Bernard Oppenheimer

Sir Bernard Oppenheimer, 1st Baronet (13 February 1866 – 13 June 1921) was a South African-British diamond merchant and philanthropist.

In July 1917, Oppenheimer established a scheme for training disabled soldiers in diamond cutting at Brighton, England.

By 1921 the works, including a second building on the opposite side of Coombe Road, employed about 2,000 men who were referred to it by the Ministry of Labour.

New men received six months training, during which they were paid a maintenance allowance by the government, and were then virtually guaranteed employment at a good wage.

The factory had a well-equipped clinic to provide ongoing care for the employees, many of whom were amputees or otherwise severely disabled.