Annual Report 2021
HELP US TO HELP OTHERS
www.qmcg.org.uk Charity Registration No. 211764
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Alex Lloyd, Zoom Photography
HRH Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy, Patron, with the QMCG Board of Trustees.
I would like to thank you, the Trustees and all Guild members, for your remarkable achievement in a second year of pandemic. Each one of you has contributed to the successful distribution of a very large quantity of clothing and bedding to those in need around the UK.
Following the lockdowns, I was delighted to meet Guild members, donors and representatives from supported charities at View Day in October. I am very proud that this unique and long-established charity continues to provide effective support for so many as it approaches its 140th Anniversary year.
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Patron: HRH Princess Alexandra, The Hon. Lady Ogilvy Trustees: Gillie Jackson - Chairman of the Trustees until 5[th] October 2021 Teresa Myers – Chairman of Trustees from 5[th] October 2021 Sharon Stewart – Hon. Treasurer Linda Thompson – CEO Mary Guppy Roisin Tierney Susan Wallace Helen Whitbread Executive Committee Linda Thompson - CEO Julia Knight - Vice CEO until May 2021 Ruth Briant - Vice CEO from May 2021 Sharon Stewart - Hon. Treasurer Hadley Denny Susan Hammond – from November 2021 Sallie Hawkins – until May 2021 Abigail Sarfaty – from November 2021 Victoria Spendlove - Royal Group Sherry Watson Secretary: Heather Mears Charity Number: 211764 Registered Address: 22 Stamford Brook Road London W6 0XH Independent Examiner Heyburn Bennett Ltd 9 Bridge Street, Walton on Thames Surrey KT12 1AE Investment Advisors: Investec Wealth and Investment Limited 30 Gresham Street London EC2V 7QN
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TRUSTEES’ REPORT For the year ended 31[st] December 2021
The Trustees present their accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2021. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the statement and notes to the accounts.
Purpose of the Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild (QMCG)
The aim of the Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild is to make, buy and source new clothing, sleeping bags and linen and to distribute these items once a year to British charities, operating only in the United Kingdom, to help the vulnerable, the homeless and those in need.
Why our work is important
QMCG is one of the oldest charities in the United Kingdom and, from its inception in 1882, its purpose has been to support those in need. QMCG responds to requests from charities across the UK for new items they have difficulty in sourcing or funding themselves. In the second year of the COVID pandemic that help was again critical. The majority of supported charities this year received fewer clothing donations from the public, so the Guild donations were needed more than ever. QMCG knows that the gift of brand new clothing and linen provides not only warmth and comfort but, importantly, also helps to restore dignity and self-respect.
How we work
Our list of supported charities includes refuges for women and children escaping violence, homeless shelters and outreach units, hostels providing support and rehabilitation for ex-servicemen and women, neonatal units and hospices providing respite and end of life care for children and adults - and many others. Each year we ask the charities that we support to complete a list of items they most need, and that will make a difference.
For 140 years QMCG supporters all over the country have been making and still continue to knit and stitch beautiful handmade items. In 2021, again in response to the COVID pandemic, Guild supporters hand stitched three ply cotton face masks which were shared between supported charities. As in the previous year, fundraising in the first half of 2021 was mostly online or virtual - Guild Ambassador Tessa Crawford organised an online Trickster Bridge Tournament in March, and knitted Valentine and Easter novelties flew off our Etsy Shop site. With the ease of lockdown in the summer, Guild Friends gathered outside for QMCG Summer Picnics to raise funds. The annual Guild raffle was held live again at St James’s Palace in October. In November our Hon Treasurer and family held Christmas sales days and our CEO hosted Christmas Wreath Making days, all to raise substantial sums to purchase linen, sleeping bags and clothing most needed by those we support. All of these items are normally distributed in the autumn from St James’s Palace. Due to uncertainty at the beginning of the year, plus COVID restrictions, the main distribution again took place at Hendall Manor Barns in Sussex, with a small team, to ensure that the new clothing and bedding reached charities as normal. The timing of our annual distributions works particularly well for charities helping the homeless as their need is greatest during winter months.
