About Us
The Thalidomide Society
The Thalidomide Society was formed in 1962, by parents of children with impairments caused by thalidomide.
Today, The Thalidomide Society is run by a Board of Trustees, who are voted in by fellow Thalidomide’s.
The main focus of The Thalidomide Society is the social aspect of support across the UK and worldwide. This is achieved by arranging a yearly conference, having a social media presence, newsletters and being as supportive as possible of each other. In recent years the Society members have recognised the need to record their stories and with funding provided by the Heritage Lottery and funding directly from the Society. Three projects have been co-ordinated with the final project being complete by 2026.
The Society has through the years recognised and celebrated main events in the Thalidomide Calender with many members coming together.
Our Objectives
The Society strives to provide insight and information to anyone seeking to understand the history of thalidomide, contributes to ongoing research and archival material on the drug and supports projects which aim to ensure the impact of thalidomide is never forgotten.
History
The Thalidomide Society was formed in 1962, and incorporated in 1963, by parents of children with impairments caused by thalidomide, which had been dispensed under the name of Distaval in the UK.
The Thalidomide Society began primarily as a support group for the children, their families and carers as there was little or no help from the UK government and health authorities. Their cause was taken up by Lady Hoare, wife of the then Lord Mayor of London, and a charitable trust to support the thalidomide-affected children and other children born with similar dysmelic conditions was established. At that time The Thalidomide Society coordinated its fundraising activities with The Lady Hoare appeal which, in turn, financed a network of family support workers.
How we Operate
The Thalidomide Society today has a Board of Trustees which has nine members. The current Chair of the Board is Mandy De La Mare and the Vice Chair is Darren Mansell. The Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Thalidomide Society takes place each spring and provides an opportunity for members and their families to meet, discuss issues and share news and memories. Our recent guest speakers at the conference have included Stephen McGann and Heidi Thomas from the Call the Midwife TV production team; Rick Clement, a former Sergeant of The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment who lost limbs and suffered other injuries in Afghanistan; Jacqui Morris, a director of the film Attacking the Devil which documented the work of Harold Evans during the height of the thalidomide scandal.
Activities
The Thalidomide Society’s current activities include running an annual event, oral history interviewing, research and archiving as well as providing our usual support network. To fund its activities, the Thalidomide Society depends mainly upon investment income, individual donations, legacies, corporate donations and funds from government or other bodies. If you would like to help us in this way please follow the link to Just Giving on the Home page or contact the Secretary of the Thalidomide Society for more information.
Our Former Patron
– Sir Harold Evans
“The dark shadow of thalidomide is still with us. The original catastrophe maimed 20,000 babies and killed 80,000: war apart, it remains the greatest manmade global disaster. I am honoured to be a patron of the historic Thalidomide Society.”
Sir Harold Evans, Editor of the Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981