Electronic Precinct - December 1998

A Century of Achievement for the School of Tropical Medicine

On 12 November 1898, Sir Alfred Lewis Jones, a Liverpool Shipowner, donated £350 to set up a School of Tropical Diseases; the forerunner of what is now the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine as it looked at the turn of the century.

The first of its kind in the world, between 1898 and 1913 the School dispatched no fewer than 32 expeditions to the tropics, including Sierra Leone, the Congo and the Amazon. The pioneering work of the School's scientists have, over the last 100 years, seen many successes and achievements. Notable among these was Sir Ronald Ross who became the first British winner of a Nobel prize for medicine when, in 1902, he was recognised for his discovery that the malaria parasite was carried by the mosquito. The School's scientists also developed the first drug to treat malaria and pioneered treatments for sleeping sickness and relapsing fever.

Today the School continues to stand at the forefront of discoveries in medicine. In view of this the Centenary not only celebrates past achievements but looks forward to future successes in medicine. Several events have been held to mark the occasion; in September the School hosted the 2nd European Congress in Tropical Medicine attracting over 1,000 delegates; a Tropical Ball was held in St. George's Hall and a Centenary Exhibition at the Liverpool Museum 'One World Achieving Health for All' depicting the work of the School ranging from Ronald Ross to the development of snake antivenoms, the work of the School with ex-Far Eastern Prisoners of War and the colourful variety of traditional medical practices in South America. The highlight of the Centenary came on Friday, 13 November when the School's Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal met with students and staff prior to attending the Leverhulme Lecture, delivered by Professor Roy Anderson, FRS, and part of a series established through the generosity of The Rt. Hon. Viscount Leverhulme.

HRH The Princess Royal meeting with Mr William Fulton, Chairman of the School and Professor David Molyneux, School's Director outside the School on November 13.

On the same day at a ceremony in Liverpool Town Hall, in recognition of its achievements, the School was awarded the 'Freedom of the City'. This was accepted on behalf of the School by The Princess Royal, who was afterwards guest of honour at the Centenary Dinner, held in the ballroom at the Town Hall and attended by 272 guests.

Following the dinner the President, Sir Michael Perry, presented The Princess Royal with an honorary Mary Kingsley Medal, the School's most prestigious award given for outstanding contributions in the field of tropical medicine.

To commemorate 100 years, there are now two books available. An academic history- 'Tropical Medicine in the Twentieth Century: A History of the Liverpool School, 1898-1990' by Dr. Helen J Power and published by Kegan Paul International at £45, and a pictorial history- 'Malaria, Liverpool' by Patricia J Miller has been published by Bluecoat Press at £10.

Order forms and publications are available from the Fundraising Office at the School, tel: 0151 709 4386.

Centenary Exhibition at the Museum opening featuring a water pump. (l to r) Ian Wallace, Liverpool Museum; Rosemary Hawley, Vice- chairman of LSTM; Professor David Molyneux, Director Patricia J Miller, Author of the School's Book, Joan Fahy, Director's Secretary, Adrian Allen, University Archivist; Emeritus Professor M W Service; Michael Simpson,Creative Edge, PR Company

The scroll granting the Freedom of the City to the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine was prepared by David Chester, OBE, who is currently studying History and Archaeology in the School of Combined Honours at this University.

David was appointed Writer to the Queen's Remembrancer (the Senior Master of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court) in 1982 and has been responsible for drawing up the Warrants conveying the Queen's Approval of the Sheriffs of the City of London. It is his responsibility to research, to engross, illuminate and, in open Court, to explain the historic nature of the documents to the Sheriffs before they pay their Quit Rent to the Crown. Apart from the Coronation, this is the oldest piece of official ceremonial still extant.

He is further responsible for researching and similarly engrossing/illuminating the large piece of vellum to which each incoming Lord Mayor of London is required to subscribe his name in the presence of the Lord Chief Justice and other Judges together with the Queen's Remembrancer, his Clerk and his Writer. For 20 years he has also assisted the City of Liverpool in the preparation of the scrolls granting the Freedom of the City.