The Story of the Guinea Pig Club

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The Guinea Pig Club, founded in 1941 by patients of the famed plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe celebrates it’s 80th anniversary in 2021.

Sir Archibald McIndoe was based at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead, during the Second World War. He pioneered new techniques in plastic surgery to treat the burned airmen in his care. Alongside this, he and his team spent their time rebuilding the bodies of the airmen who had suffered horrific burns.

McIndoe not only rebuilt the airmen’s bodies but gave them hope and helped then heal mentally. The town of East Grinstead played its part by welcoming them and taking the recovering airmen to their hearts and became known as “The town that didn’t stare”.

The Guinea Pig Club continued to provide support for it’s members throughout their lives. Annual reunions were held within East Grinstead, which were well supported by the town.

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The event runs from 19:30 to 20:30 on the following dates.
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