On a delightfully warm and sunny July evening, the RCP welcomed guests to our Summer Garden Reception; an uplifting celebration of connection, heritage and the power of philanthropy to drive progress in healthcare.
Held in the tranquil medicinal plant garden at the RCP at Regent’s Park, London, the event brought together supporters, senior college officers, staff and new friends to learn more about the RCP’s mission and the remarkable work that philanthropy makes possible.
Guests enjoyed short tours of our garden and heritage collection, guided by our expert curators Elizabeth Douglas and Pamela Forde, and our garden fellows Professor John Newton and Dr Henry Oakeley.
They heard from RCP president Professor Mumtaz Patel, who spoke about the RCP’s impact in education, care quality, advocacy and global health. Her remarks highlighted how philanthropic support enables us to go beyond core activity; to innovate, lead and improve outcomes for patients in the UK and internationally.
We were delighted to be joined by some of the generous individuals and families who make this work possible. These include the Drabu family, whose support enabled our Jeelani Drabu Palliative Care Programme in Kashmir in 2019 – which is now entering its second iteration in partnership with Aga Khan University. We also acknowledged Professor Harold Thimbleby, who funds a digital health innovation award, and Charles Perrin who established the Sir Michael Perrin Lecture in 1988 in honour of his father – most recently held during our Medicine 2025 conference in June.
From research fellowships, the Excellence in Patient Care Awards (EPCA,) the Global Women Leaders initiative to support for the East, Central and Southern Africa College of Physicians (ECSACOP), philanthropy continues to shape the work of the RCP in vital ways. ECSACOP itself was co-founded with the vision and leadership of Professor Keith McAdam, whose contributions continue to make a lasting global impact.
Our heritage is similarly enriched by supporters like Professor Victor Hoffbrand, whose stunning collection of apothecary jars is currently on display just outside our Treasures Room. It was a privilege to be joined by Lady Estelle Wolfson whose significant and sustained philanthropic support over many years has made a profound difference across many areas of the RCP’s work.
We were also pleased to welcome many of our generous supporters who have contributed by naming a Linacre brick, either after themselves or in recognition of a loved one. Linacre bricks form the Linacre Wall, located just inside the entrance to the RCP building at Regent’s Park, London, and are a visible and lasting way to support our work. If this is something you would be interested in, our philanthropy team would be delighted to tell you more.
Events like this serve as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve together. For many guests, it was their first encounter with the RCP as a charity and a welcome opportunity to see how charitable giving supports our vision of better health and healthcare for all.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for such a memorable evening.
If you would like to learn more about how your support can make a difference – whether through a gift, legacy or partnership – please do not hesitate to get in touch with Sally Williams, head of philanthropy, at sally.williams@rcp.ac.uk. We would be delighted to discuss further.
