Toasting 175 years of medical excellence
Lord Walton, former Dean of Medicine and Professor of Neurology, hosted a celebratory drinks reception attended by 211 alumni and parents of final year medical students at the House of Lords on 11th March 2010.
The Chancellor, Sir Liam Donaldson, also spoke about his fondness for the North East and how public health has emerged once more to be as important now in the North East as it is was back in 1834 when the College of Medicine and Surgery first opened its doors to students.
Professor Chris Day, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Medical Sciences, talked passionately about the vision for the future and how alumni could help by supporting medical students looking to gain additional experience of medical research through intercalation. The 1834 Fund has been set up to raise philanthropic funds and has been well received by alumni and friends of the Medical School and continues to raise funds to ensure scholarships are available for intercalating medical undergraduates for the next academic year.
Professor Day presented Lord Walton with a photograph uncovered in the archives of the Faculty of Medical Sciences from the early 1940’s showing him as Honorary Secretary of the Medical Students Representative Council. Lord Walton commented: “I am greatly humbled by the overwhelming response we have received from alumni and parents of students for this event. There is great support for the world leading work that is conducted in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, a place I am deeply proud to have played a part in and somewhere I have great affection for”. Lord Walton was joined on the evening by his sister Dr Mary Rowe and brother Dr Ernest Walton, who are also medical alumni who trained in Newcastle.
Images from the event can be viewed on the House of Lords Reception Flickr page.
Published: 15th March 2010