Where we work
QMCG works with charities across the UK, but its main activities are in England and Scotland.
Public Benefit
In setting the objectives and activities of the charity, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidelines concerning public benefit. QMCG continues to place great emphasis on its commitment to support other charities in their work, providing brand new clothing and linen to help where the charities have difficulty in sourcing these items themselves.
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The public benefits of QMCG’s work are wide reaching through the varied charities it supports and can be seen as both direct and indirect in their nature. Direct through the practical help that is given to the charities QMCG supports in response to their actual needs. Indirect through the positive effect of these donations of new clothing and linen on those who receive them, helping to restore their sense of self-worth and dignity – both essential to those facing hardship. Direct also through the friendship, purpose and sense of belonging that knitting and stitching gives to the many supporters all over the country, some of whom are isolated at home.
Fundraising
Under the Charities Act 2016, all charities in England and Wales that spend more than £100,000 a year on fundraising are expected to make a voluntary contribution to the regulator’s running costs.
As QMCG spends considerably less than £100,000 a year on fundraising it is, therefore, not eligible to pay the voluntary contribution to the regulator’s running costs that would be required under the Charities Act 2016.
Risk Assessment
Again this year, in making decisions, the Trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission Guidance on public benefit, in compliance with section 4 of the Charities Act 2006, and have given due consideration as to how the activities of QMCG contribute to its charitable status.
In terms of QMCG’s risk assessment policy, the programme of visits to the charities we support was carried out on Zoom to comply with COVID restrictions. In-person visits will resume in Spring 2022. All supported charities, existing and proposed, are regularly visited by a team of at least two Guild Friends. These visits provide information about the charities, their current needs, and how best the Guild can assist them. Importantly, visits help to guard against inappropriate use of QMCG donations and help us monitor whether our donations are relevant and reaching those we aim to help.
The other main areas of risk are QMCG’s two annual events: Packing Week and the AGM. Public Liability insurance continues in place. It was not possible to hold the AGM as planned in May but, with restrictions lifted, one day was held at St James’s Palace in October to unpack and sort all knitted and stitched items, host View Day and then the AGM later on the same day.
The Guild in Scotland
Guild Ambassadors Clare Russell and Shona Docherty distributed over 2,500 knitted and purchased items to 18 charities right across Scotland from Stornoway to Glasgow. Shona yet again beat her previous record, distributing an incredible 2,077 knitted items to 12 charities while her 8 year old grandson, John Watson, helped stitch together some of the hundreds of squares delivered by a lockdown knitter. The CEO and EC members visited Scottish charities, supported by Mrs Pipe’s Fund, on Zoom in November/December 2021.
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Chairman’s Report
It has been another strange year for QMCG: once again, we have been constricted by Covid guidance, but we were able to host a View Day at St James’s Palace in October 2021. HRH Princess Alexandra came to visit the scaled back stalls and admire the hand knitted and stitched items made with such care and love. HRH managed to speak to all the guests and Friends who attended; a memorable occasion for everyone.
Once View Day was over, we held our first AGM since 2019, at which our wonderful Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Gillie Jackson, stepped down, having completed a term of seven years, serving an extra year to help us through the recent Covid restrictions. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Gillie, who has worked tirelessly for the Guild for many years, serving as Chairman of the Executive Committee and then going on to join the newly formed Board of Trustees and becoming its Chairman. I am delighted to let you know that Gillie will continue to be involved with many aspects of QMCG and has become one of our Honorary Ambassadors.
I have been elected Chairman and would like to thank The Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee for making me so welcome. We were delighted to welcome Abigail Sarfaty and Susan Hammond to the Executive Committee in November. Elizabeth Carver has stepped down from the Neo Natal Stall and we would like to thank her for her unstinting work both in setting up a Neo Natal section and in running it since 2010. Elizabeth has worked tirelessly making sure that supported neo natal units receive the beautifully handmade items that make such a difference.
