Wednesday 22 April saw 10 of us arrive at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, on a lovely spring morning, having overcome the tube strike. Two other members were delayed but were able to join us at our second stop, Guy’s Hospital.  
 
You may recall that the walk was characterised by the “4 Fs”: fun, fellowship, fundraising, and fitness.  

I am delighted to report that all four were achieved. We walked just under 10 miles, and so far the walks have raised close to our £3000 target, which is fantastic. There was also plenty of fun and good fellowship throughout the day. As the saying goes, “what happens on tour stays on tour” and the same perhaps applies to the walk, as we heard some wonderful stories of life at each of the six medical schools, many of them told with great enthusiasm.  

By chance, we had at least one participant who had studied at each of the six sites visited on this first walk, which meant we benefited from a rich collection of personal experiences from across the schools.  
 
At Guy’s, we paused for a short coffee break in the recently restored students’ bar – very different from my own days. We also gathered briefly around the statue of Sir Thomas Guy and visited the chapel. On the walk from King’s, we came across some unexpected finds, including the Surrey Dispensary and two former medical missions.  
 
The walk from Guy’s to St Thomas’ took us along the South Bank, accompanied by stories of many of the pubs we had frequented as students. At St Thomas’, John Moore-Gillon and Julia Neild shared their experiences of life at the hospital, and we visited the chapel and managed a quick look at the Governor’s Hall. We had hoped to visit properly, but a nursing exam was overrunning. We did, however, note that there was in excess of 700 years of combined medical wisdom within our group. One suitably impressed nurse was heard to remark, “it’s like having a museum in front of you”.  
 
Following a short lunch break, we walked past the former site of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, crossed Lambeth Bridge, and continued to the site of the old Westminster Hospital Medical School. There, we paused for further reminiscences and to view the plague and medical emblems still visible on the walls. We then passed the Westminster Coroner’s Court, walked by Buckingham Palace, and continued into Hyde Park. 

By this point, many of the group were coughing and sneezing, with streaming eyes. We later learned that London had recorded its highest-ever pollen count that day, largely due to tree pollen, and a strong wind had not helped matters.  
 
Fortunately, we had a welcome tea stop booked in the Garden Room at the Lanesborough Hotel, located on the former site of St George’s A&E department.  
 
The Junior Warden, who had been managing a knee injury, rejoined us at this stage, while Helen had walked the entire distance from King’s. John was also able to join us for the final leg to Charing Cross, and his knee held up well.  

I think everybody agreed that it had been a great day, and several are booked onto part two (day two) on Saturday 16 May. On this second walk, we will walk from St Mary’s, Paddington, to the Fitzrovia Chapel (Middlesex Hospital), then on to UCH, Brunswick Square and the School of Pharmacy, past the site of the old Royal Free Hospital on Gray’s Inn Road, and finally to the Church of St Bartholomew the Great and, we hope, the Great Hall at Barts, before finishing at the Royal London Hospital.  
 
Please consider sponsoring this event by making a donation via JustGiving no donation is too small to make, all contributions are welcomed: https://www.justgiving.com/page/masters-fund-walk (please remember to leave your name so we can keep track of donations generated). 
 
David Jefferys  
Master Apothecary