Our History

• 1953
  Richard Cave Founder and Chairman of the MS Society hosts inaugural meeting at Chelsea Town Hall London
  
• 1954
  Association of Scottish Branches formed
  
• 1956
  First Branches formed in Wales & Northern Ireland
  
• 1957
  Students Rag Week funds new research project at the University of Newcastle
  
• 1958
  Society establishes Research Fellowship Scheme and commits £18,363 to MS Research
  
• 1959
  MS Society celebrates launch of 50th MS Branch

• 1960
  BBC hosts TV appeal for MS Society
  
• 1961
  Fellowships in M.S Research established
  
• 1962
  Welfare Services Spending reaches £63,000
  
• 1963
  The work of the MS Society is commended in the House of Commons.
  
• 1964
  100th MS Society branch established
  
• 1965
  Proposals for an International Federation of MS Society's agreed.
  
• 1966
  Richard Cave is honoured by the Pope, and created a Knight of St Gregory the Great in honour of his work done for people with MS.
  
• 1967
  Society membership tops 18,000
  
• 1968 Lady Limerick becomes the Society's President
  
• 1969
  HRH The Duchess of Gloucester accepts invitation to be the Society's first Royal Patron

• 1971
  Richard Cave Respite Care Home opened in Leuchie, North Berwick by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester
  
• 1973
  The MS Society's spending on research reaches £1,000,000.00
  
• 1975
  Lord MacDermott retires as Chairman of Northern Ireland Society after seventeen years
  
• 1976
  St James's Palace hosts Gala recital by soloist John Williams
  
• 1977
  Society invests in medical research to determine if 'pace-makers' can relieve symptoms of MS
  
• 1978
  Celebrity launch of the Jubilee Year Appeal at the Royal Festival Hall
  
• 1979
  Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire officially opens Helen Ley House

• 1981
  First meeting of an party group of British MP's to campaign for people with MS.
  
• 1982
  HRH The Prince of Wales attends a Gala performance by Yehudi Menhuin in support of the Bristol MS Branch
  
• 1983
  Society gives £1 million grant for the purchase of the MRI Scanner
  
• 1984
  HRH The Prince of Wales officially opens MRI Scanner Suite at National Hospital
  
• 1987
  The Foundation stones for the MS Society's purpose built short stay respite Centre Brambles are laid by Sir Richard Cave
  
• 1988
  The European MS Platform is Inaugurated
  
• 1989
  Sir Ranulph Fiennes attempts to walk unaided to the North Pole to raise money for the MS Society

• 1991
  Multiple Challenge sets sail in the British Yacht Race, and includes 17 people with MS
  
• 1992
  Sir Ranulph Fiennes becomes the first person to walk across Antarctica, once more raising money for the MS Society
  
• 1993
  Betaseron is licensed for relapse remitting MS in the United States
  
• 1994
  Multiple Challenge achieves success in Britain's toughest 2,000 mile yacht race
  
• 1996
  'EastEnders' celebrities help Carole Mackie to raise £10,00 at Stringfellows event
  
• 1997
  National 'Reaching Out' campaign is launched
  
• 1998
  Northern Ireland Society commences construction of new resource centre
  
• 1999
  MS Society launches MS Nurses Programme

• 2000
  Society hosts largest MS Lobby at Parliament - 'Ending the Lottery of Care'
  
• 2001
  International author JK Rowling becomes patron for MS Society in Scotland
  
• 2003
  MS Society launches 50th Anniversary ' Striking Back' campaign