HITCHIN ON WEDNESDAY, 1st OCTOBER AT 8PM 1958

The meeting of about 80, including 15, sclerotics was welcomed by the Vicar, the Rev G.N.Outram Walsh, who said the Church, was "much concerned with this work of compassion and sympathy, to which the Branch was going to devote its energy.

The chairman of the meeting. Councillor : W.A.Hill,. who was deputising for Cllr David Russell, Chairman of Hitchin U.D.C. ill in hospital read the apologies received from Martin Maddan M.P. Peter Benenson,. Prospective Candidate for Hitchin. Labour Party, Mr D.Russell, Lady Ashley Cooper,. Mrs J.W.Woodroffe, The Hon. Mrs. B Serocold, Mrs.E.Webb, Mr.J.W.D.McConnell, Sister Bailey, Mrs R.Brown, Mrs R.C. Boyle, Miss W. Pascoe. In his opening remarks, he introduced

Mr. Richard Cave, the Founder Chairman of the Society, and Dr. I.C.K. Mackenzie, who accompanied him on the platform. He told his audience that a letter had been received from, the Hon. David Bowes-Lyon, which stated he would "gladly become Patron of the Branch...and hopes it will be a very successful one.

.Mr. Cave then addressed the meeting and said it was imperative that the Society worked hand-in-glove with the Medical Profession. For that reason they had an advisory panel comprising some of the county’s most eminent & active Neurologists to help them. The society was run with 2 objectives. Firstly to help research into the disease, and secondly to provide welfare for the sufferers. On the welfare side he said the Society had found there were many suffers who were not receiving any form of Welfare from other organisations who help the paralysed. "We work in conjunction with other bodies, but must never tread on anyone’s toes," he said. Welfare work could consist of many things, including car-rides, social gatherings, coach outings, and even theatre trips. THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS BEING Neglected BY OTHER ORGANISATION'S. TRY ONLY TO FILL THE GAP. So far as Research is concerned, the society although only 5 years old, is already supporting a Research Project at Newcastle University, and more recently has set up 2 Fellowships; the Lyons Fellowship at Leeds University and another at Guys. Already £18,000 has been committed to research. Our doctors, in the U.K. are a very long way ahead, - by as much as 10 years more than other doctors in other countries " he added.

Dr. Ian C.K.Mackenzie, Clinical Neurologist; at Guy’s and consultant Neurologist to the Lister Hospital, said that as yet there was no known cure for M. S, but there was great hope for the present sufferers of the disease. "Not only can successful treatment prevent further progress of the disease, but it, seems likely that there is hope of recovery to a certain extent." It was even known for patients who have had M.S. for many years to suddenly have a period of remission. He was most willing to undertake the position of Medical Adviser to the Branch, but stressed that although, he would see any patient so desiring it was most important that their own doctor made the approach through the usual channels. He stressed the importance of patients keeping going as much as possible, and not taking to their beds.

After thanking both the speakers who had given hope to M. S." sufferers, Mr. W.A.Hill proposed that "A Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society to be known as the HITCHIN & DISTRICT BRANCH be formed forthwith, whose object shall be to keep in touch with and assist all sclerotics with as wide an area as there are helpers, raise money for this purpose, and provide suitable entertainment and welfare and to hand the balance to the Society for Reseach and other welfare projects, always bearing in mind ,that it, the Branch must take very care not to usurp the special functions and services of the authorities and charitable societies dealing with the manifold and general problems of the disabled"

This proposal was seconded by Mrs W.T.F.Birrell and carried unanimously