For the second Royal Lecture of this academic year, The Royal School was delighted to welcome Dr Keith Thomson, who spoke with great kindness and humility about the humanitarian work of the Mercy Ships, which offer free life changing surgery to some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world. 82,000 operations have taken place on board the Mercy Ships since 1978 and over 594 ports have been visited. All the doctors and medical personnel are volunteers, working to improve the lives and opportunities for those in the developing world who would otherwise not have access to surgery or medical care of this kind. It was a very thought-provoking presentation.

Using video and slides, Dr Thomson told his personal story of his involvement with this remarkable organisation. He charted the history of the Mercy Ships from its inception in 1978, when the Anastasis became the first Mercy Ship, and was converted into a mobile hospital, housing three state-of-the-art operating theatres, a 40-bed hospital ward, a dental clinic, a laboratory, an X-ray unit, and three cargo holds, to the present day, when a new and biggest yet Mercy Ship, the Global Mercy, is under construction.

He told of his experiences aboard the Africa Mercy and shared with pupils, parents and staff the incredible stories of some of those whose lives had been changed by the removal of disfiguring tumours, by the provision of cataract surgery or by the mending of cleft palates. Mrs Anne Lynch, Principal, said, “It was heart-warming to hear of how many of those who had received this help then went on to fulfil their educational potential and give back to the organisation, themselves working as volunteers aboard the Mercy Ships.

Dr Keith encouraged our pupils to learn, earn and return – a message which they will certainly take to heart. We are very grateful to him for this truly inspiring presentation.”

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