-The Surrey Deposit Friendly Society was founded in 1868 by The Reverend Canon George Raymond Portal, who set up a scheme to support the health and welfare of families. The name was changed to National Deposit Friendly Society in 1871.
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+The Society was founded in 1868 by the Rev. George Raymond Portal to provide sickness cover for the poor. Portal was born in 1827 and educated at Rugby School where he was friendly with [[Thomas Hughes]] (Tom Brown's Schooldays) and [[Charles L Dodgson]] (Lewis Carroll). After ordination, Portal worked in London where his exposure to the appalling level of poverty was the impetus for the establishment of the friendly society. In 1858 Portal was appointed Rector of Albury, near [[Guildford]]; ten years later he started the Surrey County Deposit Benefit Club.<ref name=Roper>Roper and Harrison, ''The First Hundred Years 1868-1968'',</ref>