The Moynihan Chirurgical Club was the first of its kind to be founded in the British Isles.  In 1909,  the famous surgeon Lord Moynihan of Leeds wrote to a number of provincial surgeons:

“…it has been in my mind to suggest to a few of the provincial hospital surgeons the need for the formation of a small and informal “Society of Clinical Surgery”. The object of the Society would be to hold meetings, say, twice yearly of two days duration at one of the Hospitals as the guests of one or more of the Staff. Operations could be performed, demonstration on cases and specimens held, and general conversation and discussion follow.

Such meetings should ensure closer friendship amongst us and make for better work.”

The Moynihan Chirurgical Club had one main aim:

“The activities of the Club shall be directed towards the advancement of surgery by visiting centres of surgical activity at home and abroad and by a free and informal interchange of ideas on the work seen.”

Today, the Moynihan Club has many members from a variety of surgical specialties who enjoy the twice yearly meetings to develop their knowledge of their own and other areas of surgery.