The main packing of clothing for charities again took place at Hendall Manor Barns. I would also like to thank Nicky Squire for storing items in her barn. This year a total of 51,649 items were donated to 42 charities in October. A fantastic effort by everyone involved, and we thank you for your tireless work which continues to help those who need it so much. That QMCG has managed to keep going throughout this pandemic is a fantastic tribute to all of you that are involved, and both the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee are truly appreciative of your efforts.
Board and Committee meetings continued by Zoom throughout the year, as did all charity visits. Next year we hope to be able to return to a more normal working pattern but will continue to make use of modern technology when necessary.
We are delighted that we now have 122 Friends, 26 Ambassadors and Honorary Ambassadors across the British Isles who continue the work we were originally formed to do.
2022 is our 140[th] Anniversary Year. We are planning several fundraising and special events during the year; details will be in the Friends Newsletters. Both the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee hope that you will be able to attend or even host an event to help raise funds during our special year.
We record our heartfelt thanks to HRH Princess Alexandra for her continued and valued support and we look forward to another year of being able to provide vital help to those in need across the UK.
We are pleased to confirm that the accountants Heyburn Bennett Ltd and the financial advisors Investec Wealth and Investment Limited have been reappointed to act for the Guild for a further year.
Teresa Myers Chairman of the Board of Trustees
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ACCOUNTS
For year ending 31st December 2021
Please refer to the separate signed Accounts 2021 document.
Summary of income and expenditure account for the financial year ended 31st December 2021
In the current year, total outgoings exceeded income by £2,433. This compared to 2020 where there was a deficit of £3,561. Overall income was £63,336 compared to £71,477 in 2020.
Our Friends’ scheme boosted our donations total in 2021 to £26,011 (£22,405 in 2020). Our fundraising total of £8,523 (£14,266 in 2020) was again restricted by the COVID pandemic but we were delighted to raise an additional £7,585 by selling Guild merchandise and novelty items knitted by our supporters on our Etsy shop. Friends also managed several fundraising Christmas events.
Overall outgoings were £65,769 in 2021 compared to £75,038 in 2020 when the figure was inflated by the cost of our new website. Purchasing of clothing and linen was £45,384 compared to £51,396 in 2020. A further £4,244 was spent on items distributed to Scottish charities with the income from Mrs Pipe’s fund but due to a delay the figure was not able to be included in the 2021 accounts. The costs of running the Charity in 2020 were £20,385 compared to £23,642 in 2020.
Our grateful thanks go to all those individuals, organisations and grant-giving trusts who continue to support us and contribute to our work.
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QUEEN MOTHER'S CLOTHING GUILD
Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 December 2021
