London Society of Thoracic Surgeons
TitleLondon Society of Thoracic Surgeons
ReferenceMS0148
Level of descriptionfonds
Date1952-1992
Admin./ biographical historyThe London Society of Thoracic Surgeons, known as Charlie's Club, held its first meeting on May 2nd 1952. The Club was formed for thoracic sugeons to meet annually and report to each other on their mistakes in order to learn from them. The first "Charlie" or mistake was made by Mr. J.R Belcher, three years before the first meeting of Charlie's Club. Belcher inadvertently divided the left main bronchus during a lobectomy, and subsequently published a report if this mistake and the actions required to resuture the bronchus.
The original constitution laid down that there should be 15 members of the Club, although this was later extended to 18. The Club met once a year with one member acting as Chairman each year. The original aim was that each member would bring his 2 worst mistakes of the previous year to present at the meeting. Projects for each year were set, and the members would collect statistics on a particular theme, which would then be presented at the meeting, and the results possibly published. The Chairman would usually write the paper for his year in the chair.
In 1980, following a fall in attendance, the Club decided that it had reached an end. The last scientific meeting of Charlie's Club took place at St Bartholomew's Hospital on the 1st May 1981. It was decided however that the Charlie's Club Annual Dinner should be continued as a social event for the members. Also at this meeting the Club decided to retain their volume of minutes of meetings, and not yet donate them to a relevant Library.
The annual dinners continued for 12 years, the last dinner being held at the Army and Navy Club on May 7th 1992, the 40th anniversary of the Club.
The original constitution laid down that there should be 15 members of the Club, although this was later extended to 18. The Club met once a year with one member acting as Chairman each year. The original aim was that each member would bring his 2 worst mistakes of the previous year to present at the meeting. Projects for each year were set, and the members would collect statistics on a particular theme, which would then be presented at the meeting, and the results possibly published. The Chairman would usually write the paper for his year in the chair.
In 1980, following a fall in attendance, the Club decided that it had reached an end. The last scientific meeting of Charlie's Club took place at St Bartholomew's Hospital on the 1st May 1981. It was decided however that the Charlie's Club Annual Dinner should be continued as a social event for the members. Also at this meeting the Club decided to retain their volume of minutes of meetings, and not yet donate them to a relevant Library.
The annual dinners continued for 12 years, the last dinner being held at the Army and Navy Club on May 7th 1992, the 40th anniversary of the Club.
Scope and ContentThe volume contains the minutes of The London Society of Thoracic Surgeons, known as Charlie's Club from 1952 to 1981. The minutes are typed sheets pasted into the volume. The first meeting of the Club was held at the London Chest Hospital on May 2nd 1952, and the minutes for this meeting contain the original resolutions of the Club.
At the front of the volume is a photocopy from the British Journal of Surgery, volume 38, 1950, containing the first acknowledged "Charlie", a published record of a mistake made by the surgeon Mr John Rashleigh Belcher (FRCS) during a lobectomy operation.
After the minutes of each meeting, the menu for the annual dinner including signatures of those in attendance, possibly accompanied by photographs of the members of the club, are also pasted into the volume. As the membership remained virtually static over the course of the life of the Club, the photographs show the members at various stages of ther career.
The last minutes in the volume are from the final Scientific meeting of Charlie's Club, at St Bartholomew's Hospital on the 1st May 1981. At the back of the volume there is a short history of Charlie's Club written by Mr John Rashleigh Belcher, together with two reprints of papers published using statistics collected by the club.
Together with the volume of minutes, is a note from Mr John Rashleigh Belcher concerning the last meeting of Charlie's Club in 1992, with a menu from the dinner and a photograph of members in attendance. Attached to this is a letter in acknowledgement from Sir Terence English, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, stating that the note will be added to the volume of minutes.
At the front of the volume is a photocopy from the British Journal of Surgery, volume 38, 1950, containing the first acknowledged "Charlie", a published record of a mistake made by the surgeon Mr John Rashleigh Belcher (FRCS) during a lobectomy operation.
After the minutes of each meeting, the menu for the annual dinner including signatures of those in attendance, possibly accompanied by photographs of the members of the club, are also pasted into the volume. As the membership remained virtually static over the course of the life of the Club, the photographs show the members at various stages of ther career.
The last minutes in the volume are from the final Scientific meeting of Charlie's Club, at St Bartholomew's Hospital on the 1st May 1981. At the back of the volume there is a short history of Charlie's Club written by Mr John Rashleigh Belcher, together with two reprints of papers published using statistics collected by the club.
Together with the volume of minutes, is a note from Mr John Rashleigh Belcher concerning the last meeting of Charlie's Club in 1992, with a menu from the dinner and a photograph of members in attendance. Attached to this is a letter in acknowledgement from Sir Terence English, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, stating that the note will be added to the volume of minutes.
Extent1 volume
LanguageEnglish
Conditions governing accessBy appointment only. See College website for contact details of the Archives.
Conditions governing reproductionNo photocopying permitted
Related objectsMS0063
Minutes, 1959-1989. A travelling surgical club where members informally discussed mistakes and errors of jusgement made in cardiothoracic surgery.
Minutes, 1959-1989. A travelling surgical club where members informally discussed mistakes and errors of jusgement made in cardiothoracic surgery.
NotesCorporate
Persons keyword 1952-1992 London Society of Thoracic Surgeons, social group, John Rashleigh Belcher, 1917-, thoracic surgeon, Sir Terence Alexander Hawthorne English, 1932-, cardiothoracic surgeon
SubjectSurgery
