Sir Felix Semon (1849-1921) was born in Danzig, the eldest son of a German stockbroker. His medical studies at Heidelberg University were interrupted by the Franco-German war when he served as a volunteer. He graduated in Berlin in 1873, settled in London a year later and joined the Hospital for Diseases of the Throat, Golden Square in 1877. He was appointed Physician to the Throat Department at St Thomas’ Hospital in 1882 and in 1888 he became ENT Surgeon at the National Hospital. Queen Square He made notable scientific contributions that include his pioneering research on laryngeal paralysis (Semon’s law) and laryngofissure for carcinoma of the larynx. He was the founder of the Laryngological Society of London and was elected its first President. So respected was Semon by his peers that hle was made a Fellow or the Royal College of Physicians in
1885 and when he withdrew from active practice, the Semon lectures were established to perpetuate his name in 1913 followed by the Semon Club meetings in 1958.

The Semon Club was started at the Royal National Throat Nose and Ear Hospital in 1958 to allow Otolaryngology Consultants and Registrars the opportunity to present and discuss unusual cases with their colleagues.

It has been hosted by Guy’s Hospital for nearly two decades, having been run by the current chairman, Miss Elfy Chevretton since 1996. The meetings are run twice a year and are CME approved by ENT UK. The editors of the Journal of Laryngology and Otology have kindly agreed to publish the proceedings in abstract form. All colleagues are warmly welcomed