Records of the RCOG Court of Patrons, 1981-1996

Records relating to the establishment and administration of the RCOG Court of Patrons, including correspondence of the College President and administrative staff regarding the establishment of the Court, meeting papers (1982-1988), and admission records of Victor Blank to the Court in 1996.

The Court of Patrons was inaugurated following the decision of Council on 30 November 1982, with HM Elizabeth the Queen Mother presiding as Patron of the College. Members of the Court were to be "composed of persons of distinction who have an interest in and concern for the College" (Council minutes, 28 November 1981). The Court was comprised of up to thirty members and the first members were admitted at a Fellows Admission Ceremony on 2 June 1982. Honorary officers were ex-officio members. Membership included seventeen lay members and eight medical members, comprising five former presidents and three former vice-presidents of the College. Members of the Court were appointed by Council. The Court was intended to recognise and honour those who had contributed to securing the fortunes and future of the College, financially or in another capacity.

It was initially intended the Court would meet annually followed by a dinner, but meetings however became infrequent and the Court only met a few times. A possible reason for this was that there was never a clear statement of the Court's aims and objectives. This led to its role and remit being discussed and investigated on a number of occasions between 1993-1996. As the Court had no specific place in the College constitution it was serviced variously by the President's Office and the College Secretary's Office.

As received

Permission from RCOG senior management via College Archivist is required for access to these records.

Copyright of the RCOG. Reproductions available from the College Archivist.

RCOG/A13/2 - Papers relating to badges - Files of the Deputy College Secretary relating to the Court of Patrons' brooch and admission to the Court of Patrons

RCOG/A7/6/8 - Papers relating to the Court of Patrons - A file of the Honorary Secretary, 1988-1989

RCOG/A4/25/51 - Court of Patrons: correspondence - A file of the College President on the Court of Patrons, 1988-1989

RCOG/PH5/12 - Visit of HM the Queen Mother and first meeting of Court of Patrons - Photographs of the inaugural meeting of the Court

RCOG/PH3/15 - Honorary Fellows and Court of Patrons admission ceremony - Photographs of admission ceremonies to the court (1982)

RCOG/PH3/11 - Fellows Ad Eundem and Court of Patrons admission ceremony - Photographs of admission ceremonies to the court (1984)

RCOG/PH3/18 - Court of Patrons - Photographs of admission ceremonies to the court (1987)

RCOG/PH3/24 - Court of Patrons meeting Lady Wolfson and Sir Malcolm Macnaughton with the President, G D Pinker, and seated with the Queen Mother - Photographs of admission ceremonies to the court (1988)