To view our 25th Anniversary brochure please click here.

Highlights of the first twenty two years

1978 Parents of children being treated for Crohn’s Disease at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London met to launch a charity to raise funds to take over a Research Fellowship, held by Dr Colin Campbell, which was to be discontinued due to lack of funds. Application for registration was made to the Charities Commission. Fund raising groups were set up in Epsom and Harrow.

1979 Publicity in local and national newspapers and articles in popular magazines brought in enquiries and new members. A commitment was made to fund a three year CICRA Research Fellowship under the direction of Professor Walker-Smith at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Dr Sonny Chong became the first full three year CICRA Fellow.

1980 Sir Anthony Dawson was invited to set up a Medical Advisory Panel to keep CICRA abreast of research developments and ensure wise application of funds. A grant was awarded to Mr. Alan Phillips at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, Hackney for electron microscopical investigation into Crohn’s Disease. First annual meeting held for members at the Robin Brook Centre, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.

1981 Network of branches enlarged to include Reading, Tonbridge, and Chatham. First newsletter published.

1982 When space became available CICRA set up the first Paediatric Gastroenterology Laboratory in the UK at St. Bartholomew’s Centre for Clinical Research. A commitment was made to provide equipment, staff salaries and day to day running costs. Mrs Rosa Freedman MBE, Mayor of Barnet, chose CICRA as her Charity of the Year and raised a substantial amount to help fund this.

H.R.H. Princess Alexandra and The Hon. Angus Ogilvy attended a CICRA Royal Gala Performance held at the Hexagon, Reading.

1983 Groups started in Leicester, Harlow and Cornwall. CICRA was the main beneficiary from the Henley Midnight Matinee showing the film "Table for Five" during a pre-release period and four days after the Royal Film Performance.

1984 Grant given for study of growth and development in children with Crohn’s Disease. Groups started in Northants and Tewkesbury. On a sponsorship event Alan Cresswell of Tewkesbury snipped his way into the Guinness Book of Records by completing 100 haircuts in 2hr 55 mins.

1985 CICRA went nationwide thanks to the British Paediatric Gastroenterology Group who helped CICRA distribute promotional leaflets to their members. With increased funds for research it was decided to enlarge the Medical Advisory Panel by inviting ten eminent consultants and scientists from all parts of the country to review all financial applications and make recommendation to the CICRA Trustees.

John Walker-Smith became the first Professor of Paediatric Gastroenterology in the UK. Professor Thomas MacDonald returned from America and with funding from CICRA took over responsibility for the Paediatric Gastroenterology Laboratory.

John Timpson the well known broadcaster made a very successful appeal on behalf of CICRA on BBC Radio 4’s "The Weeks Good Cause."

The charity moved into its first office at Shepherds Bush. Retiring Chairman Julie Smith presented CICRA with its first computer . The first CICRA ‘glossy’ newsletter was produced. New Groups set up in Cleveland and Germany.

1986 CICRA commenced a ten year funding of an epidemiological study by Professor Anne Ferguson. into Scottish children with Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. These unique statistics, have been used world wide as a basis for better understanding, management , treatment and research for children with Crohn and Colitis. Groups were started in Derby and Alfreton. The first CICRA Christmas Draw was held.

Professor MacDonald was awarded a prestigious Wellcome Foundation Senior Lectureship to continue his studies into inflammatory bowel disease thus freeing up CICRA’s salary commitment. New research was funded at Hammersmith Hospital.

1987 With help from the Managing Director of Sams (UK) Ltd a move was made to a small but much better located office at Parkgate House, Motspur Park. All furniture and fittings were donated.

Jo Viney was appointed to the first CICRA Ph.D. Studentship under the direction of Professor MacDonald in the Bart’s based Paediatric Gastroenterology Laboratory.

1988 For the first time members attending the CICRA Annual General Meeting, held at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, were invited to visit the Paediatric Gastroenterology Laboratory . Posters were displayed and the staff were on hand to show members around and discuss their work.

