The Association of Anaesthetists, in full the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI), is a professional association for anaesthetists in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was founded by Dr Henry Featherstone in 1932, when GPs gave most anaesthetics in the UK and Ireland as a sideline. Anaesthetists were not respected by other specialists and were poorly paid. Surgeons provided referrals and collected and paid their fees. The AAGBI's negotiations before the NHS was established in 1948 ensured anaesthetists received consultant status. It instigated the founding of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (now the Royal College of Anaesthetists) in 1947 and supported the foundation of the equivalent Faculty of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (now the College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland in 1959. The AAGBI adopted the motto in somno securitas (safe in sleep) when it was granted the right to bear arms by King George VI in 1945. Patients and anaesthetists alike can be secure in the knowledge that the Association continues to protect their mutual interests. The AAGBI office is located in the centre of London. Past presidents 1932-35 - Henry W Featherstone OBE MD LLDHon FFARCS 1935-38 - Joseph Blomfield OBE MD FRCS FFARCS 1938-41 - Zebulon Mennell FFARCS 1941-44 - Ashley Daly FRCS FFARCS 1944-47 - Archibald D Marston CBE MD FRCS FFARCS 1947-50 - John Gillies CVO MC FRCSEd FFARCS 1950-53 - W Alexander Low MC FFARCS 1953-56 - Sir Geoffrey Organe MD FRCS FFARCS FFARACSHon FFARCSIHon 1956-59 - T Cecil Gray CBE KCSG OStJ MD FRCP FRCS FFARCSHon 1959-62 - Ronald Jarman DSC FRCS FFARCS 1962-65 - Vernon F Hall CVO FRCA FFARCSHon 1965-67 - Herbert H Pinkerton FRCP (Glasg) FFARCS 1967-69 - R Patrick W Shackleton CBE DM FFARCS 1969-71 - A John W Beard MD FRCA 1971-73 - J Alfred Lee FFARCS FFARCSIHon MMSA 1973-76 - Philip J Helliwell FRCA 1976-78 - Cyril F Scurr CBE LVO FRCS FRCA FFARCSIHon 1978-80 - Stanley A Mason FRCA AKC 1980-82 - W Derek Wylie FRCP FRCS FRCA FANZCAHon 1982-84 - Michael D Vickers FRCA FANZCAHon 1984-86 - Thomas B. Boulton OBE TD FRCA FDSRCS 1986-88 - Michael Rosen CBE FRCS FRCOG FRCA FFARCSIHon 1988-90 - Maurice M Burrows FRCA 1990-92 - Peter J F Baskett FRCA MRCP 1992-94 - William R MacRae FRCSEd, FRCA, FFARCSI 1994-96 - S Morrell Lyons OBE MD