Incorporation, Royal Prefix and the Royal Charter

Abstract

The plans for the incorporation of the College and its ultimate transition to a Royal College incorporated by Royal Charter were laid by the Steering Committee at its fifth meeting held on September 17 1952. This followed a report by John Mayo, our College Solicitor, of Messrs Linklater and Paines on a visit by his senior partner, Sir Sam Brown, and himself to the (then) Board of Trade where they had discussed the formation of the College with Mr J. Cowen (Assistant Secretary of the Insurance and Companies Department) and a colleague, Mr I. de Keyser, who came from a medical family and advised him on medical matters. Sir Sam Brown had been introduced to John Hunt by a friend and patient of his, Henry Benson (later Lord Benson) of Cooper Brothers (accountants) to whom the College owes a considerable debt of gratitude.