| Unrestricted funds Restricted funds £ £ Receipts NOTES Donations, Legacies and Grants 1 26,011 Fundraising events 2 8,523 Other Charitable Activities 3 7,585 Gift Aid 4 634 Income from Investments 5 20,584 Sub total Asset and investment sales Receipts from sale of investments 6 102,325 Sub total Total receipts Payments Purchasing of Clothing and Linen 7 45,384 Running Costs 8 15,853 Other Charitable Activites 9 4,532 Sub total Asset and investment purchases Purchase of investments 10 117,114 Investment Administration charges 11 5,825 Sub total Total payments Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Balances at Bank Bank Current Accounts Investec Wealth and Investment 12 Investment Assets Investec Wealth and Investment 13 Accumulated Fund |
Total 2021 £ 26,011 8,523 7,585 634 20,584 63,336 102,325 102,325 165,661 45,384 15,853 4,532 65,769 117,114 5,825 122,939 188,708 33,846 3,303 544,023 581,172 581,172 |
Total 2020 £ 22,405 14,266 3,704 831 30,271 |
|---|---|---|
| 71,477 | ||
| 158,131 | ||
| 158,131 | ||
| 229,608 | ||
| 51,396 22,198 1,444 |
||
| 75,038 | ||
| 123,499 5,486 |
||
| 128,985 | ||
| 204,023 | ||
| 36,278 23,875 523,907 |
||
| 584,060 | ||
| 584,060 |
These accounts were approved by The Board of Trustees on 31st March 2022 and signed on its behalf by:
MRS TERESA MYERS Chairman
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Notes to Receipt and Payments Account
| 2021 | 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ |
£ | |||
| 1 | Donations, Legacies and Grants | |||
| Donations and Subscriptions |
26,011 | 22,405 | ||
| Legacies | - | - | ||
| Grants | - | - | ||
| 26,011 | 22,405 | |||
| 2 | Fundraising Events | |||
| Raffle |
2,099 | 1,652 | ||
| Other Fundraising |
6,424 | 12,614 | ||
| 8,523 | 14,266 | |||
| 3 | Other Charitable Activities | |||
| Sales of Aprons/Tea Towels/Bags |
534 |
380 | ||
| Sales of Notelets / Cards |
753 | 1,802 | ||
| Sales of Badges |
91 |
207 | ||
| Donations for knitted items |
6,147 | 1,232 | ||
| Miscellaneous Income |
60 | 83 | ||
| 7,585 | 3,704 | |||
| 4 | Gift Aid |
634 |
831 | |
| 634 | 831 | |||
| 5 | Income from Investments | |||
| Main Fund |
14,409 | 14,190 | ||
| Mrs Pipe's Fund |
6,175 | 6,081 | ||
| Cash withdrawn from Portfolio | - |
10,000 | ||
| 20,584 | 30,271 | |||
| 6 | Sale of Investments | |||
| Main Fund |
71,627 |
110,692 | ||
| Mrs Pipe's Fund |
30,698 | 47,439 | ||
| 102,325 | 158,131 | |||
| 7 | Purchasing of Clothing and Linen | |||
| Purchase of Clothing and Linen |
44,377 | 45,447 | ||
| Purchase of items distributed to Scottish Charities |
1,007 | 5,949 | ||
| 45,384 | 51,396 | |||
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Notes to Receipt and Payments Account
| 8 Running Costs Packing Week and AGM expenses Printing/Stationery/Postage Website & Communications Insurance Secretarial Fees Miscellaneous Expenses Bank Charges 9 Other Charitable Activities Purchasing of Merchandise 10 Purchase of Investments Main Fund Mrs Pipe's Fund 11 Investec Administration Charges Main Fund Mrs Pipe's Fund During the year Investec charged an additional £4,893 (2020 £4,055) as a collective funds charge for managing the portfolios. 12 Investec Wealth & Investment Cash Balance Main Fund Mrs Pipe's Fund 13 Investec Wealth & Investment Assets (at cost) Main Fund Mrs Pipe's Fund The market value of investments at 31 December 2021 was £644,102 (2019- £587,758) |
2021 2020 £ £ 5,764 3,334 1,519 980 1,309 11,117 682 649 6,106 6,118 375 - 98 15,853 22,198 4,532 1,444 4,532 1,444 81,980 86,449 35,134 37,050 117,114 123,499 4,078 3,840 1,747 1,646 5,825 5,486 2,312 16,713 991 7,162 3,303 23,875 380,816 366,735 163,207 157,172 544,023 523,907 |
|---|---|
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BENEFICIARIES 2021 ( *Newly supported in 2021)
| Charities supported in England: | |
| Age UK, Wiltshire | St Peter & St James Hospice, East Sussex |
