History

The College of Speech Therapists (CST) arose from the amalgamation of two earlier bodies, the Association of Speech Therapists and British Society of Speech Therapists Society, in 1944.

The aim of this new body was to, "Promote the study of speech therapy in this country, to seek improvement and maintain a high standard of knowledge, and to unite all members of the profession."

In 1945, CST fellows and licentiates were granted application to the Register of Medical Auxiliaries. By 1955 the College had withdrawn from the register and published its own members directory.

King George VI, who received speech and language therapy for his stammer, became the College's first Royal Patron in 1948. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother continued this support after his death in 1952 by becoming the college's patron in 1959.

In 1990 speech therapists voted on a change of name, to become speech and language therapists.

The college received the right call to itself the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in 1995.

HRH The Countess of Wessex became the current RCSLT patron in 2003 after the death of the Queen Mother in 2002.