendly societies, carrying out mutual affairs in parallel to their trade and economic activities. By the end of the nineteenth century the number of friendly societies had soared to 30,000 and looked after the interests...