| Alabare Christian Care & Support, Wiltshire | Stonepillow, East Sussex |
| Barons Court Project, West London | Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Services |
| Berkshire Women’s Aid* | The Upper Room, London |
| Caritas Anchor House, East London | Veterans Aid, London |
| Changing Pathways, Essex | |
| Companions of the Order of Malta, London | Neo Natal Units supported: |
| Crawley Open House, West Sussex | Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow |
| Croydon Refugee Day Centre, Croydon | Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath |
| Emmaus Brighton, East Sussex* | Royal London Hospital, East London |
| Emmaus Greenwich, London | Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Bucks |
| Emmaus Hastings, East Sussex | St Thomas'Hospital, London |
| Glassdoor, London | |
| GSTT Charity Samaritan Fund, Central London | Charities supported in Scotland: |
| Havens Hospice, Essex | AberNecessities, Aberdeen |
| Home of Comfort, Southsea | Bethesda Hospice, Stornoway |
| Kairos, London | Cardinal Winning, Glasgow |
| Leonard Cheshire St Cecilia’s, Bromley | Crossreach, Sutherland* |
| London City Mission, London | Cyrenians, Aberdeen |
| Manna Society, London | Erskine House, Renfrewshire |
| Nelson Trust, Swindon | Gateway, Inverness* |
| Pram Depot, London (supporting Birth Companions, Doctors of the World UK & Happy Baby Community) |
Highland Hospice, Inverness |
| Pottergate Arc, Norwich | Rachel House, Kinross |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities, London | Robin House, Balloch |
| Salvation Army Hoxton, London | Simon Community Govan Hill Women’s Project, Glasgow |
| Seaview, East Sussex | St Vincent’s Hospice, Johnstone |
| Spitalfields Crypt Trust, East London | Women’s Aid, Caithness & Sutherland |
| SSAFA, Central London | Women’s Aid, Dundee |
| St Anne’s, Little Sisters of the Poor, North London | Women’s Aid, Glasgow |
| St Peter’s, Little Sisters of the Poor, South London | Women’s Aid, Inverness |
| St John’s Ambulance, Brighton* | Women’s Aid, Ross-shire |
| St Luke’s Hospice, Essex | Women’s Aid, Western Isles* |
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FRIENDS OF QMCG 2021/2022
AMBASSADOR *HON. AMBASSADOR
Allan, Ms Angela Bell, Mrs Eliza Benge, Mrs Lynne Berthon, Mrs Alex Blake, Mrs Susan Briant, Mrs Ruth (EC) Briant, Mr Julian Buckmaster, Mrs Julia Carter, Miss Pamela Carver, Mrs Elizabeth* Clarendon, Dowager Countess Clarke, Mrs Daphne Cobbett, Mrs Jane Craufurd, Lady Georgina Crawford, Mrs Tessa Currey, Mrs Diana Darby, Mrs Susan Daughtree, Mrs Sheilah Davies, Dr Diane de Quincey, Mrs Nicola De Souza, Mrs Caroline Denison-Pender, Hon. Mrs Clare Denny, Mrs Hadley (EC) Denny, Mrs Carol Dix, Mrs Diana Docherty, Mrs Shona Edney, Mrs Jean* Eliot-Cohen, Mrs Susie Everall, Mrs Annie Farmer, Ms Kate Fitzalan Howard, Ms Sarah FitzGerald, Mrs Jane* Franks, Mrs Sarah Gerard-Pearse, Mrs Madeline Goolden, Mrs Siegrith Grindley, Mrs Mary Guppy, Mrs Mary (T) Hammond, Lady Susan (EC) Hanmer, Lady A.M Hart, Mrs Donna Harvey, Mrs Stephanie
Hathorn, Hon. Mrs Eric Hawkins, Ms Sallie Helliar, Ms Norma Hillery, Ms Iris Hime, Miss Roz Hurley, Mrs Kathleen Husselby, Mrs Olivia Jackson, Mrs Gillie Johnson, Mrs Wendy Jones, Mrs Liza Kerridge, Mrs Jane Kernon, Mrs Sonja King, Mrs Pauline Knight, Mrs Julia Laverty, Mrs Linda Littleton, Miss Jeni Londesborough, Lady Mackaness, Mrs Mary Manners, Mrs Lucy Mansfield, Ms Sarah Mathewson, Mrs Susan Marchant, Mrs Barbara Marsh, Miss Wendy Mavor, Mrs J. Elizabeth Mawdsley, Mrs Dorothy McCaughey, Mrs Margaret McDermott, Mrs Sarah McGregor, Mary Meakin, Mrs Victoria Meehan, Mrs Natalie Mount, Mrs Gabrielle Mulryne, Mrs Eithne Myers, Mrs Teresa (T) Myers, Mrs Louise Myers, Miss Georgia Neale, Ms Rachel Newman, Mrs Mary Newnan, Mrs Sharon Nolan, Ms Gilly O’Brien, Mrs Ela Orlebar, Mrs Nicola*
