In Glasgow yesterday, Sophie, Countess of Wessex attended the conference and awards of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
Sophie is the patron of the RCSLT, and has been since 2003, when she inherited the patronage after the death of The Queen Mother in the previous year.
Amazing shot of HRH Countess of Wessex GCVO with the Adult Speech&Language Therapy team at Darent Valley Hospital and service users Reginald & Muriel Pusey! Congrats on the award! @RoyalFamily #RCSLT2017 pic.twitter.com/PSUOQmawXq
— RCSLT (@RCSLT) September 28, 2017
HRH the Countess of Wessex addresses #RCSLT2017 #RCSLTawards #proud & #privileged to be patron. pic.twitter.com/IzD0Yp2kHn
— Joanne Fillingham (@jkfillingham) 27 de septiembre de 2017
The conference was held at the city’s Scottish Event Campus; this year’s theme was ‘Speech and Language Therapy: Maximising Impact’. The two-day RCSLT event was designed to showcase new innovations in the speech and language industry, including advances in research.
In addition to the college’s conference, the Countess attended the RCSLT Honours Ceremony and Giving Voice Awards, held in Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza. The awards are designed to celebrate the achievements of those who work within speech and language therapy, as well as providing an opportunity for networking.
As patron, Sophie spoke at the Honours Ceremony, with a speech described by attendees as “thoughtful and warm”. The Countess acknowledged the challenges faced by speech and language therapists in today’s society, noting that they must become ‘even more agile’. Sophie also presented awards to the winners throughout the ceremony.
Countess of Wessex speaking at #RCSLTawards #RCSLT2017 pic.twitter.com/mOepH8ZMHQ
— Helen Hayes (@HelenHayesslt) 27 September 2017
George Cox, President of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, closed the awards ceremony and thanked The Countess of Wessex for all the support she has given to the college.
The RCSLT has a long standing royal connection; The Queen’s father, King George VI, became the first royal patron of the college in 1948. The King received speech and language therapy to deal with his stammer, and so the college was a cause very close to his heart. The patronage was then take over by his wife after his death in 1952.
The College was officially granted permission to become the ‘Royal’ College of Speech and Language Therapists in 1995.
