Charity After Empire: British humanitarianism, decolonisation and development

By Matthew Hilton

by Anthony Wilson 22nd May 2026

Friends might be surprised to realise the contribution they made to Britain’s changing post-world war two role, from victor in 1945 to post-imperial aid-providing metropolis. This was not an easy metamorphosis, and our national mindset still carries colonialist attitudes, but Britain was to emerge as a standard bearer of humanitarian aid. This was characterised by input from voluntary agencies, in which Friends played a full part. All this emerges in this new book, in which individual Friends in key roles are mentioned – though not always identified as Friends – as well as Quaker input to charities locally.