Parry, Mrs Rachel Peters, Mrs Sarah Phillips, Mr Lindsay Purslow, Mrs Jayne Rathbone Jupp, Mrs Nadia Rathbone, Pamela Rawlins, Mrs Edna Richardson, Mr Andrew Rivaz, Mrs Fiona Robins, Mrs Naomi Russell LVO, Mrs Clare Sarfaty, Miss Abigail (EC) Sharma, Mrs Anvita Shepherd, Mrs Jennifer Sherry Archer, Mrs Mary Smallwood, Mrs Kathrin Spendlove, Mrs Victoria (EC) Spendlove, Mr Harry Spendlove, Mr Thomas Squire, Mrs Nicola Stewart, Mrs Sharon (EC, T) Stewart, Mrs Kate Tham, Mrs Jane Thomas, Mrs Sylvie* Thompson, Mrs Linda (EC, T) Tierney MVO, Miss Roisin (T) Trinder, Mrs Kate Vandenwijngaerden, Mrs Su von Pistohlkors, Amelie Wallace, Mrs Susan (T) Wallace, Mr Philip Watson, Ms Sherry (EC) Webster, Mrs Maureen Whitbread, Mrs Helen (T) Wilkinson, Mrs Caroline Williams, Mrs Gabrielle Williams, Mrs Gwyneth Windham, Mr Will Woodford, Mrs Matilda Wright, Mrs Fiona
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THANK YOU LETTERS
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR, ST. PETER’S HOME, SOUTH LONDON
‘Together with some of the Sisters we opened all the bags and with amazement and joy we admired the hand-crafted goods so well made. We can only imagine the love and devotion that went into knitting the lovely, cosy cardigans and jumpers; the quilts are really colourful and so useful; together with all the towels, underwear and nightwear to mention just a selection. Everything you gifted us with will make so many of our residents happy.’
HIGHLAND HOSPICE, INVERNESS
‘We have been receiving sheets and towels for over 20 years now and we are hugely grateful for this support. Our unit is small, just 12 beds, but with the relatively short length of stay for the majority of our patients and the need to boil wash everything for infection control we can get through a lot of sheets and towels. Having these provided by the Guild is tremendous as we are able to choose good quality items and have them delivered in bulk, ensuring we always have a supply for each new patient.’
PRAM DEPOT, NORTH LONDON
‘Members of the Queen Mother’s Clothing Guild provide beautiful hand-knitted items such as baby blankets and socks for our Emergency Baby Boxes. These Baby Boxes are sent out to vulnerable pregnant women to ensure they have everything they need for their new baby. Receiving handmade items especially for them can really mean a lot to the women we support, who are experiencing a very challenging time and often have no family or friends nearby to support them. It makes our boxes even more special!’
SPITALFIELDS CRYPT TRUST, EAST LONDON
‘Thank you so much for your wonderful and faithful support! Your gifts provide such encouragement and practical comfort to those we accompany on the challenging journey from the street and addiction to healthy, independent and fulfilling lives. Here are a couple of the many messages our residents wanted us to pass on to you ‘Thank you! This is hopefully the start of a lovely Christmas’ and ‘This is awesome. I’m so grateful’.
ALABARE, CHRISTIAN CARE & SUPPORT, SALISBURY
‘Thank you so much for the donation of warm clothing, from The Queen Mothers Clothing Guild, for those that use our Salisbury Street Project. It really is appreciated and will make a huge difference to the lives of those we support this winter. Thank you for being there and making a difference.’
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QM CG QUEEN MOTHER'S CLOTHING GUILD FOUNDED 1882