1989 Results from several studies showed a dramatic increase in cases of Crohn’s Disease in children and the need for these children to be seen by a Paediatrian specialising in Gastroenterology. CICRA sent a letter of support to the British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition to the effect that ,"CICRA believes that it is the right of all children with inflammatory bowel disease to be treated in a recognised Department of Paediatrics".

Due to the high incidence of new cases of childhood inflammatory bowel disease recorded in the North West of England a new CICRA Research Training Fellowship was awarded to Dr Victor Miller at the Paediatric Gastroenterology Unit, Booth Hall Children’s Hospital, Manchester.

1990 Two young CICRA members were awarded bravery medals for their fight against Crohn’s Disease. James Gregory, a Middlesex scout, was awarded a prestigious John Cornwall Badge from the Duke of Kent at Windsor Castle. This is one of the highest scouting awards. Daniel Morelle was presented with a McDonald’s Restaurant "Child of Achievement Award" from Margaret Thatcher and Ken Dodd at the Guildhall London.

Under the umbrella of the British Digestive Foundation, CICRA and other charities involved with research into gastrointestinal problems formed the Association of Gastroenterological Research Charities. Group started in West Sussex.

1991 A Gala Concert held at the Royal Festival Hall succeeded in raising the profile of CICRA and its work. Better awareness and more members allowed more research projects to be funded in Leicester, Edinburgh, London and Leeds.

1992 Almost ten years from its opening and with an ever increasing research programme, the Paediatric Gastroenterology Laboratory at Barts moved to a much larger laboratory.

Valerie Singleton, the well known broadcaster, made a very successful appeal on behalf of CICRA on the 5 minute ITV Sunday evening slot.

1993 CICRA reached a milestone in its funding when total contribution to research

passed the £1 million mark. Steve Redgrave the Olympic triple gold medalist attended the AGM and talked to members about how he coped with having Ulcerative Colitis.

Association honoured as Margaret Lee, a founder member of CICRA, is made an MBE

1994 Sir Anthony Dawson retired as Chairman of the Medical Advisory Panel and was succeeded by Professor D P Davies. The Worcestershire & North Cotswold Branch of CICRA was founded.

1995 Professor Walker-Smith moved from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital to the Royal Free Hospital at Hampstead as head of a new university department. The then current CICRA Research Fellow and other members of the team joined him. With much publicity about a possible link with i.b.d. and measles CICRA members took part in a survey of over 3,500 people. No positive link was found.

1996 Two CICRA Trustees attended a meeting at the Royal Free Hospital to discuss the setting up of the first national register of children with inflammatory bowel disease.

The office staff made a move when a suite of offices became available in Parkgate House and were offered to CICRA at the same rent.

The annual Auction held by the North Worcestershire & Cotswold Branch became ‘World Famous’ when donations were received from America, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan as well as donations from several members of the Royal Family.

1997 CICRA was awarded a grant by the Lottery Charities Board to finance a one-year project to extend the number of local groups and to purchase badly needed computers and copiers New groups founded in Cardiff, Aberdeen, Worcester Park and York.

1998 CICRA updated its medical research Peer Review Procedures in accordance with new guidelines from the Association of Medical Research Charities and a slimmed down Medical Advisory Panel was formed under the Chairmanship of Professor John Dodge. This panel will make the final recommendations for funding after the applications have been independently reviewed. Ian Sanderson, a past CICRA Fellow, returned to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital to take up the position of Professor of Paediatric Gastroenterology.

Hugh Scully, the experienced broadcaster and compere for the long running Antiques Road Show, made a very successful appeal on behalf of CICRA on BBC Radio 4’s "The Weeks Good Cause"

1999 A new corporate identity for CICRA is designed and donated by Nucleus a large UK design firm. As part of the charity relaunch new literature, other information and publicity material underwritten by corporate sponsors, Yoplait Dairy Crest are unveiled at a reception in London.

Professor John Walker-Smith is made Life President of CICRA

Note The CICRA Research Training Fellowships have continued since 1979 and helped to ensure a specialist service for children with inflammatory bowel disease in various parts of the country. Following their three year training all have been appointed to positions as either Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist or Consultant Paediatrician with a special interest in inflammatory bowel disease.