One hundred and twenty former and current staff members, students, industry colleagues and clients have gathered at Leeds Beckett to help celebrate 75 years of Physiotherapy education.

The event, which was held in the Rose Bowl on City Campus, marked 75 years since physiotherapy education began in 1942. At that time the School of Physiotherapy was established on the Leeds General Infirmary site and from the outset had a reputation for achieving a high standard in national examinations and for producing physiotherapists with a high level of skill. Kate Grafton, Principal Lecturer in the School of Clinical and Applied Sciences, led the event. She said: “It was lovely to see so many former and current staff, students, colleagues and clients at the event. We held an afternoon tea and displayed photos and artefacts from throughout the 75 years.

“We had someone there from every decade including the longest qualified, a lady in her 80s who qualified in 1952.”

Attendees heard from the CEO of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Karen Middleton and Head of Physiotherapy at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Janice Martin, who both gave nostalgic presentations about Physiotherapy education over the years. Karen, said: I felt privileged to be part of such a celebration. If history is an indicator of the future, the Physiotherapy profession will do well and continue to make such a difference to people’s lives. I thought the whole event was a great reflection of Leeds Physiotherapy in the past, present and in the future.”

Janice, said: “It was wonderful to go down memory lane with friends and colleagues, and to reflect on the extent to which the physiotherapy profession is improving healthcare provision in a wide variety of settings.”

Kate Grafton added: “Vice Chancellor of Leeds Beckett University, Professor Peter Slee, also attended the event and gave a moving speech about how the profession has changed and how much Physiotherapy education means to the University.

“It was a lovely event looking at the past and building on the future.”

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